The Holly chieftain., 1897-10-29
PERlLS OF AUTHORSHIP.
2,i,,i,',,,,,,,,i, ,,,,,,,,,,,n,,,,,,,niS

M lLDRED'S pretty face wore a new
lN expression as she toycd with her
teaspoon and tried to finish her roll
and coffee. John had just left for his
Office. They had been married three
months, and the serious aspects Of life
were Cor the first time presenting them
selves.
II wish I could do something TO help
John thought Mildred. rs she guzed
nbstractedly out Of the window lie
has to work so hard, and she gave Il lit
tie sigh.
what can ! do" She pondcrcd.
'What can do?" she asked herself
again and again. as with dcft touch she
Strengthened and arranged the dainty
apartment.
Suddenly her face looked as If door
had opened and flooded it with sun
light.
II know what | will do; will write
story. l know l can If try. People
do not have to be so Hwfuly clever Ia
do that. 1t is knack, not q talent.
There is Mrs. , who has made
~ = hA'A LI'i 9'bl a. al 'lil
poor trash-all of them. John saws so 80
Before another hour had passed the
outline of n plot was dancing in her
excited young brain, and as soon as
pne could get the time she sat down
with pad and sharpened pencil. Then
rame a pause. How shall Begin"
She drew little gcomctric figures on
the margin of her paper as she reflected.
her thoughts seeming to reyolve in a
circle, returning ever to the place from
"hencc they started. Finally sht.
wrote:
I'm a small village on the banks of
"Oh, that is so commonplace. No:
that will not do" And she tore of tn.
first sheet OF her pad and reflected
again. then wrote:
Frank Atwood was the only son OF
a"
NO. no; that is too stupid" and the
second sheet of the pad went into the
waste paper basket.
She recalled what John had said OF
the superiiuous first three pages, which
might with benefit to most stories be
eliminated-for John was "A journalist
and literary critic, and his standards
her own. So she thought with great
Difference of what he had said about
tdiOus preambles.
He is right" she said, with decision
1t is the personal interest in the char.
scters which We are looking for in read
ing story. All that comes before that
is tedious supertiuity.
Il will dash right on with letter
from the heroine which will at once
explain the situation" So with the CON
fdence which came from feeling herself
at last on the right track, she wrote:
Dear Frank-I return herewith the let.
ters. which OF course | have now no rIsh
to keep. need not tell you what II cost me
II have reflected much upon what yor
said yesterday, but l am at last resolved
| will not see you again. Any attempt tc
make me break this resolve will be fruit,
less. God knows you have only yourseli
to blame that this marriage has"
please, ma'am,'' said the cook, com.
ing suddenly in upon the young author.
ess. Please, ma'am, the butcher is
here. VIII you come and see him and
give the order yourself about havin'
them chops frenched or whatever it is
"Oh. what n bore!" sighed Mildred.
~ was just getting into the swing of
H." And she left the manuscript upon
her desk to be resumed later.
The matter of the chops disposed of.
there were other things requiring at
tention.
AT last, however, she was at her desl.
agnin. She read over the letter with
which her story opened to see how it
sounded. Really" said she, 81 think
that starts off very WELL" and then sh.
took up the broken thread. "Only your.
self to blame that this marriage has
A violent ringing at the telephone again
broke the current. ''IIallo," said our
young novelist.
Mildred. is that you?'
"Yes. is it you, Alice?''
Yes. Mamma does not feel very well
and wishes you TO take luncheon with
us. She has sent the carriage. Be
ready to come as soon as II arrives" OBJ
viously no more authorship today. So
slipping her paper into the desk she
dcparted.t- ~
The new purpose Of authorship
brought great light and hope into