The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-02-01
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
COLLABORATION.
Observation-Disclosures

Author regarded her 4 moment medl'
tatively. with the tips of his fingers
pressed lightly together. after the man
ner of Sherlock Holmes. He was tai
and thin, yet (Which seems strange
In an author) elegantly attired. HIS
face was clean-shaven and Of a classic
interesting t~ype-the forehead broad
the nose straight, the eyes deepset ant
fathomless, the mouth sensitively cut
get firm. The Girl was inclined to
think him handsome: she knew he was
successful. She conceived him to be
clever. The last of the three charac'
nuseristics appealed to her the least
5Fhe Author Tin his profound way was
not thinking of the Girls story, but
of the Girl. The Girl. he suspected
was interesting; the story he was not
so sure of. Besides. he had twenty
suineas per thousand words, so that
naturally, he came to be rather sparing
Of words-except. Of course. in Ills
stories.
Before writing a story he said
after a moments thoughtful pause
there are two things for the writer
to determine"
"Only two?" said the Girl, in a
tone of relief. ,
swell. two main things he correct
ed. gently. zone is, whether his story
is worth writing
"Mine is certainly worth writing"
broke in the Girl, impatiently.
The Author waved his hand with
mild. protesting gesture
"Of course" he observed. "ThE
other is, whether the writer can write
It."
.But," said the Girl, drawing her eye
zbrows together, 'that is just what ]
have come to you for
"What-to ask. me to write it?' e1
claimed the Author, in some perturba'
ton.
"Dear. no!-that is. not exactly. but
TO find out how it ought to be written
And then"
"And then" he inquired.
swell. if you like" she remarked
kindly. II don't mind if we write it to-
gether."
"But," objected the author, II have
never elaborated"
"Nor have l." said the Girl, proudly
"Yet YOU propose" he began.
4Nor, she interrupted. hastily. "
should leave that entirely TO you"
Leave what?" asked the Author
pleased to find his original suspicion
verified, for the Girl was certainly in
~teresting, and remarkably pretty.
"The = the collaboration. I sup
pose" she explained.
"Ah. the collaboration! But the
story?"
rs all about a girl" she said.
$50 far, then, it is likely to be good
remarked the Author judicially. III
was odd. he unused, that he had neve
before noticed the wonderful delicacy
OF the Girls complexion.) All abou
a girl" he repeated. mechanically
"embracing no other ~character?"
"She might be made to embrace some
one" replied the Girl. relectively.
She? But 1 mean the story
the Author corrected.
"Oh, the story! I was thinking o!
the girl"
"And so am T." said the Author.
"You see, she ran away" explained
y the Girl, leaning forward on her ell
bows and speaking in a confidential
tone.
"Oh. She ran away? From school?'
"No. From her husband!'
"Bless me-" said the Author, "what
q very wicked young lady"
"She merely did it for a-well. a kind
of lark explained the Girl, apologet
ically. 49,.
That is some slight, conformation
Of course" admitted the Author.
Then" went on the Girl. t'there wa
the Other Man" 81,
Naturally" sighed the Author, will
weary recollections Of Adelphi melo
dramas. "She a to him?'
Nothing of the sort!' exclaimed thu
Girl. THE Other Man didn't eve!
know her"
THAT seems to simplify matters a.
far as the girl is concerned
"But she knew him" went on tn
Girl. nodding her head: sageiy at tn
author.
How long had she known him?
asked the Author. with resignation.
"Oh. ever so long. You see. he
school friends cousin. had Introduce
her to him when she still had lon.
hair"
You mean before it was cut off"
"No, no, when it was down her bacl
L.. The man was the school friend
cousins brother-in-iaw. and. naturally
wouldn't remember her.
Naturally" sighed the Autho
again. E..
But put in the Girl, triumphant
~. "she remembered him! What d
O think OF that:'
81 think it does her great credit,
replied the Author. efficiently. "An
So"
"And so, in her hour of need, th
girl"
Excuse me, but what was she i
need of"
"Oh, that doesn't matter! We ca
settle all minor details after the stor
is written. AS I was saying. in he
ibo,,r of mood sta hethonpht her of he
old friend"
Yes. Her old school friend.
roo"