"Good afternoon, 'Floy,'" said Mr. Lescom to Ruth, as she entered the
Standard office, the day after she had signed the contract with Mr.
Walter. "I was just thinking of you, and wishing for an opportunity to
have a little private chat. Your articles are not as long as they used
to be; you must be more liberal."
"I was not aware," replied Ruth, "that my articles had grown any
shorter. However, with me, an article is an article, some of my shorter
pieces being the most valuable I have written. If you would like more
matter, Mr. Lescom, I wonder you have not offered me more pay."
"There it is," said Mr. Lescom, smiling; "women are never satisfied. The
more they get, the more grasping they become. I have always paid you
more than you could get anywhere else."
"Perhaps so," replied Ruth. "I believe I have never troubled you with
complaints; but I _have_ looked at my children sometimes, and thought
that I must try somehow to get more; and I have sometimes thought that
if my articles, as you have told me, were constantly bringing you new
subscribers, friendship, if not justice, would induce you to raise my
salary."
"_Friendship_ has nothing to do with business," replied Mr. Lescom; "a
bargain is a bargain. The law of supply and demand regulates prices in
all cases. In literature, at present, the supply greatly exceeds the
demand, consequently the prices are low. Of course, I have to regulate
my arrangements according to my own interests, and not according to the
interests of others. You, of course, must regulate your arrangements
according to _your_ interests; and if anybody else will give you more
than I do, you are at liberty to take it. As I said before, _business_
is one thing--_friendship_ is another. Each is good in its way, but they
are quite distinct."
As Mr. Lescom finished this business-like and logical speech, he looked
smilingly at Ruth, with an air which might be called one of tyrannical
benevolence; as if he would say, "Well, now, I'd like to know what you
can find to say to that?"
"I am glad," replied Ruth, "that you think so, for I have already acted
in accordance with your sentiments. I have had, and accepted, an offer
of a better salary than you pay me. My object in calling this afternoon
was to inform you of this; and to say, that I shall not be able to
write any more for 'The Standard.'"
Mr. Lescom looked astonished, and gazed at Ruth without speaking,
probably because he did not know exactly what to say. He had argued
Ruth's case so well, while he supposed he was arguing his own, that
nothing more could be said. Mr. Lescom, in reality, valued Ruth's
services more than those of all his other contributors combined, and
the loss of them was a bitter thing to him. And then, what would his
subscribers say? The reason of Ruth's leaving might become known; it
would not sound well to have it said that she quit writing for him
because he did not, or could not, or would not pay her as much as
others. Just then it occurred to him that engaging to write for another
journal, did not necessarily preclude the possibility of her continuing
to write for "The Standard." Catching eagerly at the idea, he said:
"Well, 'Floy,' I am really glad that you have been so fortunate. Of
course I wish you to make as much as you can, and should be glad, did my
circumstances admit, to give you a salary equal to what you can command
elsewhere; but as I cannot give you more than I have been paying, I am
glad somebody else will. Still, I see no reason why you should stop
writing for 'The Standard.' Your articles will just be as valuable to
me, as though you had made no new engagement."
"I am sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Lescom," replied Ruth, "but I cannot
meet your wishes in this respect, as the contract I have signed will not
permit me to write for any paper but 'The Household Messenger.'"
At this announcement Mr. Lescom's veil of good nature was rent in twain.
"'The Household Messenger!' Ah! it's John Walter, then, who has found
you out? I don't wish to boast, but I must say, that I think you have
made but a poor exchange. The whole thing is very unfortunate for you.
I was just making arrangements to club with two other editors, and to
offer you a handsome yearly salary for writing exclusively for our three
papers; but of course that arrangement is all knocked in the head now.
It seems to me that you might have made an exception in favor of 'The
Standard.' I have no doubt that Mr. Walter would have consented to let
you write for it, as it was the first paper for which you ever wrote.
He would probably do so now if you would ask him. He is an editor, and
would understand the matter at once. He would see that I had more
than ordinary claims upon you. What do you say to writing him on the
subject?"
"I have no objection to doing so," replied Ruth, "if you think it will
avail anything, though if I succeed in getting Mr. Walter's permission
to write for _you_, I suppose Mr. Tibbetts, of The Pilgrim, will wish me
to do the same for him, when he returns. I called at the Pilgrim office
this morning, and his partner, Mr. Elder, said that he was out of town,
and would not be home for several days, and that he would be greatly
incensed when he heard I was going to leave, as I was getting very
popular with his subscribers. Mr. Elder was very sorry himself, but he
treated me courteously. By the way, Mr. Lescom, I think you had better
write to Mr. Walter, as well as myself; you understand such matters, and
can probably write more to the point than I can."
"Very well," said Mr. Lescom, "I will write to him at once, and you had
better write now by the same mail, and have the letters both enclosed in
one envelope."
Ruth took a seat at the editorial table, and wrote to Mr. Walter.
The letters were sent at once to the Post-office, so as to catch the
afternoon mail, and Ruth took her leave, promising to call on the
morning of the second day after, to see Mr. Walter's reply, which,
judging by his usual promptness, would arrive by that time.