The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-01-29
Their roblem
BY MARTIN GANsVOORT
Copyright by american Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

My niece, Molly Brice, is a great
| admirer of the interpretive school OF
fiction. She is also ambitious to scrib-
BILE Young aspirants for fame In the
literary field usually begin by attempt
ing to copy the author they consider
the nearest to perfection. The other
day Molly brought me story and
asked me to read and crtticise It. I
saw at once that she had been trying
to duplicate the two famous authors
who inaugurated and head the intro
spective school. She called 1t Their
Problem" / agreed to read chapter
or two while she waited.
A girl sat before an open. fire en-
broidering. A dainty slippered toe
peeped from the edge of her gown.
She looked at the clock that marked
the hour Of seventeen minutes TO 8.
She was expecting young man to
visit her.
"Will he propose tonight" she ask
ed herself, cor win he spend several
j
ready to give him definite answer?
What does my heart say? Vainly I
have asked the question. Is he in
doubt as to his own heart, or are there
practical reasons for this delay? Is
he delayer or a trifer?"
She dropped her work in her lap,
supported her temple with her fair,
round hand and peered into the fire.
She had asked herself seven ques-
lions and had no answer for any one
Of them. Having an analytical mind,
she set herself to the task of unravel-
ing the problem of which they were a
part, beginning with one that concerned
her own inner consciousness. know
myself" said the Greek philosopher
"If do not know my own mind, how
can l expect John to know his? Let
me first determine that on which all
the rest depends. Do / love himf
"what is love? Poets have sung it,
artists have painted it. but who has
told us what it is"
Here at the outset Gwendolen was
baked in her queries. How could she
determine whether or no she loved
John when she did not know what
love is? Either ! must define love"
she unused, ''or | shall not be ready
with his answer when he comes"
She took up a box of bonbons he
had sent her that afternoon, and, in
closing one of them between her fore
finger and thumb-the nails were
pared in pointed style-she put 1t be-
tween her coral lips. biting it with her
white teeth. Then she sat herself to
the task Of defining love.
Suppose" she said, II make a few
hypothesis as to the nature of love.
Thus perhaps | may be able to select
the one that nearest fits my own
ease
- man is attentive to a girl. He
sends her candy and flowers She
eats the candy and inhales the deli
,ious odor Of the flowers She con-
siders the donor nice. He continues
.hese trifling gifts. He pays her COM
Dliments. She comes to consider him
rery nice. Suddenly he ceases his at
entions and bestows them on another
yirl The first is furious.
els this a case of true Lover
"a girl goes TO matinee. The
zero of the drama thrills her. She
yoes again and again, never contented
lnless looking upon his noble features.
listening to the godlike sentiments he
in his deep melodious voice.
HE is pointed out to her on the
treet in checkerboard suit. His head
tage His Roman nose has become a
Jug She hears him make a coarse
emark. She turns away, sadder and
wiser.
''Is this love?
"A young man sees a girl at win
low. She looks down upon him for
moment, and their eyes meet A clan
estine affair is the result The girl
J intended for a splendid marriage,
whereas her admirer is poor artist.
he is kept a prisoner. but finds op-
ortunity for fight and marries her
rtist. The depth Of the passion be-
ween them has overcome all obsta-
les.
This is love"
For a moment Gwendolen's eye
frightened under the belief that she
ad solved the problem, but the next
he sighed.
How long will it lastT'
There was another encouragement.
10 opposition had been made by her
arents or any one else's to Johns at
sntions; nothing to kindle that fame
be considered necessary to true love.
ohm was proceeding in the usual way
I men who have met girls they wish
, marry, sending candy. flowers, thea
n tickets and such gifts as are per-
iissibe for young lady to accept.
/ had read thus far when I threw
own the manuscript impatiently.
DO read on a little longer, uncle"
eaded Molly.
what comes nextF'
What next? Why, john, he looks
to his feeling toot'
For how longT'
For the next chapter"
when do they solve the probiemT
why, at the end Of the story, OF
'urse"
"How many chaptersY'