The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1901-10-05
The Way the
Stories End
BY ). a. FLYNN

ttIXT ELF" / asked. as she lait
wv down the gayly-covered mag
anne. l was sorry for the ending o.
The tale, when the gray eyes ceased tc
fash and the kind lips to culver.
at is pretty story, Mr.. Norton
she said. 20, 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.
cr's bill as stimulus!"
"Please don't make fun. I want to
he Serious" When she looks at me in
her earnest way am helpless.
Does that mean criticism?" l in
ouired leaning little towards her.
"Criticism and inquiry-if I 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 matter of fact.
She opened and shut the magazine
absently.
"What was wondering" she said
y s'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, if you don't
mind,s
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, II suppose I do. ]
4 did when wrote it, anyhow"
Sand afterwards?"
II keep my seriousness for serious
occasions"
(which is rebuke for my inquisi-
tiveAess, suppose?" She flushed a
little. She is rather pale generally.
Some people wouldn't call her good
looking. do.
II didn't mean it to be-" apologized.
II ought to be fattered at your inter-
est"
"In 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
perfect.
"Try!" I caught her eyes for a mo-
ment and stopped. ] had made up my
mind to keep heart-whole before met
her.
"Now for the criticism she con-
tinued, hastily.
"0r as large an installment as can
stand"
"rhe criticism must not be misun-
derstood. You will remember, please,
that like the tale-like it very much,
in fact" bowed.
"rhe criticism is-?"
"That it is a repetition of your other
tales" I gasped.
"Why, thought 1t was quite differ
entl" She shook her head. 'Fresh
characters, fresh scenery, new plot,
original phrases"
~rhe machinery is different, but the
I story is really the same"
"In what way? In being about man
and woman?"
"Yes." / laughed.
IF you can invent third kind of per-
son." said, "I'll utilize it with pleas
are. At present ! haven't made the
discovery"
Don't be absurd. What mean is
that your men and women always do
the same thing"
Fall in love-"
Exactly"
"There are lots of ways of doing it,"
Suggested.
AT the presentrate you will soon
exhaust them. Whatever will you do
shen?"
lit cigarette>with her permission
to aid reflection.
I'm hanged if / know. I've often
wondered myself. Make them fall out
OF love, suppose"
And when you've exhausted that?"
Make them fall in againl" She
stamped her foot impatiently.
DO you absolutely refuse to be
3 oeAoAs CduuOb lulHA JOu Nv yOuA
self justice in keeping to such hack
neyed theme-though admit you do
u very nicely"
u might do it better If had more
practical experience" l suggested.
There is something about her big eyes
and the little droop at the corners OF
nsr mouth which makes fellow say
mat sort of thing, you know.
Now, remember our compact" she
warned me. We were pledged to
purely platonic friendship. I've had
e1at sort of thing in my tales, but 1t
always broke down.
The keeping Of platonic compact"
sag !, would be novel theme, don't
You thinlx?"
Would it be interesting enough
she asked, doubtfuIly.
fherel What stronger defense
could | have? l propose to leave out
tne love-making, and you say that the
interest would be gone" She drummed
Hpen the table With her fingers