The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1904-02-12
TWO C0LLAB0RAT0RS
ny RICHARD Il. SHELTON.

Gray, armed with funny pink parasol,
pad OF paper and handful of pencils,
climbed the path to the lone pine on the
top Of the cliff.
She had barely seated herself with
her back TO the tree and paper and
pencils within easy reach, when Mr..
William Morton appeared toiling along
the path, which gained the summit from
the other side of the Cliff
When he reached the pine and stood
before her, she saw he carried an un-
calmly load Of books and papers under
either arm. These he laid in a pile with
exaggerated care and mopped his brow.
Good morning" he said, cheerfully.
IL fear / shall be Of little use in COM
edy work this morning. Carting this
incipient library up the trail has filed
me with a very proper sense Of tragedy"
For goodness sake" she exclaimed,
surveying the pile, what have you
or, better, what haven't you brought?"
Before We begin work." said 'he.
seating himself by the books, Tets ar
range the implements. Exhibit A. one
farce-comedy in two stupid acts, which
the Utopian club expects you and me to
edit, revise, rewrite and otherwise mall
treat before Friday next Exhibit b.
one Webster's unabridged, a very pres
ent halp in time Of trouble. Exhibit c.
one dictionary of synonyms, invaluable
in running the proper word TO earth.
Exhibit d. six blocks Of paper and
half a ream Of foolscap. Exhibit E.
seven pencils, one fountain pen, a blot
ter and an eraser. We're OIL"
"Its a perfect morning to work," said
the girl. Have you thought Of any
changes yet?"
"The architecture Of the hero is radi-
cally wrong" he said, gloomily. "Itn
never do to let him make love in the
manner he does in the text Girls at
these summer resorts, being experienced
in such matters, make critics not to be
overlooked"
He glanced al her and she flushed
becomingly-so becomingly, in fact, that
all at once he was very thankful the
Utopian club had singled them out for
this week.
you think we must reconstruct the
hero. then" she said.
Exactly; that is. certain portions Of
him." be returned.
He caught up the paper-covered copy
Of the play and read several lines rap
idly. Now, did you ever know a man to
propose like that?"
Certainly not" she said, with dig
nifty.
"Can't you furnish a better proposal
from the archives Of the past few sum
mers?" be asked, smiling.
q think" she said, coldly, you had
better fix the hero. Meantime, III try
to discover the inadeQuac.es Of the
heroine"
"All right" he assented, cheerfully.
He opened his copy Of the play, and
the girls face was hidden behind the
paper covers Of her copy.
For some time he worked away dill
gently, scribbling innumerable notes
on the margins, rufling his hair with
his free hand, and sighing ponderously.
Presently he laid down the book.
"I think" he observed, you should
have a mental picture Of the heroine
before you all the time. Now, the
heroine have in mind-the only one
l can imagine-has brown hair which
is very fetching when the wind blows
It, and the finest pair Of violet eyes on
the continent"
Aren't you neglecting your hero"
she asked. sweetly.
He returned to his work, but in a
short time the book was once more laid
aside.
'T've fixed up the proposal. Tell me
what you think Of 1t" he said. 1T goes
like this:
Constance"
"Her name isn't Constance" she cor
rected.
well, I've forgotten her name. Con-
stance"
Her name is Mabel" she said, firmly.
Constance" he persisted, for a long
time l have wanted to tell you, and /
have never had courage until here this
morning"
"The scene is a drawing-room, even
ing. And hert name is Mabel"
"Her name is Constance" he main
tained.
"Not my heroine" she said
"Irs the name Of mine" he asserted.
"You are building a proposal for my
heroine" she reminded him.
"very well, III revise, then" he said'
wearily.
For a time he scribbled diligently.
Then he rose and stood beside her.
Il have It now" he announced. III
show you how the whole thing goes
let me assist you up. There, you stand
here. Enter William, left"
"His name is Henry" she said
"He approaches and takes her hand,
like this" he went on, unheeding her
remark; "he looks about and slips bis
arm about her waist like this. Then he
puts her head on his shoulder like thiS
Constance he says"
"Her name is Mabel" came family
from his shoulder Again he pad no
heed.
"Constance he says, you are going
to marry me, you know you are. You
have toyed with my affections long
enough. Then he thinks perhaps he
should kiss her-don't sQuirm so; you'll
spoil the scene-in fact, he's quite sure
he should kiss her. and so he does kiss
her. like this-and this-and this No,
I won't let you go until you say yes
good and loud"
What are you going TO do about the
hero?" she asked some moments later.