Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-05-10
A CASE OF
COLLABORATION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

TX "A Nk1OG w
,l5 COLLABORATION :
osososo.o.osoo.o.oso.o.o.c
II want to know exactly how to
write this story" began the girl.
The author regarded her a moment
msditatively, with the tips of his
fingers pressed lightly together, aft
er the manner of Sherlock Holmes.
He was tall and thin, yet-which
seems strange in an author-ele-
gantly attired. His face was clean
shaver and Of a classic, interesting
type-the forehead broad, the nose
straight, the eyes deep set and faith
omless, the mouth sensitively cut,
yet 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
characteristics appealed to her the
least. The author in his profound
way was not thinking of the girls
story, but of the girl. The girl, he
suspected, was interesting. The sto-
ry he was not so sure Of.
os"Before writing a story" he said
after moments thoughtful pause,
"there are two things for the writer
TO determine"
"Only two" said the girl in
tone of relief.
swell, two main things" he cor
rected gently. Zone is whether his
story is worth writing"
mine is certainly worth writ
ing" broke in the girl impatiently.
The author waved his hand with
q mild, protesting gesture.
"0f course" he observed. "The
other is whether the writer can write
it."
'But," said the girl, drawing her
eyebrows together, chat is just what
l have come to you for"
"What-to ask me to write it ?"
exclaimed the author in some per-
turbation.
'Dear, no-that is, not exactly,
but to find out how it ought to be
written. And them
Sand then ?" he inquired.
"Well, if you like" she remarked
kindly, 81 don't mind if we write it
together"
'But," objected the author, Il
have never elaborated"
Nor have l." said the girl.
"Yet you propose he began.
NO." she interrupted hastily; 81
should leave that entirely to YOU"
"Leaye what? ?" asked the author,
pleased to find his original suspi-
cion verified, for the girl was GER
tainly interesting and remarkably
pretty.
"The collaboration, / suppose"
she explained.
"Ah, the collaboration But the
story"
ais all about a girl" she said.
$50 far, then, it is likely to be |
good" remarked the author judi |
cially. 1t was odd, he unused, that |
he had never before noticed the
wonderful delicacy of the girls COM
plexion. "All about girl" he re-
peated mechanically, embracing no
other character"
"She might be made to embrace
some one," replied the girl reflective
y.
"She-but | mean the story" the
author corrected.
"Oh, the story! / was thinking Of
the girl"
"And so am l." said the author.
"You see, she ran away" explain
ed the girl, leaning forward on her
elbows and speaking in confden-
tial tone
ooh, she ran away! From SCHOOL,"
"No; from her husband"
"Bless me-" said the author, "what
q very wicked young ladyp
"She merely did it for a-well,
kind Of lark" explained the girl
apologetically.
"That is some slight conformation,
of course" admitted the author.
"Then," went on the girl, there
was the other man."
Naturally, sighed the author,
with weary recollections of Adelphi
melodramas. "She ran to him?"
Nothing Of the sort" exclaimed
the girl. "The other man didn't
even know her."
"That seems to simplify matters
as far as the girl is concerned"
"But she knew him." went on the
girl, nodding her head sagely at the
author.
"How long had she known him !"
asked the author, with resignation.
"Oh, ever SO long! You see, her
school friends cousin had intro
duced her to him when she still had
long hair
"You mean before it was cut of Z"
mo, MOI When it was down her
back. The man was the school
friends cousins brother-in-law and
naturally wouldn't remember her."
Naturally" sighed the author
again,
"But," put in the girl triumphant
l.. Ga, .ex,.o..,L o,oJ b,,,f What do