The Jennings daily record. [volume] (Jennings, La.) 1900-1903, 1901-11-07
The Way the
Stories End

"MI ELL?" I asked, as she ma lac. ID
.zine. | was sorry for the ending OF
the tale. when the gray eyes ceased To
fash and the kind lips to culver.
eft is a pretty story, Mr.. Norton,
she said. 80, no, you needn't shake
your head I'm not saying so just pc
cause it's yours. Icannot imagine how
YOU could write it"
.sPen and ink, whisky and SOFA talA-
pr's bill as a stimulus!'
.sPlease don't make fun. want TO
he serious When she looks at me In
her earnest way ] am helpless.
Does that mean critlclsm! IN
uuired, leaning a little towards heI:
"Criticism and inquiry-lt may
enquiry by all means. I'm rather
afraid of your criticism, d o you know.
She is very bright, and her remarks
often hslp me, as matter OF tact.
She opened and shut the ma game
absently.
"What ] was wondering" she salo.
.swas why you wrote so seriously anu
talked so frivolously; whether one
mood was the real you, and the otner
q sham you; and which was winch!
81 think" I protested, Il "ou!o
y
mind"
She laughed softly. l like her laugh
.sIt is rather an obtrusive question.
1,ut I should very much like to know.
You do mean this"-she touched the
book-'a little, don't you?'
.sYe-es,'' / said,."I suppose 90.
did when I wrote it. anyhow
"And afterwards?'
81 keep my seriousness for serious
occasions"
(Which is rebuke for my inquisi
tiyeness, l SUPPOSE" She flushed
little. She is rather pale generally
Some people wouldn't call her good
looking. do.
81 didn't mean it to be-" apologize
'T ought to be fiattered at your Inter
est"
.sIn your tales" she corrected.
ssIn nv tales, of course. l suppos
the real answer is, that l DO not carr.
my heart upon my sleeve
But you have one, all the same?
"A touch of usefulness makes her volc
perfect.
"Try!" l caught her eyes for me
ment and stopped. / had made up III
mind to keep heart-whole before me
her.
..Now for the criticism" she cor
tinued, hastily.
'.Or as large an installment as ca
stand
."rhe criticism must not be nlsui
derstood. You will remember, pleas
that ! like the tale-like 1t very nue.
in fact" l bowed.
1.-The criticism is"
"That it is a repetition of your otht
tales" l gasped.
'.Why. l thought il was quite d1ffe
emit" She shook her head. FIRES
characters. fresh scenery, new pho
original PHRASES"
The machinery is different, but II
story is really the same"
I'm what way? In being abouta IN;
and woman?''
Yes" ! laughed.
"If YOU lean invent third kind of pc
SON" said, 'I'u utilize it with plea
ure. At present l haven't made t
discovery
Don't be absurd What l mean
that your men and women always
the same thing"
Fall in love"
EXACTLY"
",There are lots of ways of doing i
i suggested.
cat the present rate you will so
exhaust them. Whatever will you
then?"
! lit a cigarette with her permissi
DO aid reflection.
I'm hanged if ! know. I've oft
wondered myself. Make them fall {
of love, l suppose
'sAnd when you've exhausted tha'
"NIake them fall in again!"
stamped her foot impatiently.
"Do you absolutely refuse TO
original? l cannot think you do 20
self justice in keeping to such ha
ueyed theme-though j admit you
St very nicely"
~ might do it better if 1 had m
practical experience" ! suggest
There is something about her big e