Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1901-10-04
The ay the
Stories End
BY j. A. FLYNN

wv down the gayly-covered mag
azine. l was sorry for the ending of
the tale, when the gray eyes ceased to
fla sh and the kind lips to culver.
1T is a pretty story, Mr.. Norton"
she said. 80. no, you needn't shake
your head. I'm not saying so just be-
cause it's yours. Icannot imagine how
you could write it,"
Pen and ink, whisky and soda, tail
or's bill as stimulus!"
"Please don't make fun. I want to
her earnest way l am helpless.
Does that mean criticism" ] in
quired, leaning a little towards her.
"Criticism and inquiry-if | may?"
Enquiry by all means. I'm rather
afraid of your criticism, do you know"
She is very bright, and her remarks
often help me, as a matter of fact.
She opened and shut the magazine
absently.
"What / was wondering" she said,
"was why you wrote so seriously, and
talked so frivolously; whe ether one
mood was the real you, and the other
a sham you; and which was which,"
81 think" l protested, 81 would
rather have the criticism, if you don't
mind"
She laughed softly. | like her laugh.
at is rather an obtrusive question.
But | should very much like to know.
You do mean this"-she touched the
book-"a little, don't you?"
"Ye-es," said. 81 suppose do.
did when / wrote ii, anyhow"
''And afterwards"
al keep my seriousness for serious
occasions"
(Which is rebuke for my inquisi-
tiveness, l suppose" She flushed
liItle. She is rather pale generally.
Some people woHldn't call her good
looking. l do.
81 didn't mean it to be-" apologized.
''l ought to be fiattered at your inter-
est"
"In your tales" she corrected.
SIN my tales, of course. / suppose
the real answer is, that l do not carry
my heart upon my sleeve"
But you have one, all the same?"
A touch of usefulness makes her voice
perfect.
TRY" l caught her eyes for mo-
ment and stopped. had made up my
mind to keep heart-whole before met
her.
"Now for the CRITICISM" she con-
Gnued, hastily.
"Or as large an installment as l can
stand"
= The criticism must not be misun-
derstood. You will remember, please,
that like the tale-like it very much,
An fact" / bowed.
"The criticism is-?"
''That it is repetition of your other
tales" / gasped.
"Why, l thought it was quite differ
ent!" She shook her head "Fresh
characters, fresh scenery, new plot,
original phrases"
1.-The machinery is different, but the
story is really the same"
"In what way? In being about man
and woman?"
"Yes." | laughed.
"If you can invent a third kind of per-
SON" / said, ''I'll utilize it with pleas
ure. At present l haven't made the
discovery"
"Don't be absurd. What / mean is
that your men and women always do
the same thing
"Fail in love"
Exactly"
"There are lots Of ways of doing it,"
suggested.
"At the present rate you will soon
exhaust them. Whatever will you do
then?"
lit cigarette with her permission
60 aid reflection.
"Iw hanged II know. I've often
wondered myself. Make them fall out
of love, suppose"
"And when you've exhausted that"
snake them fall in again!" She
stamped her foot impatiently.
"Do you absolutely refuse to be
original? cannot think you do your
self justice in keeping to such hack
ueyed theme-though | admit you do
u very nicely"
~ might do it better II / had more
practical experience" ] suggested.
There is something about her big eyes