The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-12-03
S~@@~@ee~o~ee @@@<S30~e~~e@
Z OYETHIA's EDUCATION.
s@@@~~@S@s@~e@N N@@~@@NQ@QeS
BY HIB.
BY IIIB

A-Sb Aut otSs Hdlfs IEHttllNtlN. I.
"who was that by, agaln?"
"oh, don't you know? thought that
literature was your domain"
1T was Gregory, was it not?"
"Oh, no. He wrote The Apotheosis
If Passion. The Wasted Talents is
by Levenward, you know He's a new
man, but he's not one Of the shooting
star kind"
Indeed ! remarked, and was imme-
diately conscious that might have said
something more brilliant Most authors
are shooting stars added.
She laughed merrily
From an author that remark is. O;
course, entitled to the greatest consider
alton"
Il meant novelists," | said
She flashed a bright glance at me.
you envy them?"
Did 1? For the fret time l asked my
self the question and was annoyed when
no answer came readily.
"well-er--you would read my boots
if were a novelist"
'Of course would" she replied. with
out seeming to notice the compliment
My appetite for novels is insatabla
DO shock your" she added, vith a
laugh. "Chacon a."
"oh, yes, know" interrupted.
But novels" l paused.
Now do say what you thought Of
saying she entreated.
''They teach you so little" said
81 don't admit that, she returned
"but, in any case. one usually reads
novels for pleasure 1t is only some
times"
dreamy expression came into her
eyes as she broke off. What was sha
thinking Of? Had desire for some
thing noble stirred within her?
you sometimes think that you might
smploy your time to better purpose"
suggested. compelled to ask the ques-
ton, yet afraid ] might chase away the
look on her. face.
My fear was justified. She smiled and
then laughed.
mot exactly that" she said. r
please don't think me rude-i was
thinking that it would be terrible waste
Of time TO read your books"
tried not to let her see that the blow
was heavy one, but my face betrayed
me.
Nov, you're angy,9 she said. I'm
sorry. And I'm not disparaging your
hooks, you know"
"oh, thanks" I said: but you're
quite wrong. They are very bad books
very uninteresting books"
spoke with feeling, because, though
al authors hide should be proof against
all critical shafts, mine was not proof
against hers.
That's quite absurd" she said,
presently. everybody says that you
are immensely sclever, and-and all
that"
Everybody is wrong" returned. g.
couldn't write novel"
rs that the test?" she asked, shaking
her hesd slowly. Then I'm afraid"
Your test" said. "Yol know, if J
could write a novel you wouli think
much more highly Of me than you dc
now"
ut would depend on the noyel, sup.
posing"
"And yet" interrupted with some
scorn, "even If wrote a good move
you might possibly read it. and havins
derived three or four hours pleasure
Il once read SIX in day" she re.
marked thoughtfully.
'1t would have done you more goo
10 read one Of mine" said. "Yor
would at all events have learned some
thing. whereas"
"Oh, but on that occasion dld learr
something; learned the greatest lessor
Of my life"
/ looked at her to see whether she
meant me TO laugh. but Ter face wa
serious-more serious than had eve
known it to be.
''And that was?"
II learned what love was"
I gasped; ara before had time e
recover. she added:
"And ] miyhf read your books fror
one years erd 10 the other and No
learn s. uuch."
1t was quite true In the half dozr'
t.tt.. t... -.tfrt i,,re NV nan.