The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-02-18
The ay the
Stories End
hNTELL9" I asked, as she laid

Ella" 1 asked, as she laid
wv down the gayly-covered mag
azine. l a sorry for the ending OF
the tale, when the gray eyes ceased to
fash and the kind lips 10 CULVER.
1T is a 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. Ieannot imagine how
you could write it."
pen and ink, whisky and soda, tail
or's bill as a stimulus!"
please don't make fun. I want to
be serious" When she looks at me in
her way l am helpless.
Does that mean criticism?" I in
quired. leaning a little towards her.
Criticism and inquiry-if 1 mayo"
Inquiry by all means. I'm rather
afraid of your criticism, do you know"
She is very bright. and her remarks
often help me, as a matter of fact.
She opened and shut the magazine
absently.
What I was wondering" she said.
was why you wrote so seriously, and
talked so frivolOusly; whether one
mood was the real you, and the other
a sham you; and which was which,"
II think" l protested. 81 would
rather have the criticism. if you don't
mind"
She laughed softly. like her laugh.
'It IS rather an obtrusive question.
But l should very much like to know.
You do mean this"-she touched the
book little, don't you?"
Yes" I said. Il suppose 1 do. 1
did when 1 wrote it, anyhow"
"ASd afterwards?"
81 keep my seriousness for serious
occasions"
(Which is a rebuke for my inquisi-
tiveness, I suppose?" She flushed a
little. She is rather pale generally.
Some people wouldn't call her good
looking. lido.
Il didn't mean it to be" IapoEogized.
81 ought to be hattered at your inter
est"
'In your tales" she corrected.
"In my tales. of course. 1 suppose
the real answer is. that I 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. Ihad made up my
mind to keep heart-whole before I met
her.
Now for the criticism" she con-
tinued, hastily.
"or as large an installment as I can
The criticism must not be misun-
derstood. You will remember. please.
that I like the tale-like it very much,
in fact" I bowed.
THE criticism is-?"
THAT it is a repetition of your other
1 gasped.
why, 1 thought it was quite differ
emit" She shook her head. Fresh
characters, fresh scenery, new plot,
original phrases"
The machinery is different, but the
story is really the same"
I'm what way? In being about a man
and a woman?"
Yes" 1 laughed.
"If you can invent a third kind of per-
son." 1 said. I'm utilize it with pleas
ure. AT present 1 haven't made the
discovery"
Don't be absurd. What I mean is
that your men and women ALWAYS do
the same thing"
Fail in love-"
Exactly"
There are lots of ways Of doing it,"
[ suggested.
AT the present rate you viii soon
exhaust them. Whatever will you do
/ lit a cigarette with her permission
o aid reflection.
"Tm hanged if 1 know. I've often
wondered myself. Make them fall out
love, l suppose"
And when you've exhausted that?"
MAKE them fall in againl" She
her foot impatiently.
DO you absolutely refuse to be
original? cannot think you do your
elf justice in keeping to such a hack
theme-though l admit YOU do
t very nicely"
Il might do it better if 1 had more
PRACTICAL experience" 1 suggested.
there is something about her big eyes