The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1898-01-11
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
Phyllis has written story, and am
to tell her what to call it.

and fail TO see why should be both
cred with the christening. / tried to OK
plain this view to Phyllis, but she could
not grasp it. She said it sounded selfish.
If there is one thing in tho world Phyl-
lis detests, it is sclfishness, SO she in
vaded my smoking room this morning,
took away the book that l was reading
and altogether made herself obnoxious
until L agreed to give her the benefit of
my advice. That means that am to
mako suggestions which she negatives.
The moment yielded Phyllis became
her own self again. Sho assured me
there was no one in the world whose
literary opinion she valued more than
mine, and she lit me cigarette
81 don't want to read you my story
just at present." she commenced, "not
till it's typewriter, but I'll give you
an idea of what it's about, SO that you
may know what sort of name is re-
CURED
"Thanlz you very much" 1 said
cts very kind of you to take so much
trouble
"It hasn't very much plot contin-
ucd Phyllis immovably. sit goes in
more for being bit of character paint
ing. 1t is tho picture of young, very
innocent country girl. She is very beau
tiful and-and all that Phyllis waved
her hand comprehensively- there
are six men who arc madly in love with
her. She, however, hardly knows what
the word means Phyllis looked at mo
for approbation-"an and is absolutely ig-
norant of the true state of affairs In
some ways, :" she added i'll an explain
atory tone, she is rather childish. -
'Sho must be. assentcd, and L tap
ped my forehead significantly.
Tho men are obviously drawn from
life" Phil went on, land may be taken
as types off,
"Hello!" I interrupted. "Have you
written the critiQue too?'
Phyllis had tho grace to blush
''Tho story ends, - she concluded hur-
riedly, with tho girl acquiring the
knowledge that transforms her from q
child into Il woman.''
ooh, it ends there, does it?" I said
pleasantly. "Wcll, now about the title. )"
Phyllis looked disappointed, but I
was not going to criticiso the story till
I had read it. AS she herself admitted,
the plot WASH It much.
What do you say to Miranda, a
Myth?' 1 suggested.
But her name isn't Miranda, =" ex-
postulated Phil.
THAT, admit, is an objection, " said
L. You couldn't make her Miranda, /
SUPPOSE"
Il could, of course, " replied Phyllis
sensibly enough, eff wished, but
don't"
was silent. My mind was a blank.
Il don't want the name to anticipate
the story" said Phyllis. 81 should like
something that didn't commit ono too
much. Don't you think quotations arc
rather nice?''
Very nice" l agreed, for once start
ed on quotations feel on safe ground.
You might call it Oh, the Pity of
1t! said on the spur of the moment
Phyllis looked at me obviously.
Does that refer to the men falling
Ill love-" she asked.
Dear, mol" | said reassurinslv. "It
refers TO tho girls ignorance of the
fact"
Phyllis shook her head. "It won't
do" sho said.
After Long Grief and Pain" 1
hazarded on tho off chance that there
was something i'll the story that would
bear out the title, but | could see by
Pills face that there wasn't.
Then | grew desperate.
l suggested Flower o. the Glove, -
'Lifc's Flower" and half Il dozen 9th
ers, all equally inappropriate, from the
same author. Phyllis knew her Brown
ing and asked for no explanations, for
which L felt grateful, but her silence
was discouraging. At last she spoke.
"They are all very nice, 10, and
and very clever" sho said, with studi-
Gus politcness. "but they none of them
seem quite TO fit my story
Il cannot, of course, guarantee per-
feet fit, " said without reading it. i"
Then l had ono more inspiration.
Call it ~ Plethora of Lovers. -
said l.
"What does that mean?" asked Phyl-
lis
1T means too many" answered.
This afforded Phyllis much food for
thought
II don't think six too many" she
said impartially.
For quiet country girlr' 1 ex-
claimed.
Phyllis took up her hcroinos cause
warmly.
eff girl is very pretty and-and
very attractive" she said, "she is
bound to have Il lot of lovers and IA lot
of proposals.
She is bound to have somc,'' I cor
rected, mot lot. y girl who lets her
proposals run into-wcll, say double