Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-03-14
A PERFECT PLOT.

Cduc IuCO Cuo utuIuX AVVu Vho
day just as she had finished break.
fast, "and l cannot stay with you,
as have to go out"
"Go out Why, you said last
night you werc going to finish that
china painting this morning,
though l really don't know why
you should work so hard. We are
not in absolute penury."
"NO; but it is pleasant makiug
money in way one likes. Besides,
tere will be some to give away
when We have too much ourselves.
And how is your trade going on 7"
"To tell the truth, not brilliantly.
In fact, 1 am rather hung up for
want of a plot"
"a plot 2"
eyes; it ia ridiculous. l have a
short story to write this week, and,
though have rather a neat set of
characters and small incidents
ready, it you understand, q nam
idea is wanting"
"Dear me, that is unfortunate.
why don't you go out for walk,
or for halt an our in the under.
ground, or TO the city on bus,
aud find one?'
"My dear MiIlicent, what non
sense you talk. As il 1 we're the
least likely to find my ideal plot
that way. No; must try and
worry it out myself somehow"
"Well, I must be off. Good
by, Stephen, take my advice
go ard look for your ideal in the
real OF life. L am sure you can
find 1t there.7
After his wife had gone Stephen
Mostyn ate his breakfast and then
sat musing a little, after which,
sprnging out of his chair, he said
81 never felt less inclined tO
write in my lifel Really, 1 have a
good mind to follow MiIlicent's
advice and go out"
In a few minutes he was stand.
ing on the doorstep, deciding up
on his next move.
"What besstly fog : zcertain
ly shaft lose much under ground
so here goes for the Metropoli
tan railway"
"Where tort" SAID the clerl
sharply, as Stephen stood vaguely
in front of the ticket Office.
"Oh, WhitechapeT. I sSOuk
think that leayes room for dis
cOyery," he thought to himself.
"What class 7"
"Third-better do it thoroughly.
Now, then, for trial trip between
KensingtOn and the Mile End
road, to test MiIlicent's theory"
A small boy with a large, heavy
parcel got into the carriage with
him, and spent some moments in
vainly trying to secure his burden
more firmly, by means of a knOtty
blt Of string that crossed it here
and there In purposeless testoous
Mr.. MOstyn lending his help be-
tween them they made rather a
neat thing out of it.
"Adventure tho first ; ended,
tear" said Step en- to himself. "a
really can't ask him how old he is
and where he lives, and II he think
it healthy"
"Temple" {"
Odt tumbled the parcel and th'
boy, and IN walked an elderly
young woman with y friiige and
an American cloth handbag. Sh,
sat down opposite to MIR. Mostyn
lput both her hands to her head al
If to make certain it was still il
its place, opened her bag and real
izins that she had not lost he
ticket, looked at the window ant
b sighed.
"NOt exactly ideal, but scHrcel,
IS real" thought Stephen. "Do 80
5 feel the draught from the win low
- he asked.
IS "NO, I don't, thank you," with
o well arranged look of spitefI
= timidity, AID changing her seat I
one at the other end OF the ca
- riage.
. "Is this a beginDpgW thOugl
: Stephen. "NOW [ should like
: ask her it she thinss nv life fC
! thirty.fiye years has been wOrkin
: mp to the climax Of meeting he
! yelled IN gOllen fog. in thirG
!. class Metropolitan railway ca
Z riagc' I wonder if it's any gro
; going on vita this Incl dent
Madam"--
"Sir, think thIS is Blackfnal
. StatiOn?' she said, whisking b,
head round as abe spoke, the On
Of her nose depciviDg the glass