The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1885-07-02
WHY STORY.

NIY STORY.
How does it sound, Neal? Is it in
teresting2 and do you think it is nat
uralp
l asked these questions anxiously,
as laid down my manuscript, and,
Neal hesitated as she answered: We'll, |
if you want to know my candid opin-
ion, 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 don't succeed
Meals words carried an unpleasant
conviction with them. was not
quite twenty-five, and had already
won fair reputation as writer of
short stories, except on one theme. l
had never, try as might, written
successful love story.
The one / had just read to Neal was
my latest effort, and, as usual, l felt
that it was failure. But l only re-
piled somewhat petulantly:
We'll, Neal, l cannot fall in love as
mere matter of business, you know;
so ] don't see what is to be done
Dear, dear. It's too bad,' sighed
Neal; but / would not continue the
conversation. l thrust the unlucky
MS. into my desk, and decided to
spend the rest of the morning in the
woods by way of restoring my down
cast spirits
Neal was an important person to me,
as she was at once my schoolmate,
confident and old friend. She was al
so and excellent critic, and / had Of
ten found her judgment invaluable.
That morning, however, | felt vexed
with her and with all the world, SO
when / returned from my ramble
was not at all pleased to find that a
new boarder had arrived and was
seated on the piazza, as if he was wait
ing to greet me. This was Lyle Ash
ford, a young editor, and a great fa-
vorite with my friend.
Although we had been much togeth.
er during the past year, and, although
y / knew him to be as clever as he was
handsome, he had never interested me
in the least. Now, when he came tc
meet me with such a smiling conf
dence, as if he had a claim on my time
not to be gainsaid, felt that my man
ner was far from gracious. mention
ed very briefly the reasons which haC
drawn me to place where | could b,
undisturbed, upon which Mr.. Ashford
said quickly:
You have stated my case, too, Mis-
Carleton. | am busily engaged on
compilation, which, though it need
no originality, calls for much har,
work. Sol came here to finish it
Then he bowed and left me, much t
my relief, and / saw no more of hin
for some days.
Meanwhile / was working hard a
my new story, but makink very littl
progress.
I wrote and rewrote, tore up m
sheets and began again, but l felt a
heart that was not succeeding, an
began to be melancholy and moros,
One evening Neal was evidently in
very excited mood Instead of lister
ing to my plants with her usual pi
tience, she exclaimed eagerly: 'Ol
Margie, I've got an idea, If you had rel
lover to study-one who was dreadful
ly In love, you know-wouldn't tn,
help your Couldn't you put dow
what he said and thoughtP'
why, yes, of course could, b,
where could such lover be founC
And do you suppose, you foolish thir
that he would lay bare his heart f
my inspectionr I asked, laughing
spite of myself.
Neal looked mysterious. But, Ms
gle, I've seen the lover already, al
I've heard him, too; so, there's o,
difficulty out of the way. Oh,
talks just like book, l can tell you
why, Neal, this is astonishingp
cried; and pray who is this wond,
iul loverY
It's Mr.. Ashford. He and l ha
had great many talks, and he's