The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-04-07
Cupid Turns
The Tables.
BY MARTHA COBB SANFORD.
1908. by E. O. paroslls.

It began on the Greenwich local. The
man sitting beside Henrietta on the
cross seat was reading a typewriter
manuscript.
Either an author or an editor" mus
ID Henrietta and soon allowed her Gu
riosity to get the better of her to the
extent OF looking over her neighbours
shoulder and reading the story with
him.
It proved to be a love story, and as
It progressed Henrietta stole surrep-
tit1ous 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 page, he looked
up suddenly and became aware that
Henrietta was following the story.
She blushed and started to apologize,
but be put her at her ease In quite an
unexpected manner.
sI'm glad you've been reading the
story" he said, with friendly smile.
"A woman wrote it, and hope you'll
give me your opinion when we've In
1shed it."
So they read on togsther.
When they had reached the end they
sat for moment silent, each evident
" absorbed In thought.
aWeH,D said the man at length, 'sthat
h perhaps what would happen in real
life, but the ending isn't satisfactory
<>,<x, NV vforur>oiy7f -
@And what Is your yiewpoint7' ven
fured Henrietta, her interest in the sit
uation empowering momentarily her
natural shyness. "Are you judging it
as just plain man or as an editor2"
Her query seemed both to please and
amuse him, and Henrietta was sur
prised to find herself answering his
smile quite as IL they were old ac-
quaintances.
II am judging it." he said, "as an
editor who tries to imagine himself
Just a plain man. But what do you
think about itf'
sT'm afraid agree with the au-
thor answered Henrietta, somewhat
fimidly, 'but really my opinion doesn't
4LuIl IL kkC lCd9ty hfCSa tA<fC
ssOn the other hand" interrupted the
man. 'at counts supremely. It is the
opinions of just such casual readers as
yourself that have to study and learn
to understand almost intuitiyely, as It
werea
"But to get back to the point In ques-
lion. 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
of7''
'Not exactly that perhaps. But any
one could make the story end happily
--have them marry, mean That
would have been the ordinary way. 1t
must have taken some courage to end
it the other way, and 1t seems to me
the story s stronger for It."
aBut you see,y persisted the editor.
"everything in the story goes to show
that this man and woman, though they
met just once casually, as you and
are meeting. were most remarkably en-
rapport. Why, then, does the author
never have them meet again after
making her reader feel that they ought,
by all that Is happy and harmonious.
to belong to each etheri"
Henrietta smiled at the mans ear
nestness
'sWell," she began defensively, per
haps the author was trying to show
that. although man and a woman
may meet by accident, like that, and
even feel and admit each to himself or
herself that they really do belong to
each other, yet neither one quite
dares- Oh. I'm afraid l don't just
know how to express 1t, she broke of,
blushing consciously at having spoken
so freely to an utter stranger.
"Thank you," said the man, and his
manner was both sympathetic and
thoughtful. II begin to understand.
But I'm still unconvinced as to its be-
ing the popular or natural viewpoint.
II could talk to the author herself, l
feel quite sure that could"
@Goodnessgs said Henrietta, starting
suddenly. 'sThis is my station. Good
night"
The more Henrietta let her thoughts
dwell upon this unusual little discus
sion the more she found herself yield
ing 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 and continued to live
happily ever after"
sail that would be q most common
place ending. after all, and she accused
herself Of being Influenced, as was the
editor, not by the artistic but by the
commercial value Of the story.
So she tried to think of new argu-
ments to defend the authors denoue-
ment. The heroine, she imagined, was
very much the same type of girl as
herself and. like herself, therefore pre-
ferred to keep those few moments Of
chance acquaintanceship an idealized
memory upon which she could look
back forever and a day with joyful
satisfaction.
An ordinary person might yield to
the temptation of following up the
lead, but the. heroine Of that story was
not ordinary. Upon that the author
and Henrietta agreed perfectly.
She herself, for instance, in her own
comparatively insignificant experience
would probably never meet the editor
again, and what would 1t matterf She
had the memory Of their pleasant In
terchange Of thought, and he Of course
would never think Of her again. But
here the defense weakened and hid her
blushing face In her hands.
A few days later when Henrietta re-
ceived very courteous note from the
editor Of the New Fiction Magazine
asking her to call at his Office for the
purpose Of talking over her story she
smiled archly, dressed herself most be-
comingly and made her way promptly,
but more or less TREMENDOUSLY, to his
august sanctum. 1t was novel situa-
t1on.
opinion too7 Would she or wouldn't
she be pleased?
The editors surprise proved intense
ly amusing to Henrietta at least
"You-the author herselfT was all
he was able to gasp. Then he broke
out into hearty laugh. in which Hen
rietta Joined merrily.
you still hold to your first opinion,
l suppose?" Henrietta asked tenta-
lively
"More firmly than ever" was the edi-
tors emphatic reply.
''Then the story is rejectedf' queried
Henrietta wistfully.
mot If / can convince the author
into my way Of thinking" he answered
brightly 81 have great confidence In
my own powers of persuasion"
Henrietta looked skeptical. Since he
chose to be SO confident she would
newer let him know that she was half