The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-02-02
Correspondence BY Ye!elathy:

He fell in love with her before he
found Out that sho was an idealist, and
after that it was not an easy matter
to reverse the recently developed ur-
rents of bis nature and fall out again.
Clarence Hay had always maintain
ed that the nOblest work of God was q
practical man, while next in ORDER
came a practical woman. He had
never ceased to thank his lucky stars
that he could be classed among the
high-grade elect, and he devoutly
hoped that when he married his wife
might not be one Of the second rate
mortals.
1t was a great shock to him to learn
that Miss Pearson was several degrees
below that exalted niche. He didn't
know 1t until the day be proposed to
her. She poised her tapering fore
finger lightly against her right temple
as he spoke--it was a way she had of
doing whenever she became unusually
serious-and looked at him with a
steadfastness that thrilled him with
apprehension for his future happiness.
Il believe" she said, "that you
don't understand me as you should. /
think If you knew me better you
wouldn't want me-"
He was really frightened then. The
answer was SO unexpected and savored
sc strongly of secrets and mysteries in
her past life that he recoiled in horro.'
from the mere thought Of being bur-
dened with q crowd OF personal ghosts
that would ever be lowering around
him.
ST am afraid" she went on, after a
brief period of reflection, that we
should not prove c%ongenial, and life
with a person whose tastes are radi-
cally opposed to mine would be simply
uncomfortable, not only for myself but for
my husband Before answering you, Mr..
Hay, l must be assured that we are
thorough suited to each other. L have
a test by which that may be proved.
If it should prove that there is an i'm
perishable affinity between us, l shall
be perfectly willing to marry you and
thank you for the honor lone me-"
Her words and the tone in which
they were uttered were both SO un
natural that Clarence leaned back in
his chair n regarded her with amaze
ment while trying to determine wheth.
err or not the shock Of a sudden pro-
posal had turned her mind.
What is the test ?" he asked, eau
tiously.
Next week." she said, 81 shall
begin a new story. 1t is to be written
at the order of an eastern publishing
house and will contain about 10, 600
words. l received the letter only yes
terday requesting me to contribute,
and as yet ! have thought out no plot or
plan to be followed in its construction.
| shall begin however, on Monday.
Now, Mr.. Lay, | propose that you
illustrate the story"
C~larence's brow cleared.
rnat will be easily DONE" he said,
with a sigh Of relief. "As soon as
you get it written, Miss Pearson, turn
it over to me and [ promise you hat |
will produce a set OF pictures hat will
story and d tC your reputation and
mine"
"YOu don't understand, Mr.. Hay"
she replied quickly. 81 don't mean that
you shall read my work first and then
illustrate it. Oh, no. Anybody could
do that. You shall illustrate it through
II system of mental ~telcpathy. The
publishers are in no great hurry for
the story and | shall not try to finish
1t in less than a month. During that
time you are not to see me at all, con.
~sequently you will not be able to gain
the slightest Glow from word or look
Of mine as to what is the nature Of the
article. All your knOwle dye must be
derived solely through the cOmmunica-
tion of Jour mind with mine. Your
brain must nov in unison with
mine and the aspirations of our souls
must harmonic. You must be pos
sessed of that fine intuition that
will enable you to comprehend my
thoughts, whatever may be the dis
lance between us. In short, you must
turn author as we'll as artist and con.
celvc the same situations hat [ DO.
The only difference will be in the OK
ccutiOn, | expressing them in words,
you in pictures"
Clarence groaned helplessly.
Great heavens, Miss Pearson" he
exclaimed. What do you take me
for, any way? l am no mind reader.
| didn't know you believed in suci
stuff"
"Of course, you didn't know. That
was what | meant when ] said you
didn't understand me as you should.
| have dabbled in all the occult sciences.
firmly believe in s~piritualisln, hyno.
tism and ~theosophy-"
Socialism syntax and prosody, u be
interposcd viciously.
Don't interrupt Inc, please" She
returned, with an air Of severity. "
know that 1T is possible to read til,
future in cards and in tho starr, and |
also know that mind reading will in
time become as commonplace as con-
versing by means of spoken and written
words Is now. To be sure, ! am not
such a staunch advocate OF ideaiism as
to assert that our bodies exist in imagi-
nation only, but do believe that miDu
is far more powerful than matter. II
has always seemed very strange to
me, Mr.. Hay" she added, tentatively,
that you should be 30 practical. '
have always supposed that an artist
should have an exceedingly vivid i'm
agipation."
II am not entirely iyvoid Of it," he
rctorted, bitterly, but exercise com.
mon sense more han anything else.
BESIDES, | am not II Raphael nor Il
Murillo. Perhaps if we're | should
be something o an anomaly with their
power OF vision seeing allied to my
decided practically. capable of enrn.
ing a good salary, and [ never expect
TO be anything else, because it isn't in
me. Pm too practical. But [ am
pretty true to nature, and | think, Miss
Pearson, that IL you will give IL fellow
q fair show | could illustrate your
story as well any one"
But she was obdurate to all his an.
peals.
Don't argue with me on try to
change my views" she said. "T6is is
no mere whim. On the contrary, il is |
a serious matter. decided upon these
conditions years ago. If you cannot do
as ] have suggested we arc not fitted for