The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-11-13

course. worth nothing at all In such q
presence as this. But Mr.. Hilyard has
read IT,"
..Indeedr' said Abbott. squirting
through his glasses at the author. His
criticism should be OF value. Mr.. Hih
yard has written a great many stories.
and some of them have been really ex-
cellent. We have printed one now and
then
when I've been at a club stag or
bachelor dinner" said Hilyard, "and
wake up the next morning with that
! sad view OF the dreariness and empti-
ness of life which comes to q fellow at
such times always sit down and
write a story for your magazine"
There is no limit TO the eccentricities
OF genius" said Miss Leigh.
Undoubtedly" said Hilyard. But
really, Abbott. l think you've made q
mistake about In the Light of the
Moon 1t is a very clever story"
Abbott put the ends OF his fingers
carefully together and gazed thought
fully down ut them. Then he looked
up.
Il have been giving the subject a
studious attention. he said, "and the
| result is that have become convinced
| that the matter of the resemblance be-
| tween the two sisters may be entirely
| eliminated without detriment to the
story; indeed, with positive benefit"
II thought that the whole plot turn
ed ON it," said Miss Leigh timidly.
Abbott assumed the air OF a gentle
| and patient schoolmaster.
1T is true" he said, that a certain
number Of the incidents must be modi-
fed, perhaps even excised, but the plot
is quite a secondary matter in such q
delightful bit of writing. There will
be enough action, I assure you, and we
shall be rid OF the jarring improba-
bility involved in your hero's mistaking
one of the sisters for the other. 1t is
distinctly humorous. Of course. l smil-
ed repeatedly while reading 1t. And
| yet the fact remains that in real life
we never find a similar state Of at
fairs
MY dear Mr. Abbott" said Hilyard,
"in n house where ! boarded for two
years there were twin brothers upward
| of forty years old who from their infancy
had ressmblsd each other 30 closely that
only their nearest intimates pretended to
| be able to distinguish one from the other.
They were called Uncle Billy and Uncle
Willie in that house. though neither of
them was really named William Night
after night / saw them sitting side by
side at the dinner table. but I never knew
which was which. for the one who came
to the table nrst always took the chair
upon the right. though / should never
/ have known IL IL the landlady hadn't told
/ ThQy draaHed nreClaely alike thev
were growing gray in exactly the same
degree and bald In precisely similar areas.
and II was said that not even their den-
tist knew Uncle Billy from Uncle Willie. 50
oh I say, Hryardi" exclaimed Abbott.
You are 30 ginativsi"
II am telling you the frozen TRUTH" re-
| sponded Hilyard. Moreover. these broth
| ers excited my interest I'm the subject e
| such an extent that I Investigated several
} cases Of resemblance which they them
! selves happened to know of. and ! found
, among other curiosities three sisters who
| were much alike as three impressioni
from the same page OF type. and an uncle
and nephew who were not only the pre-.
; else images of each other. but wrote ex.
. actly the same hand This 10 Q very triv.
ial matter. Brother Abbott. but IL con
. tains a lesson for you. There are more
things in this world that you won't be
lieve than would fili your magazine with
good stun for q hundred years. Go out
| side your Office and md some Of them"
I'm afraid that ] lack your enthusi
ssm.' said Abbott. "Yeu 20 out and se'
, / what you wish TO see. while see onl,
what is real and Tangible. But about thi
. | story. Miss Leigh
D IF you say another word about IT.
| cried the girl. 81 shall 20 into mysteries
And you wouldn't like that: know yol
: wouldn't. Mysteries are 90 Dreadful,
0 / realistic"
"You are making fun OF me-" repiie
L A..A ~ Axss ball mlx
| ing that Miss Leigh was laboring unde
+ | considerable excitement
1, mo, nor she exclaimed. 81 am as serI
Gus as can be. II 10 only with the great
Z est dificuity that I can bring myself Z
speak of that story at all"
r Abbott was sincerely affected and no
little nattered In the more selnsh n
| gioas of his soul
"It In a great grief to me-" he said
/, ''that should have done anything to dis
|, | courage YOU"
He paused and glanced toward Hilyart
" who had strolled to the piano and wa
q | turning over the pages OF some music.
L II wish that might help you.' Abbo'
continued IN lower tone. II hay
thought about you-realiy I would M
1nre to tell you how much: the interest {
r the artist and OF the friend also. IL ma
| he so bold as to say ! am sure ths
sou have a great future under the prop,
Y Influences. and coahicntially. / must te
II -Nr fngt NJ. ttiAHFt 3 lflNufnCe QOes M
- fall within that defiri;ion. IL Il were pc
/ sssIssibir. would venture to say that
% am sorry tSat you know him. He II &
- | apostle Of strenuous literature: his stori'
u are feysrish: ne seems determined TO hui
n | UP something that nobody else ever heal
IN | OF. You must not b. like him in any wa
IL will wreck your literary future;
BLESS my soall'' exclaimed the gil
=, with an intensity that really suggests
Of hystericai laughter. II have no literal
= future. nor present nor past ! can't wri
worth a cent I've tried. and can't I
IT,"
at 1T isn't possible said he. lookii
sIioyed upon one side of his face al
pleased upon the other. that my crf
D. icism has seemed so harsh as to discou
age you. ] am deeply sorry. and tru
ou that you will let me make amends.
"It's no use" she protested 1t real
isn't any use at all. Let us talk abo
something else. Don't you think that
he Hilyard plays beautifully"
at Abbott glanced at Iiilyarj. who had
-, gun to play softly upon the piano. II "
ia true that he played very well, with a 81
or 1 prising quality Of tenderness. and I
ia. editors taste was sufficiently cultivated
h. | recognize the merit of The Rerforman
so But Just Mt that moment his soul did I
et= thirst foT Mr.. iiiiyard's music. Ii thir
at | ed for that gentleman's absence. w
,ui didn't he go? IL was bad form for him
~ remain. yet lie showed no Intention
leaving and even had the air OF walt
TO- with some specific end In view. Howev
AZ IL the fellow must stay II was at LEI
kind OF him to make q noise with
plano.
e. My dear Miss Leigh" said Abbott.
nat am sure that you making gr
,ttc error / have not failed to recognize
merit OF your work. 1 merely drew att
icy tion to a crudity. We are all liable
lar such mistakes at first But one imp
hat sible detail In your very tirst literary
do tempt is a mere trine. II you would o
,1 accept my help. 1 am sure there might