The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-07-22
A Trial in Fiction.
ny Es'Ser N@nea.

IN on coming tfhti1'i =. t.l,,, AR Id
and fancles as may occur 10 H'''
her. a.. ,,, may wish
,o write without even possesset' ''-,, 49,,
Thoughts TO cmbody Ia one ~ " .',.in.,
-. crcat h the fascination Oh s'''"r
ones own writings 10 print 80,
M. Ills curious malady ] h',''lh' ~
-. vlctim And the acceptance !"
a. occasional poem ly various Meehls
,.arors added fresh fuel TO Tue ul
il',,s,,..bslle are Of literary amnluln
A. twentv.two I occupied mlUl' eu 1
serial nosltion on a daily paper u''1
"a haa ono or two stories ncc'p''u
by one Of the great maga4ll,es ,',nl,,
ouently, | began TO ieel ih,n., ,.nd.
ant IN a literary way anu ,'la Az,
ency was decidedly ch,ou'"s."
comnilmeufs. sincere anu u'"', W,
"a those with whom came ID eon'' ~.
one ~ tbcse. and one who from l'h
,,.,.lrnire had taken warm lh'.,.''
a. nv llterary work. was girl-Miss
E.trerine Merry. ! had known Mlh,
-, almost from childhood, ana hnh
si,,sxs had considerable admiration
81, No. / looked upon her as ehtiI'ls
ate,s-sn, from the other girls OF ~?
ocoraintnnce She was rather ihie.'
lectual m her tastes. very fond OF feau'
ing aud had even published hoiue W.
credltable verses. although SUI ,.,
my Junior hy two years sue N.s ~
n rlrl 20 dirt with, ana sne ausy'"''''
dldlkod compliments. lhal ~ '.
reoilv ala dislike them. dinclng ~
tbIs respect from the majority ul
,-or,en who may affect 90 dcspise nat
tcrv lint who are none the less sUH.
ce,,tible Ia ns influence. She ana !
were hail. fellow-well-met together TO
,,ore ar less degree We understood
each other very we'll were interested
M each others projects ana cAloy'u
comuarinc notes over cur failures ana
successes ,...
one night. when Il 50 happened tha'
we we're both dining at the same
house. the conversation turned upon
that much.mooted question as 10
whether such thing rs p'aton'c
inve were posslblc Miss Merry ana
myself both argued warmly Tor the
Affirmative. aud probably we each
Thought Of our mutual friendship as an
instance. although upon That point we
kent silent. contentlng ourselves WIN
mentioning historic eases.
The other side. however probably
heeause those who constituted u were
better informed and moro able 10 vA
prrss their ideas, had somewhat thV
i,es, Of the argument and Miss Merry
and 1. although sin rnconyinced. Were
compelled 10 withdraw from the halur
walked home with the Merry,
after,vard. aud while her father aud
mother went ahead. Miss Merry ana
strolled slowly after them, discussing
the subject which had been under con
slderntlon at dinner.
sW-hv. OF course Il Is possible sh'
said. There are you and l..
''To be sure" answered we az
living evidence. by the way ! nav
n SCHEME. Why shouldn't we write
STORY together about platonlc friend
ehipq / think we could work u up u
great form ,.
"That Is capital lden." cxclaime
Miss Merry. YOU could furnish To
mans Ideas and the womnn's.
Good. Already ] behold the CON
fortalie check Cor cur labor
"Oh. that g. too bad. You are 81
WAYS putting q cash value on ihins.
Remember. sir that this b. a story iha
Is 10 show the world how pla'ohi
friendships may and do exist
"All right When shall we con
mence work. You know We must tai
our piof over FIRST Tomorrow Is M
DAY OF from the paper Shall ! cal
the afternoon
"Yes. do. ard we can take wal
and arrange the plot
Thus Il was arranged that We Shout
collaboratc In q story, ana the follow
ING day. according 20 The engagement
/ called at the Merry household. Mi
Merry came down ready for the wal
with her hat aud gloves on. That Wa
one of her characteristics SHE ncv'
kent one waiting Il Is little Trims
like this that make yOu form a plator
friendship for a girl. II anything WI
1--WE been thinking 90 = title for "a
story" she cried "What shall We ca
nT'
"You must name II" ! said; "that
mart Of your share " the labor
'Very well, then, let ~ call u 'Iv
Friends
"That is a capital idea. Now for &
plot"
The plot was a hard thing To se,tl
The story must have some element
lerd color 90 Il. Love. of course, vi
barred oui. aud friendship must tai
its place; but how. and what inc.den
20 make use OF Ia order % portray
happlly. was an extremely motty m
difficult question. one thing We nX'
up0n. There must boz a noble sacrih
on the part Of one or both of our cha
actefs. But Of what nature and 81
cumstenccs Il should be We could N
determine.
DO you think" ! inquired tent
lively. chat such a friendship cou
rise superior even 10 loyeT
~ don't know" hesitaiingly rcpli'
Miss Merry
"You see. can't speak from cXpcl
cnce. and novelIsts always set love ,
a pedestal above the other emotions
'Tmcl HUT this other story OF Ou
must not be- formed on the theories
other writer's We must originate
entirely"
Il don't see how. Neither 81 MS Is
love. or has ever been, 90 my know
edge"
'Nor To mine" ] returned. hagtil
perhaps because on this point q sha
ow ~ Doubt had crrpt over mc.
But. ON due reelection. ! determine
that | had answered with prcic
fnnkness No. ! was not la love Wi
Elsie liarwOod. by any means. ! O.
mIrcd her very much, Il ~ true, and
fancicd that she rather liked me.
had seen a good deal Of her during Z
PAST summer and once or twice q
idea had entered my head that ~
was much nicer than most girls, M
that liked 90 De- with her That w
all Why. had not seen her a doz'
times since she returned to the town.
Having thus disposed Of the trihh
doubt which assaulted my conscience
turned 10 Katherine. who had be-
huar manning meanwhile.