River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-03-06
riclss Of the
II a de
BY F. H. LANCASTER.
copyrighted BY Authors syndicate.)

TIE LOOKED up at her, creasing his
brows against dazzle and doubt
Ut isn't so much talent as"
"Experience?" she suggested. "That
sun is putting your eyes out. Even if
you have but moment to stay you
might as well take one of these
chairs and be comfortable"
Thank you" He left his perch on
the steps and drew up a basket chair
with preoccupied carefulness.
''No, it isn't experience" he said,
leaning forward to lay his hat on the
banister. II have never had any expe-
rience in love-making. You needn't be-
gin to smile. Honestly, I haven't. tits
only understanding the tricks of the
trade
''You seem to understand them she
commented "Your love stories are
about the best / see"
"Now you are laughing at me. But
I am in earnest. There is a good deal of
art in writing a love story"
eyes" she admitted, 81 imagine you
have to split good many fine hairs.
Il
the trade come in-or is it the art?"
ooh, it is all the same thing"
what? Tricks of the trade and
art?"
eyes" he maintained. cit is all in
understanding ones business"
"You seem to have made an ex-
haustive study of making" she as
scented.
81 daresay it will sound absurd to
you. Those strong, bright little essays
of yours show so much care and study,
but / have studied this thing as ear
nestly, more earnestly than l ever
studied anything"
"And where do the tricks of the
trade come il? '' she asked, interested.
'In knowing just how much to say?"
"No," he hesitated, rather in know
ing how to make what you leave unsaid
say great deal"
"Well, you can do that" she said,
warmly. ''Those little things of yours
often remind me of what Ruskin said
of Titan. You remember? That he
could put the issue of life and death
into the back of man asking the
way?''
Nov please stop laughing at me-"
Il am not laughing. You may call
It trick of the trade, but I call it gen
;us."
"Wasn't it Carlyle who said that gen
Jus was only an enlarged capacity for
hard work?'
n. T r. - l. / L.,
entirely too honest"
A quick smile leaped to his lips.
''You will never believe anything good
of that poor man because he treated
his wife so roughly"
'Why, when you consider that she
gave up everything on earth for him,
l imagine that his idea of genius was
to make life burden for every being
that he held authority over"
"Have you read his Everlasting
Mop"
"Of course, know that he was
shrewd and accurate thinker. [ admit
his genius, but"
ellis wife has your sympathy?"
"To be sure"
There was one of those short easy
silences that drop so naturally into
the converse tions of congeniaI people.
The man was the first to speak. "You
have been so good this afternoon that
think you deserve to pay the fine that
all good people have to pay for their
good nature and be imposed upon.'
She smiled as her eyes turned lazily
vi l. -
me? You?"
"Yes. l am going to gain your con-
sent to project that have long had at
heart"
Il suppose it is not worth while for
me to say anything?"
'Oh, you can say yes, you know"
''Well! And what is your protector
Lets get out book together. You
will contribute the essays and I'll fur
niSh the love stories. We will call it
wheat and Tares.' My stories will be
the Tares."
81 doubt that. There is more of the
staff of life in your love-making than
in my reasoning. Do you suppose we
could get it published?"
Brown Bros. have agreed to bring
it out. Eight per cent. royalty. They
will want it before SPRING
She laughed at his nerve
'You seem to have investigated the
subject pretty thoroughly"
1T was all conditional-in case you
consented
She smiled and looked away toward
the distant sea view. If his PROPOSE
ton held its promise of pleasure it also
held an aftermath of pain. And just
at present common sense was inclined
TO lay more stress upon the undesira-
bility of pain than upon the desira bill
ity of pleasure.
''You will consent, won't you?" he
asked, anxiously.
She paused moment to bid common
sense deliberate farewell Yes
she said, Il suppose we could manage