The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-19
TIE EVENING STORY
Cupid Turns the Tables.

By Martha Cobb Sanford)
II began on the Greenwich local. The
man sitting beside Henrietta on the
cross seat was reading a typewriter I
manuscript.
Either an author or an editor"
unused Henrietta. and soon allowed her
curiosity to get the better Of her to the |
extent of looking over her neighbor's
shoulder and reading the story with
him.
1t proved to be love story, and as it
progressed, Henrietta stole q surrepti-
tlouS glance at the man every now and
then. But his expression gave no clew
to the impression the story might be
making.
Once, as he turned a page, he looked |
up suddenly. and became aware that |
Henrietta was following the story.
She biushed and started to apologize, |
but he put her at her ease in quite an |
unexpected manner.
I'm glad you've been reading the /
story" he said, with a friendly smile. !
woman wrote it, and I hope you'll |
give me your opinion, when we've I'm
ished it,"
When they had reached the end, they
sat for moment silent, each evidently
absorbed in thought.
WELL" said the man at length, that
is perhaps what would happen in real
lfe-but the ending isn't satisfactory
from my viewpoint
And what is your viewpoint" VEN
tured Henrietta, her interest in the sit
uation overpowering momentarily her
natural shyness. Are you judging it
| as just plain man or as an editor?"
Her query seemed both to please and
| amuse him, and Henrietta was sur
| prised to find herself answering his
smile quite as If they were old
acquaintance.
IT am judging it," he said, "as an
| editor who tries to imagine himself just
plain man. But what do you think
| about it?''
I'm afraid I agree with the author"
| answered Henrietta somewhat timidly.
but really my opinion doesn't count In
| the least, because"
| ION the other hand" interrupted the
| man, at counts supremely. 1t is the
opinions of Just such casual readers as
yourself that have to study and learn
| to understand almost intuitively, as 1t
We're.
but to get back to the point in ques-
| ton. You mean that love at first sight
isn't worth writing about-that the type
of woman who would consent to marry
| a man on short acquaintance isn't the
| stuff that heroineS are made OFT!
| mot exactly that, perhaps. But any
one could make the story end happily
have them marry. mean ThaI woulo
| have been the ordinary way 1t must
have taken some courage to end 1t the
| other way and it seems to me the
story's stronger for it,
| But you see,' persisted the editor,
| everything in the story goes TO snow
| that this man and woman, though they
met just once casually, as you and are
meeting, were most remarkably en- rap
| port why, then, does the author never
| have them meet again, after making
her reader feel that they ought. by al
that is happy and harmonious 10 De-
| long to each other?"
| Henrietta smiled at the mans earn
| estness.
| "Well." she began defensively. per
| haps the author was trying TO Snow
that although man and woman may
| meet by accident, like that, and even
| feel and admit each to himself or hef-
| self that they really do belong to eacn
other. vet neither. one quite dares-On.
I'm afraid don't just know now TO
| EXPRESS it" she broke off, blushingly
at having spoken so freely 70 an utter
THANK you" said the man. and his
manner was both sympathetic ana
thoughtful. It began to understand
But I'm still unconvinced as to ITS pc
| ing the popular or natural Viewpolht;
| If I could talk to the author herseiI, L
feel quite sure that could
goodness" said Henrietta. starting
suddenly, this is my station. GOOD
night" -.
thoughts dwell upon this unusual lit
tie discussion. the more she ionno
herself yielding to the editors point
of view There was no real reason,
after all, why the man and woman IN
the story shouldn't have married ana
continued to Tive happily ever after.
still that would be most COM
monplace ending after all, and sne
accused herself OF being influenced, as
was the editor, not by the artistic, put
~ tha commercial value of the story.
So she tried to think OF new argu-
wants to defend the authors denoue-
ment. The heroine, she imagined,
was very much the same type OF glri
as herself. and like herself, therefore,
nrefsrred to keep those few moments
- chance acouaintanceship an IDEAL
lied memory upon which she couId
look back forever and a day with JOY
full satisfaction. -. x-,.,a 70
tho Temptation of following up the
lead but the heroine OF that story
was not ordinary. Upon that tne
a,thor and Henrietta agreed perfect
~. in her
r,, comparatively Insignificant ex-
n~rianee- would probably never meet
he editor again, and what wouid II
matter? She had the memory OF thei.
pleasant interchange OF thougnt ana
he. of course. wou srs ne the defense
ne and hid her blushing face
few days later. when Henrietta
received a very courteous note from
the editor Of the New flci ht f Ma
sor the purpose Of talking over her
storv She smiled archly, dressed hsr-
Elf most becomingly and made her
way promptly, but more or less trem I.
uiously, to his august sanctum- II
was a novel situation.
what If he had reversed his orfg1-
nal opinion, too? would she. or
wouldn't she. be pleased?
The EDITORS surprise proved in
tensely amusing to Henrietta. at leas :;
"Yo,,-the author herself? was All
- vas able to gasp. Then he broke
MT into a hearty laugh. in which