The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-10-22
PtRlLS OF AUTHORSHIP.

EILDRED'S pretty face wore a new
ivi expression as she toyed 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 for the first time presenting them
selves.
Il wish could do something to help
John" thought Mildred. as she gazed
abstractedly out Of the window. "He
has to work so hard" and she gave lit
tie sigh.
What can l do?" she pondered.
"What can do?" she asked herself
again and again. as with deft touch she
Strengthened and arranged the dainty
apartment.
Suddenly her face looked as II door
had opened and flooded il with sun
light.
II know what will do; l will write
a story. l know l can if try. People
do not have to be SO awfully clever to
do that 1t is n knack, not n talent.
There is Mrs. -, who has made
heaps Of money: and her stories are only
poor trash--all of them. John says So"
Before another hour had passed the
outline of plot was dancing in her
excited young brain, and rs soon as
she could get the time she sat down
with pad and sharpcned pencil. Then
came pause. How shall bcgin?"
She drew little geomctric figures on
the margin of her paper as she reflected.
her thoughts seeming \, rcvolve in a
circle, returning ever TO the place from
whence they started. Finally she
wrote:
I'm small village on the banks Of"
oh. that is SO commonplace. No;
that will not do" And she tore off the
first sheet of her pad and reflected
again, then wrote:
Frank Atwood was the only son Of
No. no; that is too stupid" and the
second sheet of the pad went into the
waste-papcr basket.
She recalled what John had said of
the superfluous first three pages. which
might with benefit to most stories be
eliminatcd-for John was journalist
and literary critic, and his standards
and ideals were just on the measure of
her own. So she thought with great
Difference of what he had said about
tedious preamblcs.
He is right" she said, with decision.
1T is the personal interest in the char
acters which VIC are looking for in read
ing story. All that comes before that
Is tedious supcrfuity.
Il will dash right on with a letter
from the heroine, which will at once
explain the situation" So with the con-
fidence which came from feeling herself
at last on the right track. she wrote:
Dear Frank-I return herewith the let
ters. which OF course I have now no right
TO Keep. need not tell you what 1t cost me.
II have reflected much upon what you
said yesterday. but ! am at last resolved.
I will not see you again. Any attempt to
make me break this resolve will be fruit
less. God knows you have only yourself
TO blame that this marriage has"
Please, a'am," said the cook. COM
ing suddenly in upon the young author
ess. Please. ma'am. the butcher is
here. Will you come and see him and
give the order yourself about havin'
them chops frenched or whatever il is"
oh. what a bore!" sighed Mildred.
was just getting into the swing of
~. 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.
Az last, however, she was at her desl.
again. She read over the letter with
which her story opened 10 see how il
sounded. Really" said she, II think