Daily camera., 1901-11-30
The Way the
Stories End
- !. 4. FLYNN

''W ELLT I asked as she laid
w down the gayly-covered mag
azine. / was sorry for the ending of
the tale, when the gray eyes ceased to
fash and the kind lips to quiver.
Il, is a pretty story, Mr.. Norton
she said. ~, no, you needn't shake
your head. I'm not saying so just be-
cause it's yours. lcannot imagine how
you could write it."
"Pen and ink. whisky and soda, tail
or's bill as stimulus!"
please don't make fun. l want to
be serious" When she looks at me in
her earnest way am helpless.
Does that mean criticism?" I in
quired, leaning little towards her.
"Cri,icisn and inquiry-if may?"
Inquiry by all means. I'm rather
afraid Of your criticism, do you know"
She i. very bright, and her remarks
often help me, as matter of fact.
She opened and shut the magazine
absently.
.Wha, ! was wondering" she said.
was why you wrote so seriously. and
talked so frivolously; whether one
mood was the real you. and the other
. sham you; and which was which,
II think" protested. II would
rather have the criticism. il you don't
mind"
She laughed softly. Hike her laugh.
'1, is rather an obtrusive question,
But / should very much like to know.
You do mean this"-shs touched the
book-"a little. don't you?"
"Ye-es." said, II suppose I DO. I
did when l wrote 1t, anyhow"
And afterwards"
II keep my seriousness for serious
occasions"
(which is . rebuke for my inquisir
tiveness. SUPPOSE" She apshed .
little. She i, rather pale generally.
Some people wouldn't call her good
looking. DO.
II didn't mean it to be-" apologiSed.
y ough, to be flattered at your inter
est"
"In your tales" she corrected.
I'm my tales, Of course. l suppose
the real answer is, that do not carry
my hear, upon my sleeve"
"But you have one, all the same?"
A touch OF wistfulness makes her voice
perfect.
"Try!" caught her eyes for mo-
ment and stopped. 1had made up my
mind to keep heart-whole before met
her.
wow for the critieism," she con-
tinued, hastily.
"or as large ~ instellment ~ ! eaa
stand"
"The criticism must not be misun-
derstood. You will remember. please.
that like the tale-ike 1t very much,
in fact" / bowed.
"The criticism isl"
THAT it is repetition Of your other
tales" gasped,
why, thought 1t was quite differ
ent!" She shook her head. Fresh
characters, fresh scenery. new plot,
original phrases-"
"The machinery is different. but the
story is really the same"
SIN what waye In being about man
and 4 womane"
"Yes." laughed.
"If you can invent third kind of per-
son." I said, "I'u utilize it with pleas
ure. At present haven't made the
discovery"
Don't he absurd. What l mean 10
that your men and women always do
the same thing"
Fall in love"
Exactly"
There are lots Of Ways qf Doing It,"
1 suggested,
NAt the present rate you will soon
exhaust them. Whatever will you do
then?"
l lit cigarette with her permission
to aid reflection.
I'm hanged if I know. I've often
wondered myself. Make them fall oNt
OF love, suppose"
"And when you've exhausted that?"
"Make them fall in again!" She
stamped her, foot impatienuy.
do you absolutely refuse TO be
original? cannot think you do your
self justice in keeping to such hack
neyed theme-though l admit you do
1t very nicely"
II might do it better il I had more
practical experience" I suggested.
There Is something abeut her big eyes