The San Francisco call., 1904-04-17

Copyright. 1904. by X A whitehead-)
~ HIL TRENTON was something
y of a matchmaker. He wanted his
r friend Eowbridge in the family,
and was pleased 10 introduce
him 70 his only sister. Joanna
He's al right Jo.'' PHI said and
] hope you won't break his heart badly
enough 70 keep him from finishing the
story I'm 10 illustrate-if youu pose
for ne"
Joanna's blue eyes danceo-then. and
a little later when Phi made an insult
fcient excuse, and left them alone
Howbridge felt as II he had been told
TO play with q strange little girl Joan
ma was quite al ease The mischieTous
freedom Of her glance contradicted the
reserve Of her bearing Howbridge de-
ci6ec that she was III TO be the heroine
Of an unusual story. She was blond
and beautiful and magnificently tall
Are you waiting for me TO say en-
joyed your last boOk?" she questioned
at last.
Follow your conscience, Miss Tren-
ton. But did Phil make you read 1t?
wouldn't mind knowing whether you
cried at the right places Did your
he leaned toward her. His strong face
was clean shaven; his gray eyes were
non-committal; he had the sad mouth
and gentle manners OF a humorist
"Oh, I didn't read it" she said
why aot2"
Because 1 did read your first book.
don't ike your women. I'd like to be
polite, but you mentioned my con-
science"
Don't mind my feelings, and tell me
what is wrong with the women in my
tales"
They are al right. It's you You
make them DO what they never would
DO OF their own free VIII. Now, you
married Fanny to that Burson: he
wasn't even interesting" He waited
FOR her TO continue. his fertile fancy
fitting literary situations about her
personality.
You can't know women very well.
90 you? You're too" she paused
roguishly.
Too young?" he hazarded.
Il don't know how old you feel.
But it's not age that gives insight, is
TT BY the way. Mr.. Howbridge.
where do you get your material? For
your new story. FOR instance. that's
announced for September? The title
isn't Il weak2 And how DO you know
What Life is Made OFF
Suppose I came down here sust
70 find out?" he said mysteriously.
Perhaps you can show me? They
say that women know. The story is
hardly begun. Can't you find me a
model for a heroine? 1t would be a
charity to the reading public" Joanna
nused
There aren't ten interesting women
I'm this neighborhood. not even count
ing my sister-in-law-"
And you
Thank you, since I couldn't say IL
myself" Their conversation was cut
short by the entrance Of Phil and his
wife. who liked her husbands friends.
and had invited Howbridge to spend
his six weeks, vacation and write his
story az The Place Apart" as they
called their summer home, which was
near. Phil was an illustrator, and be-
tween him and Mrs. Phil, who had been
an interior decorator, the cottage was
q thing 70 dream about artistically.
They had a keen sense OF what not 10
put into a house. Joanna, who was
practical. lived with them. did the
housekeeping. which she loved, posed
! -or her brother and roamed the woods
with her big ST. Bernard dog.
Howbridge was given a room. abso-
lutte disposal OF his time and potluck
IN & family that had all the charms
and none of the discomforts Of camp
ing. Joanna treated him like an anus
ing playmate, teased him about his lit
erary distractions and his writing and
pretended 70 search for a model fer
-
but could caricature effectively, sing
ike a thrush and play the piano with
musicianly instinct. She was p. and
had always lived He was 80, and had
always written-with moderate sue
cess
Eowbr1dge studied Joanna imper-