Daily Republican., 1885-08-21
MY Story,
BY MRS. 4. 7. CORBETT.

BY MRS. Z. t. CORBETT. /;
"How does It sound, Susan? Is itin.
aud do you think 1t is natu-
ral?" Ii
asked these quest ions anxiously, as
l laid down my manuscript, and Susan
hesitated ss she answered Well, III
you want to know my candid opinion,
Miss Margie, it's just this. You see,
you're not In love and never have been
in love, so how can you write about
what you don't understand ? To
my mind that's not possible, and
that's why your love stories dent sue
ceed.''
Susan's words carried An unpleasant
conviction with them. 1 was not quite1
twenty-five, and had already won q
fair reputation as writer Of short |
stories except on one theme. l had
never. try rs l might, written atsuccees
ful love story.
The one had just read to Susan, was
my latest effort, and as usual, felt that
IL was . failure. But I only replied |
somewhat petuIantiy:
Well, Susan, cannot fall In |
love as . mere matter Of business,
you know 30 don't see what is to DO |
done"
Dear, dear. It's too bad" sighed
Susan but would not continue thel
conversation. I thrust the uulucky
MS into my desk, and decided to|
spend the rest OF the morning in the
woods by way Of restoring my downcast
spirits.
Susan was an important person to
me, as she was At once my maid, oonh
tdant, old friend. She was also an ex-
cellent critic, and had often found her
Judgement invaluable. That morning,
however, felt vexed with her and with
all the world, 30 when returned from
my ramble l was not at all pleased to
find that . new boarder had arrived and
WAS seated on the piazza, as II he was
waiting to greet me. This was Lyman
Ashford, q young lawyer, and a great
favorite with my sister and her hus-
band, at whose house he was a constant
visitor.
! Although we had been much together
during .he past year, and although l
knew him to be as clever ~ he was
handsome, he had never interested me
, in the least. Now, when be came 10
meet me with such q smiling confidence,
d, Rs If he had claim on NY time not tC
be galnsaid, felt that my manner was
far from gracious. l mentioned very
briefly the 70 asous which had drawn
me to a place where could be undis
! turbed, upon which Mr.. Ashford said
! quickly !;
You have stated my caee, too, Mis-
Car Teton. am busily engaged on {
compilation, which, though it needs nj
i originality, calls for scme hard work
so came here to finish 1t"
Then he bowed and left me, much L
| my relief, and saw no more of hin
q for some days.
Meanwhile, was working hard q
my new story, but making very littl
progress.
wrote and re-wrote, and tore up M
sheets and began again, but 1 felt q
heart that was not succeeding, and bt
{ gan to be melancholy and morOse. On
evening Susan was evidently in vor
excited mood. Instead Of listening
my plants with her usual patience, sh
= exclaimed
:, "Oh, Miss Margie, I've got an ide'
:, If you had real lover 10 study-on
"a who was dreadfully in love. you kno'
i. wouldn't that help you? Couldn
IS. you put down what he thought az
1t said ."
why, yes, Of course 1 could, b.
where could such lover be found. AL
do you suppose, you foolish thing, th
he would lay bare his heart for my l
spection ?" 1 asked, laughing in spi
1 of myself.
Susan looked mysterious. "Bu
Miss MarRie, I've seen the lover q
there's one difficulty out of the wa
oh, he talks ust like book, can t.
youp'
Why, Susan, this is astonishing
| cried; and, pray, who is this wo
derful lover"
r. cts Mr.. Ashford. He and I ha
had a great many talks, and he's in 10
III with a young lady who dosen't care
m him, though be loves her to distractio
he says"
80 :" Mr.. Ash ford % repeated, amaze
Well, he must be strange man
Z. talk 30 freely of his love affairs to you
in And why not to me, Miss Margie
said Susan. looking hurt :" I'm SUR
wouldn't betray the young mans sec
for the world, and he said it did h
good to talk to me-"
81 don't doubt that, my dear Suas
You are one of the best Of comforteri
n, answered, soothingly 7" but then
~ know men are not generally 30 COM II
~ NEGATIVE about such affairs"
,d Well, Mr.. Ashford is, any way, a
am glad of 1t, because now l can
you all about his feelings" persis
Susan.
n "But don't think ought to list
Susan, indeed, I'm sure l ought n
'''s since it is not meant tor me to hear.
said, and from this resolution all
Susan's persuasions failed to move
The next day, however, she beg
triumphantly !: "well, then, M
ts. Margie, IT'S all settled, and hope )
won't think I've been too meddleson
but | wanted to help ycu along. l
spoken TO Mr.. Ashford about y,
II story, and he says th.t II you'll all
him 10 give you sitting (ths
what he calls it) every day, he will
most happy to pose as happy lov
rf Those are his very words. miss. and !
+ think it's very kind of him."
Nv "Oh, Susan :" exclaimed, In alal
= what have ycu been saying to
~ Ashford l am afraid you have b
m terribly indiscret
W "Not Bit, Miss Margie. not a
live Only interested him in your sto
Now, you just give him half an houl
IA 80 every morning, aud BEE what h
os 1t will be "
10. 1t is needless to repeat all the con'
eaton between Susan and myself
.ss this subject Let it suffice that i '
won over at last, and daily interv
was agreed upon, wherein Mr.. Ashf
q was to enact the part of despair
s<le lover, and was at liberty 10 ske
"' from lifs.
. Our first sitting" as we agree.
call our meetings, would have b
embarrassing as we'll as awkward, b
must own that Mr.. Ashford behA