The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-09-13

why. Jean, are YOU stnl upE ex
claimed her roommate, as she cam,
into the room YEARLY throwing he
evening cloak and hat on a chair.
Yes, I'm In the same position
was when you left me, Helen. Nv,
been sitting here three hours trying t
think c~onnectedly, Jean went on, blu
somehow my thoughts won't ome
never had such a time trying to writ,
a theme In my life" The girl gave {
dry, nervous little laugh as she tool
= turn around the room,
Come sit here by the fire. You are
too tired to think. | told you to GU
that old theme; get It in late, ! mean,
Helen said, In a %reproachful tone. 81
was wishing all evening that yor
might have been with me at the frappt
table, Bessie Merrill took your place
and she's unendurable--so silly about
the men. You ought to have seen hel
corner the '~cherub'-"
Was DIR, Lyman there?" Jean broke
In, emphasizing the name TO show hei
disapproval Of the descriptive epithel
among the girls. "Of course he was
there. | might have known he would
be- She looked absently into the
Goals.
Now Tess up Jean, aren't you
sorry You missed a jolly tete.a.tete
with LYMAN"
Call him DR.. Lyman or Mr.. Lyman
Jean interrupted.
He certainly Is a cherub," Helen
went on. by the way, he came to the
punch bowl several times-whenever
he saw me disengaged,"
How material! | suppose he drank
a whole glass of punch each time?"
"Oh, dear no. Jean, you're spiteful.
He Is too well hammered for that"
Then you were the attraction,
Helen? I'm glad of that"
MY dear. | can't fIatter myself by
thinking that. Shall | tell you why
he sought me out?" There was a teas.
Ing information In the words.
"Well?" came impatiently from
| Jean.
"Well--because he wished to talk OF
you" The roommate paused, tapping
her tiny slippered feet on the fender
as she waited for the effect of the
remark.
And what did he say?" pressed
Jean.
He asked why you were not as
sisting. | told him the only thing
that kept you away was an ugly old
theme that you were writing for his
class, He laughed and said, Miss Per-
rim has a conscience, | see. I'm sorry
to miss her here. She might have ar
ranged to get that In late. You can
tell her that ! sometimes make allow
ances on a plea Of ~extenuating circum-
Stances"
Jean flushed. There was a. tired
look about her eyes and her voice was
a little unsteady as she said: And
think OF 1t, Helen. | haven't written
a word. What xcuse can / give? |
shouldn't care If it were any other
Prof, but Lyman. You soc, Lyman
thinks I'm clever and that IS why |
work so beastly hard for his class"
Can ] help you, Jean?' suggested
the roommate. Il say, grille, can't
you write up something OF your own
experienced"
That's Just the trouble, Helen. |
have exhausted my experience re.
piled the girl. THAT Is why | am in
deep water now. Lyman has always
praised my narrative work; said my
stories were SO fresh and interesting.
That's because ! told about myself
only he never knew 1t. I've worked
oyer every affair ! ever had into d
really romantic little story. It's IL
mean thing to do, but ! haven't a
shadow Of Imagination. / must stick
to facts"
Helen smiled at her roommate's
naive confession. Then that ludi.
crous rejected sutton story and the
matinee hero ~escapade are scraps Of
your biography? Did you really write
a note to the leading mani" She
could hardly contain her glee. We'll,
you do surprise me anew every day"
The twinkle In Helen's eyes was ire
sistible.
Tn wasting tlme!" Jean suddenly
exclaimed, cutting short her friends