Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1914-07-09
A
NEAT JOB
By JOHN Y LARNED

MIR. RirkStead. said my friend Mrs,
lddle>tou. Il anu very much worried
about my son"
Whats the trouble?" | asked.
He is infatuated with girl de-
test"
Have you grounds for detestinS
herr"
There's nothing in her. She's vain,
selfish and altogether unlovely. How
she has captured Jimmie | can't tmaE-
inc"
Since was not interested in Jim
ME the information did not especial
ly move me But was interested In
his mother. who was a widow. Indeed.
| had intentions with reference to Mrs.
lddleston and wished l could make her
think me rs fine man as this gtri
had succeeded in making Jim think her
line woman. | wondered how she
did ii.
Now. I know that you, novelist,
continued Mrs. lddleston. are one OF
the inventive kind with plenty of in
genuity and can bring about some sit
uation between Jimmie and this gtrl
to make her appear to him as she ap-
pears to any one who sees her through
eyes not distorted by the imagination.
Who is she?" asked.
Julia Hinton"
How can l know herr"
Jimmie tells me that she's going
this summer to Arlington Beach. Why
can't you so there. too. for your vaca
tion?"
II can"
And you will try to do something
for me?"
4 ION one condition-thnt If l succeed
you will lind some other literary man
to invent a scheme whereby l may he
made to look better in your eyes thaa
am"
| can vouch for the fact. though
do not expect to be believed. that a
widow is capable of blushing. for l de
tected Il faint reddening rs she replied
with bit of barney: "You don't need
that. Every one knows how clever you
are. and am sure you will succeed in
saving my boy"
IF | succeed In showing him the
girl exactly as she Is i am sure you
would not ask me to misrepresent her"
Certainly not"
| had achieved some recognition on
the part OF the reading public and was
known as an author at the hotel where
stayed. the same in which Miss Hin.
ton stayed, and my literary reputation
! for good work or bad. as the case
may be-made me something Of lion.
While at the beach | was sending
my publisher copy every week except
the first On my return In September
read the final plate proofs OF my sto-
ry, and the book was issued before
Christmas.
Soon after its publication was in
vited to dine at Mrs. lddleston's. Jim
was present and received me some
what coolly. We had not been long
ut table before the subject OF my nov.
ell was preached. Mrs. Iddleston said
some very nice things about 1t. Jim
said nothing till his mother reproached
something favorable to the author
about his work.
| protested That's where we an
thors have hard time" l said "I'eo.
pie say complimentary things to us
about our work. but we get no real
criticism-that which OF all things we
need most"
bone to pick with the author I'm this
case Several things said were put
In the story word for word"
lyon are right" replied. Edmond
Searle is n picture OF yourself"
saw his face light with pleasure
do you really mean thatT he asked
"Searle is splendid fellow"
"Why do you consider him suchT'
| asked
Il don't know"
"It is because you see him as he ia
real living person. You are taken out
OF yourself to look at yourself"
But there is one thing about me In
the story | don't like. What an ass
SearIe was to fall In love with that
silly girl"
The girl was real character too"
nat, that thing!
What don't you like about herr
She hasn't any sense"
Anything elseT"
"One can tell by her talk that she Is
vain"
did her conversation In the story
seem dippant to your"
~ should think So"
I'm sorry the character doesn't
please you. You see, my work Is all
from models. and any success | have
attained is on that account don't
idealize my models, paint them just
as they are"
who is this stupid girl you have
picturedT
do you mean to say you don't rec
ognize herr
"WoS ho ~ ha