The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-28
The Story Thai
Was Never Told

They were sitting under a shady tree,
looking a little tired. when the girl
suddenly asked her companion: Did
you ever write a story?"
mo" he replied. Did you?"
mot deliberately"
"Then suppose we write one togeth-
er-deliberately."
"Very we'll How shall we begin?"
LET our heroine first appear on a
gallant steed, suggestive of Diana Ver-
non."
"Oh, no, do not have her come pranc-
ing in."
"She need not prance necessarily"
"She might enter on a bicycle"
THAT would not show her 1.-THE form
to as good advantage"
you would not give her a 1.-the form,
hone. it sounds like Amelie Rives."
Graceful figure, then"
"That is too commonplace"
"She need not have a figure"
"a heroine without a figure? What
an ideal"
"Well, propose something yourself,
and let me criticise. 1t is my turn.
| What kind of a heroine would you
| have?"
"A well-bred one, anyway. One-half
| Of the modern heroines would be hoot-
ed out Of society if they appeared in
genuine flesh and blood. And their dis
mayed originators would be the first to
| condemn them"
| You are severe"
perhaps so, but our heroine must
| be a lady And she shall not talk to
mon as if they were all athletes, or
skeptical philosophers"
"Then that Is the first indispensable
requirement--a lady. And she must
not ride a gallant steed."
Yes, she may, but not in the first
chapter. A little jockey cap on her
golden hair would be lovely"
You certainly would not give her
| golden hair"
why not?"
at is so suggestive of bleaching"
What kind can she have them"
Let it be an indescribable tint. That
is an expression should use very often,
if l were an author. 1t suggests such
glorious possibilities"
Then lady with indescribable hair
She must have eyes, aiso."
Certainly"
Let her have eyes of opalescent lus-
tire, like Edgar Saltus' fetching young
women"
Now our heroine is an established
fact-a creature with indescribably-
tinted hair, and eyes of opalescent lus-
ire. like that. But she must have a
lover
"Only one?'
"She may have a dozer in the back
ground, but she can accep: only one
Shall he be merely lover. or really
a MANI"
"A man. In these days we must be
realistic, or die. Sentiment is obsolete
They will fall in love, but in wary
and most guarded manner-pn her part
at least"
"You need not insinuata anything
agains- her, jus. because she is a wo,
man."
Il would not insinuata anything fol
this living world. We agreed that she
should be a model"
"Shal. they fall in love at sight?"
"You unsophsticated child! They
are not the Children of the Abbey, MOI
related in any way to Alonzo and Me.
| liSsa."
But love must come in somewhere
mot love. but kind of hypnotic in
fiuence. Each soul experiences a gentl,
shock of recognition. such as Plato!
divided beings feel when they come to
gether again."
Where shall they undergo thi
unique experience? Where shall the!
first meet?"
Now is the chance for you to exer
else your ingenuity, and propose som,
original place of meeting"
Let it be the Board of Trade"
you certainly would not have tha
refined, lady-like creature speculatin
in pork"
'She need not eat it. and I do no
! know a more fascinating place thai
the exchange"
Suppose she should fail in love witt
a wild speculator?"
There! You just reproved me 70
even thinking of falling in love"
mo, indeed / should pronounce I
: an admirable thing for you to do"
"Pshaw!"
"Do not say that"
well. keep to the story"
81 am obedience itself"
IF you object to the exchange as
: place of meeting, let it be the Lick oh
7. servatOry."
: THAT is a jump. Just like wo
: man."
You need not say that. Women ar
not half as likely to jump as men,"
Il withdraw the criticism"
= "Will the Lick observatory suit you
: ideas?"
yes. 1t would suggest topics 70
animated scientific discussion. fror
, which they could gracefully slide, dn
well-bred, squarely posed manner) in
T to a discussion of the cardiacal--"
. stop! / will not write a story wit
= you, for think you are horrid."
do not be so severe. Let us writ
= our own story--or act it,"
"Act how our own story? How?"
Let us fall in love with each othe
as in the good old times. 1t is so cas-,
at least for me, Bessie" and he put hi
arm audaciously Ground her. wi
you try?"
with all my might and main," sh
- answered, nesting up against him a
if audacity were rather admirable tha
. otherwise.
4 And you like our story best ?"
e II do not believe we ever could max
= any one else's as interesting"
t Nor i, my darling. And perhaps
j. would be more merciful to the world &
o large II many other writer's came /
i the same conclusion"
IS And this wise and tender youn
n couple were very happy.