Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-04-30

papers on the floor. Picking them up.
his eye was caught by some words In his
sisters writing:
You wan a woman to help you with
your women, Laurie; il You had that, |
honestly think your stories would be
pretty nearly perfect"
"By Jove!" cried Blair, suddenly
drawing his writing materials toward
him. son my word. I believe that is
the very idea"
Then he wrote:
Dear Miss Heatherington-I have
safely received your note, with two
pounds twelve shillings and six pence
inclosed, for which l thank you. am
sorry you would not accept a little two
penny-h'penny story from me. As you
! would not, you have certainly more
than paid the debt in full. / am very
grieved to hear of your mothers death.
Please let me assure you OF my sincere
sympathy.
"If you are not very busy just now,
will you do me a favor, and undertake
some work for me? have just finished
a novel, which will first run as a serial
in the Metropolitan Magazine, and am
dissatisfied with q or two scenes, and
doubtful about my treatment OF some OF
the female characters. viii you look
over the Ms. and give me your opinion?
And, more especially, will you tell me
I what you think Of Chapter NH. and
the latterRart OF Chapter XXNL.? And
will you sketch out the alterations you
think necessary. Please let me know
your terms for this sort of work when
you return the MS. Believe me- yours
very faithfully.
LAURENCE BLAIR"
He packed the letter up with a bundle
of manuscript, and later in the day left
the parcel at the door Of Miss Hether-
ington's new address. Then he went
home and waited.
A week later the manuscript came
brck, accompanied by a letter and some
closely written sheets Of paper. He took
| the letter first:
Dear Mr.. Blair-Thank you exceed
ingly for your great kindness. l AVE
read the novel carefully, I must not tell
you with what enjoyment, and especial
ly those genes you mentioned. My
literary opinion is OF no value, but l
think I do understand my own sex,
and | fancy you have made some
little mistakes in Jenny You
moan her to be a specially refined
! you have drawn her in the main; but
! there are one or two things which l
. think you should alter, and-it seems
| great impertinence in me TO say it to
| you'll think you should re-write the
thirteenth chapter. Jenny would nev
er have discussed, even with her dear
est friend, her feeling for her undeclared
| love. / have noted down on the accom-
panying paper the points think you
should notice, and you will see 7 have
sketched out what l think would be
more natural rendering OF that chapter,
Believe me. Yours sincerely.
ORANGES HETHERINGToN."
Blair took up the sheets of paper and
read rapidly, growing interest appear
ing on his face the while. Miss Heth-
erington had rewritten the entire scene
and she had done it well. She had no
great originality; the plots and charac-
tiers she herself conceived were general
ly weak; but she was genuinely appre-
ciative and sympathetic, and could fol-
low out an idea when it vas presented
to her. besides having the gift OF writ
ing graceful and natural conversation
with facility.
''By Jove!" cried Blair, throwing
down the papers as he finished. "She
can write, after ALL" Then he broke
into a laugh. why, It's collaboration!
Oh, now l see my way to that cheque all
right" .
mo, there's no moral" said Mrs.
Laurence Blair, eighteen months lator,
as she sat on the lawn at Maiden Court
beside her s~ister-in-law. She had been
telling her the true story of how WED
ded to a Corpse" appeared In The Week
IN Want. II feel that there is no moral
anywhere about the story; for II |
hadn't been a thief, l should never have
met Laurence"
Every likely that is what fetched
him." said Mrs. Maiden, somewhat
hazlly; zone of Laurie's fads is that
art is entirely independent Of moral
ity."
well, but I don't quite see" began
Mrs. Blair.
mo, dear" said Mrs. Maiden, who
was essentially a and entirely IL
LOGICAL in her mode of conducting a on
versation, "but the way in which the
severe application OF that principle to
his last book has made the hair OF the
Grdndmother's Gazette stand on end, Is
TO me a pure joy. And, Frances-moral
or no moral-Laurie's women have i'm
proved since he had you to collaborate
with as-well, as l expected ."-Belgrd-
Uid.