The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-12
THE WAY STORIES END
Cincinnati Enquirer.

Cincinnati ENQUIRER.
'Well?" ] asked, as she laid down the
gayly covered magazine. | was sorry
for the ending OF the tale. when the
| grey eyes ceased to fash and the kind
| lips to culver.
1T Is a pretty story. Mr.. Norton" she
said 'Oh. no, you needn't shake your
head. I'm not saying so just because
It's yours. ! cannot imagine how you
could write It,
| "Pen and ink, whisky and soda, tall
or's bill as a stimulusr
please don't make fun. I want TO be
| serious" When she looks at me in her
earnest way l am helpless
'D-A that mean criticism?" / In
CURED, leaning a little toward her
| Criticism and .nluiry-if / may?"
Inquiry by all means I'm rather
afraid of your criticism, do you know"
/ She is very bright and her remarks often
help me. as matter OF fact.
] She opened and shut the magazine alb
sently
What l was wondering she said,
was why you wrote so seriously aud
talked so frivolodsly whether enc mood
was the real you and the ether sham
you, and which which,!
81 think I protested 81 would rather
: have the criticism If you don't mind"
She laughed softly. 1 like her laugh.
ut is rather an obstrusive question But
/ I should very much like to know You
do mean thIs'-she touched the book
"a little. don't your"
"Ye-es. l said. 81 suppose do. I did
when / wrote It, anyhow"
! And afterwArds?''
! 81 keep my seriousness for serious con-
sideration.'
(Which is a rebuke for my inqulsitive-
ness. | SUPPOSE She flushed little. She
is rather pale generally. Some people
coll haF I
II didn't mean 1t to be-" 1 apologized.
81 ought to be fiattered at your interest
I'm your tales" she corrected.
''In my tales OF course ! suppose the
real answer is. that ] do not carry my
heart upon my sleeve.
"But YOU have one all the same?' A
! touch of usefulness makes her voice per-
feet.
''Tryr" / caught her eyes for moment
and stopped. ] had made up my mind
to keeD heart-whole before met her.
/ Now for the criticism" she continued.
/ hastily.
stard"
THE criticism must not be misunder-
stood. You viii remember, please. that I
like the tale-llke 1t very much, in fact"
| l bowed.
THE criticism is-?"
THAT IT is a repetition of your other
tales" I gasped.
|
emit" She shook her head. Fresh char
acters. fresh scenery. new plot. original
! phrases
"Fhe machinery Is different. but the
story Is really the same.
I'm what way? In being about man
and a woman?"
Yes" 1 laughed
eff you can invent a third kind OF
person." I said, 'I'll utilize it with pleas
ure. At present I haven't made the dis
| covery."
Don't be absurd What I mean is
that your men and women always do the
| same thing"
Fall in lover"
Exactly"
There are lots of ways Of doing it,"
! suggested.
cat the present rate you will soon ex-
haust them. Whatever VIII You DO
! them"
| l lit a cigar, with her permission, to
| aid reflection.
I'm hanged If I know. I've often won
| dered myself Make them fall out Of
love. I suppose"
And when you've exhausted that?"
make them fall in again!" She
stamped her foot impaHently
! do you absolutely refuse to be orig
inal? 1 cannot think you do yourself JUS
tice in keeping to such a hackney theme
! J.
| 81 might do It better II l had more
| experience" 1 suggested There is some
thing about her big eyes and the little
droop at the corners of her mouth which
makes fellow say that sort of thing,
! you know.
Now remember our compact" she
warned me. We were pledged to
purely platonic friendship. I've had that
sort of thing in my tales, but It always
broke down.
THE keeping of platonic compact"
said l. would be a novel theme. don't
you think?"
Would it be interesting enough?" she
asked. doubtfuHy
There! What stronger defense could
1 have? I propose to leave out the love-
making. and you say that the interest
would be gone" She drummed upon
the table with her fingers.
Surely there Is some other theme?'
1 knocked the ash deliberately off ny
cigar.
Upon my word" 1 confessed. I'm
not sure that there is. But in think It
over It,"
Then her brothers came in, ana We
changed the subject until WAS going Il
Is part Of the compact that she shal -
me out OF tina door. ] insisted uE0a It.