The Lakeland evening telegram., 1914-08-20
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SELECTING A MODEL
BY r. A. UsslNG.

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The novelist sat at his desk writing
when his wife suddenly laid her hand
on his shoulder. He looked UP at her.
What is the matter, dear?"
"Oh. 1t Is my family again. Uncle
Hans Peters feelings have been hurt
by your last short story"
| His feelings have been hurt? do
not quite understand"
Well, you remember that the name
of the villain In it is Hans Peter"
/ And them
That has been enough to hurt him
dreadfully."
Il don't quite understand yet. Is
Uncle Hans Peter then such a disgust
ing person as the type describe?"
mo, not at ALL But recently you
wrote another story In which one of
the persons was certain merchant
whom you called Theobald Olarson,
though you knsw that Cousin Theo-
bald"
Good Lord, l had quite forgotten
that you had cousin Theobald.
never thought of 1t when l wrote the
/ story, but my merchant was a hypo-
critic and swindler and not the least
bit like your cousin"
/ "Of course not, but one incident
chains itself to another. You remem-
ber the story you wrote about the ille-
gitimate child? Agnes thought that
was a slap in her face"
"Once more don't follow you"
! you cannot have forgotten that her
first baby was born eight months after
her wedding"
/ Now you must forgive me. dear. |
never for a moment thought Of count
ing the months. took the baby's
birth as most natural event"
The novelists wife kissed him ten.
derly.
You will promise me never to use
my relatives as models?"
Models, darling. ! never use mod
els People think 80 in their own silly
minds. But promise shall be very
! careful not to hurt the feelings Of
either Uncle Hans or Cousin Theobald
or Sister Agnes. hope there are no
usurers In your family"
"No."
Good. Besides these three, my nov
el tells Of certain paper manufactur-
er, who is most disgusting hypocrite,
who is in love with the usurers beau
tiful daughter and whom the usurer
favors because OF his wealth. Then
comes the conflict and the young man
wins"
The novelist wrote his famous book,
THE Usurer's Daughter" which Gre
ated such sensation in the literary
world. The magazine rights were sold
to the Copenhagen Magazine"
When he received his check from
the editor Of the magazine he present.
ed his wife with diamond ring and
took her to the Royal theater In the
evening.
Two months later the book came
out, and the next day distant relative
Of the authors wife called to see her.
She received him very coldly, hav-
ing always disliked him most cordial
ly, but he did not seem to notice It..
He walked straight up to her and
threw copy Of the Copenhagen Maga-
zine on the table in front Of her.
is your husband In" he asked.
mo. he is not" she replied
"He is a scoundrel," he Kissed. IN
this story he calls me usurer. There
is not the slightest doubt that he
means me. AS II we're not entitled
to charge miserable per cent a
month on the security get. don't
see that II Is any OF his business, and
hope you Will please tell him 30,
Good-by."
While the young couple were at the
breakfast table the bell rang out
sharply. 1t was the father-in-law Of
the novelist. the well-known minister
OF fashionable church. stout,
smooth-shaven man with gold-rimmed
spectacles,
you miserable hound" he hissed.
and his eyes shot fire.
What is the matter?"
The reverend gentleman threw a
copy Of the book on the table
"A gentleman does not use models
for the person in his books, you rascal.
You write here that am hypocrite
who goes to church In the morning and
spend my evenings with girls Of the
streets In private rooms Of night res
taurants. You cannot deny It. You
mean me-"
The novelist stared at the angry
man, dumfounded
The minister went on:
What you write Is true enough,
very true indeed. but II Is the duty of
a minister OF the church to study vice
In order to be able to denounce It from
the pulpit. and that Is what | have
been doing. How could speak OF Inn
morality unless | had studied II close
by and gathered experiences But
, words fail me to express what think
of your conduct, sir.
He rushed out of the room.
In the evening letter came from
Cousin Theobald, who wrote:
Tomorrow | shall sue your husband
for once more making use of my name
In his novels and insinuating that my