The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-01-20
Why SheWf ote
a Novel
BY F. a. mitchell

Ten Il mover unuer Tue name OI uOuuS
Erskine Mortimer. received letter
one morning which read us follows:
Thomas Erskine Mortimer. ESQ.,:
Dear Sir-I write to ask you where you
got the name OF your hero. Edgar Wheat
leigh? My name Is Edgar Wheatieigh.
and arm curious to know how you hap
pened to hit upon 1t for your clearly
drawn character. ] am very truly yours.
EDGAR WHEATLEIGH.
Now, Miss Wells. a young Indy Of
twenty one summers. had taken the
name from the city directory. and 1t
occurred to her that 1t belonged to her
correspondent. She was about to re-
ply that she had done so when an idea
popped into her head whereby she
might have some fun. She wrote Mr..
Wheatieigh. signing herself Mortimer.
that she had heard a friend speak Of
a Mr.. Wheatleigh in high terms and
had been given the salient points in
his character. which she had embodied
in her hero. This person Of her novel
was undoubtedly another than her
questiOner.
This brought reply from Mr..
Wheatleigh giving few points as to
his antecedents with view to discov.
ering whether or not he was the hero
of the novel. Miss Wells. affectin: to
be much surprised ut the points he
gave her. admitted that he was doubt
less identical with the man who had
been described to her. In this letter
also she wrote under the guise Of her
nom dc plume.
Mr.. Wheatlelgh wrote again, asking
for the name of the friend who had
described him. The reply was that the
writer was doubtful whether he should
give the name. However, since his in
former might not be the original OBJ
server he would strain point and do
SO. The outline from which the char
acter had been drawn was Miss
Winifred Wells 10 this she added her
address.
The next scene in this diminutive
comedy was q call from Mr.. Wheat
leigh. Miss Wells came down with his
card in her hand looking very much
pleased.
Its long while since we have
met" she remarked. "You have grown
from boy to man since saw you last
l should not have known YOU"
Mr.. Wheatleigh in the novel was
copy Of a grand gentleman character
in one Of Ouida's novels. He would
not be SO ungallant as to admit that he
did not remember this friend of his
childhood. 1
II would know you" be said. had
not had the slightest knowledge OF
your identity. The only reason might
not have recognized you is that from Il
rather pretty child you have grown to
be superb woman"
Miss Wells was not only delighted
with her device, but with man of
such unblushing assurance.
But how" she asked. ''have you
found ME ont after all these years?"
In a very singular way. My friend
Tom Mortimer wrote II novel naming
one Of his characters for me. When
asked him how he learned certain fea
lures concerning me, the original of his
character. lie said that they had been
given him by IN old friend Nof mine,
Winnie Wells"
This came very near being too much
for the authorcss. but she repressed
her Ynirth.
How long have you known Tom?"
she asked
TON? Why. | have known him
ever since we were little toddlers to-
gether. our homes having adjoined
each other"
did he say 1 gave you any points
US to your character?''
Mr.. Wheatlcigh, though a scamp.
was. SO far as his own merits were
concerned. IL modest one. He said that
Tom had endowed him with traits he
did not possess. Nevertheless he knew
that Miss Wells had spoken very high
~ Of him. He was bent on knowing
who she was and what had been this
child connection between them; but,
although lie beat the bush necessarily.
he uncovered nothing. At last Miss
Wells gave him all the information he
wished and more, too. had lie known
it was manufactured.
"You have evidently forgotten what
passed between us the night yon went