The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-03-23

NduceS OF WAS not uiSpObSu VI DE So
ciable. My scheme for play depend
ed largely on my being able to study
him, and ] threw away what con-
adhered false modcsty and resolved to
spare no effort TO submit him To my
purpose.
| I soon convinced him that / desired
his acquaintance. and. when sure i.iu.
he would not be presumirg. be secl?-
lOcated my advances. and. Hl.,iOu.h
there was no revelation OF Ills inner
self, we came to be on excellent terms.
Every day my play was takir;
shape, the young couple hac seen AT
the barn dance being my leading Hal,
and woman and to whom had given
the names respectively OF John ana
Edna. concocted pretty scenes be-
tween the lovers, interspersing them
with periods Of influence brought to
bear on Edna by Forester. The rules
Of dramatic procedure are imperative.
and found myself obliged to make
Forester the villain Of my play. But
IL he must be villain he should be a
fascinating villain.
What Mr.. Forester was doing at
the inn did not know. If he did any
work he must have done it In his room.
for l never saw him doing anything.
But he seemed to be constantly dream
ing and appeared to be too lazy to do
anything else. At first l was curious
to know why he was thus spending his
time, but l became so interested in
my play that l thought very little
about his occupation.
When had finished my story In the
rough before making a scenario of it
resolved to submit it to Mr.. Forces
ter, to whom | had confessed what
was doing. and ask for suggestions.
He took my manuscript. promising to
return it when read, with his criticism.
I had named him in my story Alfred
Denton, and l had no fear that he
would recognize himself under this
name. | don't think he did, for when
lie returned the manuscript his chief
criticism was that had made my vii
lain very attractive character and
my hero country pumpkin. An au-
dience would naturally sympathiZe
with the former and condemn the lat
ter
was somewhat discouraged at this
and resolved that If l could not key
up the rustic I would at least try to
reduce the fascinating powers Of his
rival.
One morning, taking up a newspa-
per, noticed an announcement that
Edward Forester, the novelist. was
taking a rest at the Waverly inn, In
Calumet county. The words sent a
shock through me. Literary persons
of note are besieged by amateurs and
other scribblers for criticisms on their
work. blushed at remembering that
I had asked Mr.. Forester for an Opin-
ion on my work.
After consideration I concluded to
keep my knowledge Of his being a
novelist to myself, permitting him to
presume that l was ignorant Of 1t.
labored to reduce the attractiveness of
my villain, but found 1t impossible.
The truth is that I had conceived an
admiration for the model for Denton
that would insist on coming out In
Denton. After much working over the
l put into 1t the more of a middle l
made Of It. Then, In despair, gave
up tho whole matter. I was tired out
with it and determined to go home and
undertake another work later. Before |
setting out 1 concluded to tell Mr.. For
roster that Notwithstanding his rei-
cence knew who he was.
We sat on the veranda of the hotel |
when I began by announcing that l
to leave the next day. I was |
looking him In the eye at the time, |
and, despite his control of himself. I |
saw that my announcement was some |
thing Of backset to him.
II. am sorry for that" he said 81
am a scribbler as well as you. came |
here to write novel, and / would like |
your opinion Of it,
"My opinion would be worthless" 1
replied, "but such as it is l would be |
happy to give it to you. Let me have
your manuscript, and l will read 1t be-
fore l CO."
He went to his room and brought his |
novel. / withdrew to n secluded spot |
and read till l had finished it. When |
| had done so l saw Mr.. Forester sit
ting on the veranda. Returning his
said:
"It is singular that 1 must make the
same criticism of your work that you |
made of mine. The woman whom you
have made foil for your heroine |
should have Leen the heroine and the |
other the foil"
| was somewhat surprised to see on !
his face, instead Of look of disap- |
pointment, smile.
what pleases you?" asked.
II have unconsciously and despite !
myself shown that man cannot take |
for rcodel woman he Is interested |
in and make her unattractive."
There was something in his tone and
the way he looked at me when he said
this that called blush to my cheek
your model was asked. turning |
my eyes from his.
yourself"
I presume I should have confessed |!
hat we had both fallen into the same
II