Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-01-03
~ hats just what should like to
have you tell me-" he replied.

our story! eAclalmeu LelSHIoH.
Eyes, my story. l just told you I
was Miss Barker"
Leighton stared at her for mo-
ment; then great light burst upon
him. He jerl1ed the blue envelope out
Of the package, opened the manu-
script quickly and saw written across
the top of it Miss Barkers full name
and address. He colored slightly, and
said
Il had not connected you with the
story at all. Miss Barker. In fact,
this is the first time | have looked
at the authors name. How very odd
that you should fave caught me in
the act of reading it." Then, with
smile, do you think it is altogether
fair to hold up a defenseless editor
IN this way?"
81 suppose not" she admitted, "but
I thought if you did lot want the
story, you could give it back to me
now, and that would save you the
trouble Of mailing it and of writing
me one of your complimentary little
fibs. Besides, it is not often that one
gets a real live editor into ones
hands, just fresh from ones own
manuscript"
Very true" said Leighton, look
ing vacantly at the blue envelope.
His confidence in his editorial judg-
ment was returning. He felt better.
Miss Barker, aftey' all, was not, as he
had imagined. representative of the
great class of magazine readers.
She had turned out to be the most
prejudiced audience he could have
had. He gave a little sigh of relief.
1T is not usually profitable under
taking" he began, ito tell an author,
especially woman. the truth about
her literary work. but if you will
assume the responsibility, l will tell
you honestly wherein lie the faults
and the merits of your story"
II will assume the entire response
bility," she replied. eagerly, "and con-
slider it privilege"
Very well, then" said Leighton,
and he at once proceeded to give
Miss Barker a little impromptu
lecture on the art of story writing.
He was earnest and forceful in his
manner, and she listened attentively.
She did not like some of the things
he said about her work, but she could
see that they might be true. He
praised what he had liked in her
story, even more than it deserved,
and then ne gave her a few words of
advice on her future work.
Don't be too ambitious" he said.
Leave to others to write about
heroes and heroines who love and
die. Write of what you know about,
and see before you. Remember that
there is force in simplicity. Don't lay
the color on too thick Tell your
little tale, and the color will find its
way in of itself. You have no idea
how many people, all over the coun
try, are cudgelling their brains for
intricate plots, when they would add
vastly to the wealth of literature if
they would only write of the simple
things they see before them. Believe
me, you can make a better story out
of what you yourself have been doing
to-day than you can with the antics
of two love-sick puppets of your i'm
far as you can, from real life; then
dress it to suit your fancy. Yet don't
get confounded by that old fallacy
that fact is stranger than fiction. 1t
is not. The startling stories served
up to us as facts are the ones most
cleverly coated with fiction. Use
your Imagination. but don't let your
tf1an tg4 q lion n f.a yA.
ing to tell me the story of the days
events. pick out the salient points.
and make them a trifle more prom
inent by little justihable exaggera.
tion. Just as an actor is made up
with paint for the glare of the foot
lights, so should fact be assisted by
fiction before it is submitted TO the
light of public scrutiny"
Leighton feared he might be grow
ing eloquent, and broke off his lecture
abruptly. He slid the manuscript into
the blue envelope. and handed il 10
Miss Barker. Then he rose and said
he must go. She thanked him and
hoped she had not taken too much of
his time; but she felt as she spoke
that her manner was affected and
distant. She was not thinking of Leigh
ton-she was thinking of what he had
said. He put her on a train. Then
he FASTENED for the dilatory Won
Beck.
About two weeks later another long
blue envelope found its way 10 Leigh.
toms desk, He recognized the hand
writing on II and ripped II open. ex.
pecting TO find revision Of the love
story. But the manuscript bore a diff.
ferent title. A little note slipped out
of its folds:
Dear Mr.. Leighton:
II have followed your advice about
writing of things 1 know and have
eeen, | have accepted your sugges
tIon about using the events of one OF
my own days. Perhaps you will re-
member the day.
Sincerely yours.
IDA BARKER
fnt an fuf a.