The Newark journal., 1906-10-12

could anything De more ridiculous?"
What is the story? Tell me all
about it." returned Mr.. Kingswell,
and l shall be able to sympathize
more completely"
So l told him briefly, of course. for
there wasn't much to tell. and when
l had finished:
Indeed, Miss March," he said, the
editor must be mistaken. Given a
man and woman there's bound to
be a tale. But let me read it. Per.
haps you haven't worked it out prop
erly. You are inexperienced. you
know"
| gave him the manuscript and
watched while he sat in dads arm
chair to read it. He 10 what you
would call a fine man, with such
strong shoulders and lovely brown
hair with little tips of gray, like sill
yer dust, on it. | was just thinking
how nice he looked sitting there. and
what firm nose and mouth he had,
when suddenly he glanced up and
said, abruptly: SO your hero is
young and handsome real Apollo.
You admire handsome men,"
oh, no, l said. I admire strong
men. not that sort at all. But L
thought it was the usual thing in
books"
| didn't say any more till the whole
of the sheets had been read. II took
some time, for | scribble awfully when
| try to write fast. And then | asked
him what he thought was the matter
with 1t. | told him that the editor
said it was too crude, and he agreed.
| was offended, and | expect he
saw it, for he went ON as quickly as
possible TO explain what he meant
He said a great deal, but as far as
| can remember the meaning of 1t ali
was that | had had no experience of
getting engaged and that sort of
thing and that the tale showed this
weakness. He said | had much to
l ought to try to improve.
Did you ever hear anything so silly?
How could | gain experience in day
or two? Who was there to help me?
l told Mr.. Kingswell what l thought
of his idea OF course it would be
useful. but impracticable.
| always knew he was fine chum.
| had known him for ever SO many
years but think he was just a trump
for what he suggested. 1t was that
he should be my lover for a fort
night. so that | might see how man
would act if he loved somebody.
Since he didn't mind the trouble,
was of course perfectly willing, and
soon after we had arranged it he left
But no sooner had Mr.. Kingswell
gone than | began to feel wretched
1t was about his last book. | read
it. There was such a nice girl in it.
about like me / should think. l won.
dered If she PRETENDED to he his very
dear friend while re wrote the book.
1t wasn't a nice idea somehow.
Next day MIR. Kingswen wrote ma
with him that afternoon on the lake.
l went, and did enjoy myself i'm
mensely. He looked after me and
talked so nicely that l was sorry
when he had TO go back to dinner
Dad was laughing when he met us in
the hall | didn't see why. for /
hadn't told hin about our plan, and
| didn't seem TO want to; but sud
denly he kissed me and went off in
hurry, which | thought was rather
funny of him.
| had always felt a wee bit jealous
that Mr. Kingswell always came to see
dad and not particularly me- but now
when | knew his visits were really
mine 1t was delightful. l had a love
ly time and the days just few by.
The fortnight began to draw to the
end | counted the days as they
passed. | couldn't help thinking how
should miss lover. For he was a
splendid actor; anyone would think
he really meant it.
| remember once we went for a
walk-dad, Mr. Kingsweli and I
when one of those harum-scarum
Graham boys dashed up on his BIZ
cycle just as we were crossing the
road. | can't tell how it happened,
but the next minute Mr.. Kingswell was