Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-07-14
A Trial in Fiction.
Nv Esther Noanes.

every educated person when he leeis
that fierce, unconquerable desire TO
wr,te--to mi into words for the Dene-
fit of coming generations such thoush.s
and fancies as may occur TO DAM vi "
her. ;s,
And. indeed. believe one mn! "ish
to write without even possess.hS ule
thoughts to embody in one euosiohs,
50 great is the fascination OF eeeihS
ones own writings in PRINT.
ro tbis curious malady became an
carly victim. And the acceptance Oh
an occasional poem by various weekly
n,nars added fresh fuel TO the uh-
nuenchable fire of literary ambition.
Ar twenty-twO l occupied minor ell
,oriol position on daily paper, ana
had had one or two stories accepted
nv one of the great magazines. Cohse
UueptIy. / began to feel rather import
ant i'm a literary way, ana TINS ,enu-
ENJOY was decidedly encouraged ID!
compliments. sincere and otherwise
of those with whom j came III contact.
One of these. and one who from us
beginning had taken warm interest
i'm nv literary work, was Srl-Mlss
Katherine Merry. l had known MISS
Merry almost from childhood. and had
always had considerable admiration
for her. looked upon her as entirely
different from the other girls OF my
acquaintance. She was rather intel
lectual in her tastes, very fond OF read
ing and had even published some very
creditable verses, although she was
my Junior by two years. She was not
Il girl to fiirt with and she absolutely
disliked compliments. That is. she
really did dislike them. differing in
this respect from the majority of
women, who may affect TO despise fiat
terry. but who are none the less sus-
ceptible to it's influence. She and L
were hail-fellow- well-met together To
more or less degree. We understood
each other very well. were Interested
Ia each others projects ana enjoyed
comparing notes over our failures and
successes.
One night, when it so happened that
we We're both dining ut the same
house, the conversation turned upon
that much-mooted question as TO
whether such thing rs piatonic
love were possible. Miss Merry and
myself both argued warmly for the
affirmative. and probably we each
thought of our mutual friendship as an
instance. although upon that point we
kept silent. contenting ourselves with
mentioning historic eases.
The other side, however. probably
because those who constituted il were
better informed and more able to eN-
press their ideas, had somewhat the
best of the argument. and Miss Merry
and |. although still mconvinced. We're
compelled TO withdraw from the battle.
| walked home with the Merrys
afterward. and while her father ara
mother went ahead. Miss Merry and l
strolled slowly after them, discussing
the subject which had been under con-
sideration at dinner.
why. of course il is possible" she
said. There are YOU and L.
'"To be sure" / answered. 1--WE are
living evidence. BY the way, | have
a scheme. Why shouldn't we write
story together about platonic friend
shin? | think we could work it up in
great FORM
THAT is Il capital idea" exclaimed
Miss Merry. you could furnish the
mans ideas and the womans."
"Good. Already | behold the com
Portable check for our labor
"Oh. that is too bad. You are al
ways putting cash value on things.
Remember. sir. that this IL story that
is TO show the world how platonic
friendships may and do exist
''All right When shall we com
mence work? You know we must talk
our plot over first. Tomorrow is my
day off from the paper. Shall | call In
the afternoons!
''Yes, do. and we can take Walk
and arrange the plot"
Thus il was arranged that we should
collaborate in story. aud the follow
ing day. according to the engagement,
/ called at the Merry household. Miss
Merry came down ready for the walk.
with her hat and gloves on. That was
one OF her characteristics she never
kept one waiting. 1t is little things
like this that make you form a piatonic
friendship for girl, If anything will.
1--WE been thinking of a title for our
story she cried. What shall we call
itg
"You must name it," / said; that Is
part of your share OF the labor"
'Very well, then. let us call it Two
Friends"
THAT is Il capital idea. Now for the
plot
The plot was hard thing to settle.
The story must have some element TO
lend color to it. Love. of course, was
barred out, and friendship must take
it's place; but how, and what incidents
TO make use of in order to portray il
happily, was an extremely knOtty and
diffi.ult question. One thing we fixed
upcn. There must be noble sacrifice
on the part of one or both of our char
acters. But of what nature and cir
cumstcnceS it should be we could not
determine.
do you think" l inquired tenta-
lively that such friendship could
rise superior even to love-
II don't know" hesitatingly replied
Miss Merry.
''fo'I see, / can't speak from expert
ence. and novelsts always set love on
u PEDESTAL above the other emotions"
True! But this other story of ours
must not be formed on the theories Of
other writer's We must originate it
entirely"
II don't see how. Neither of us is in
love, or has ever been, TO my knOwi-
edge"
Nor TO mine" l returned. hastily.
perhaps because oh this point Il shad-
ow Of doubt had crept over me-
Rttt .I.,.k n lntan