People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1899-08-17

dying to find out what has become Of
the hero. It's enough to make one skip
everything but his conversation"
what merciless critic you ere,
Hester!"
I'm not a critic at all, but know
what pleases me in story; and that's
one of the things that doesn't" She
went to the piano and ran through q
brilliant fantasia while Mrs. Ludlow
tried in vain to think of something else
to urge in behalf of the much-abused
author.
Then there's another thing don't
like about his stories, resumed Hester.
whirling around on the piano-stool.
That's the way he deliberately takes
of the top Of characters head so that
you can see what the person is think.
ing about. It's perfectly ridiculous;
and told him so the other evening"
why, Hester, that was almost vindic.
tive!"
mo, it wasn't; he invited it, and then
tried to defend himself on the score
OF being explicit. l told him he ought
to give his readers credit for at least
half grain of penetration"
What did he say to that?"
He covered his retreat with a well.
turned compliment about all readers
not being so discriminating as-as some
Others"
Mrs. Ludlow smiled: 81 believe he is
quite popular"
"Oh, l don't doubt that in the least.
I'm only speaking for myself. like a
story with a good strong motive and
plenty of life in it; can go to church
when | want to hear sermons"
Hester, you are actually shrewish
this morning. One would think, to
hear you talk, that Mr.. Ringbrand had
mortally offended YOU"
"He has, in way; he has spoiled all
my pretty fancies about authors. |
thought they were superior race, and
here the very first one l meet is sim
ply a well-bred gentleman, who re-.
minds you of all the correct qualities
OF his characters. Think it's too bad !"
at certainly is too bad when you can
find nothing worse than that to say
against him. replied Mrs. Ludlow. ~
was in hopes you would like him."
Il do like him, but I'd adore him if
he wasn't quite So correct" rejoined
Hester, mischievously. Just think
how delightful it would be if he would
only do something dreadfully wicked
or absurd-just the very thing one of
his handsome heroes wouldn't do"
You're quite too incorrigible, Hes.
ter. I'm not going to say another word.
Here comes Mr.. Ringbrand with Tom.
now, and | shall let him fight his own
battles"
At the dinner-table the conversation
turned upon Ringbrand's stroll on the
mountain.
Where did you go, Mr.. Ringbrand?"
asked Hester.
I'm hardly familiar enough with 10.
calities around here to know, but l
think went as far as McNabb's Cove"
Then you saw the home of our
hereditary enemies" she said Did
you notice a log house in the bottom Of
the cove?"
81 did"
I've been telling Hugh the history OF
the feud," said Ludlow; he threatens
to write it up"
why, Ludlow! you know | never
limited at such a thing. Miss Hester, l
hope you won't believe anything that
he says"
I'm not at all afraid of your put
ting the feud into a story" replied Hes
ter, with an air of conviction.
Ringbrand could not let well enough
alone, and he asked: "Why?"
Because the characters are all too
dreadfully impulsive and natural. Yon
couldn't possibly tone them down into
correctness, if you were to try ever so
harA o.
Ludlow laughed uproariously: "Yo'i
don't know how much good that does
Inc. Hester. I've been telling Hugh all
along that he didn't know the first prin-
ciples of story-writing."
I'm sure | don't know why you
should say that" responded the girl,
changing front with an easy facility
that made Mrs. Ludlow catch her
breath. 81 think Mr.. Ringbrand's
stories are perfectly delightful. Ionly
meant that he wouldn't care to use such
rough materials"
Ringbrand glanced up gratefully and
saw Mrs. Ludlow trying TO look re-
proachfully at Hester; then the uncon-
ventiOnality of it all appealed to him
like the turning OF a new leaf in the
book Of experience. and he laughed
pleasantly. do you know it's quite
charming to hear ones self discussed
IN open meeting?" he said. an all my
life I've never heard so much frank
criticism as Miss Latimer and Tom
have given me in the last few weeks.
It's decidedly refreshing, after half a
lifetime Of meaningless praise on one
hand, set off by an equal amount of
spiteful abuse on the other. I'll give
fair warning now, though, that mean
to turn the tables some fine day, and
you'll hear me telling Ludlow how to