The Opelousas courier., 1896-09-26

manner. 81 do hate that phrase"
"Just as you please" returned Johr
easily. "What shall I call you? Nov.
elist? Journalistic"
"Neither one nor the other" sale
Mary, flushing; q little, a shade of he1
late dependency again falling upon
her. 81 am nothing in the world but
a writer of penny love stories, and
losing even the small amount of capa'
bility required for that"
"Ihat is nonsense" exclaimed
John, now speaking earnestly. "As
said before, yon are overworked. You
have been doing too much. Your
brain needs a rest, and it ought to
have one, Mary"
well, it can't just at present., said
. Mary, shaking her head very decided.
ly. ''There is Jennie's new dress, and
the grocer's bill. l shall know no
peace until those two things are off my
mind"
l John was silent for a moment, but
he looked troubled.
2 "If ] could just get an idea," said
Mary, more hopefully, II think l
} could work it out. [ seem to have
used UP everything! have written
about lost heirs, and lost wills-about
the heiress who pretended to be poor,
and the adventures who pretended to
be rich. | have told about the man
who expressed the utmost detestation
Of "the new woman" aud ended by
falling madly in love with one. I have
related the history of the girl who de-
termlned to have a career and finally
gave up all for love. These things
are all worn out, John! They have
become so feeble that I am ashamed
to press the poor things into further
service"
John smiled.
"They are far from dying, Mary!
They are full OF vitality yet"
swell, somebody else may have
them," said Mary, returning the
smile. cat least, for a while; [ may
be glad to fall back on them some day,
but Just now l should like something
fresh. All sorts OF queer things are
constantly happening in real life, if I
could only get to hear of them. John,
haven't you an idea of any kind? Or
some little thing that has come within
your own experience? Anything that
holds a tiny spice of romance, you
know"
John looked at her for a moment,
and seemed inclined to speak. Then
his mind apparently faltered, and he
shook his head.
"Oh!" cried Mary, disappointedly,
"that IS too bad. You looked exactly
as if you had an idea"
"Well," said John, slowly, "a faint
glimmering did seem to come to me,
but I'm afraid you would think it
silly"
"Do tell me-" exclaimed Mary. Il
shall be so grateful"
Sand I don't know that it is par
ticularly new," went on John IN the
same doubtful way.
swell, never mind" said. Mary, in
a business-llke way. "a great deal
depends on the treatment of the sub
ject. Sometimes a very hackneyed
theme can be made to sound quite
fresh. l have noticed it in several in
stances. Go on, John"
She fixed her eyes on him expect
antly, and a smile dawned IN the
young mans eyes as he looked at her.
SIS it humorous?" asked Mary in.
nocently, as she saw the smile.
ST don't know" answered John, re.
lapsing into gravity. "That entirely !
depends upon how you regard it.
Things appeal 50 differently to diff
ferent minds, don't they?"
"They do" rejoined Mary promptly. :
sometimes I have written things g
which I thought were funny. but other )
people entirely failed to see the Joke; !
and. on the other hand, I have been !
at for sentences which were =
penned in perfect seriousness. But ,
let us proceed with the subject in =
hand. I.wish you would begin, John, =
Tor the time is getting on, and I shall ;
miserable unless l succeed IN max :!
ing d good start this morning" J.
"There's a lot in making a good =
start, isn't there?" asked John, with '
evident anxiety. y
t'Oh great deal" said Mary. cit a.
is often the most di~ficultathing pos. 4
'ible to start. Once fairly begun the +
work is comparatively easy, because "
thing seems to lead to another"
81 see!" replied John refectively. :.
Then a long silence fell between them. Il
'sDo go on!' said Mary impatiently, ! a
It last. a
well, the fact is, Mary, l"-with 81
emphasis on the pro- e.
loun-"Gnd a difficulty in starting. e
think I could go on, if the subject a.
we're only begun" q.
"Let me help you out" said Mary, f.
With an air of resignation. . "There a,
s a girl in it, I SUPPOSED" f.
.Oh, yesl" returned John very de- v
fdel "There is a girl in it and ii
n uncd Rmonly nice girl, too" q,
"Good\ gacious!" sud Mary. cit tc
all easy eh@ gh. Describe to me her
ppearance, q Aracter and surround III
ags. Tell nj 1 she did, and how
he did it. lEhen explain where the ri
y ian ? eomss itEf0r there is a man in S
ooh, yes" said John. as decidedly al
5 before. "There is a man in it," wi
Swell, what about him." asked IN
larry. dear me, John! I might as W,
ell invent a thing myself, and have in
one with it, if you can't tell me "
off," u,
"Ill tell you'll" said John, with the to
r OF a man determined to make the ve
[unge. "Only-Msry-promise me IN