The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-06-26

him, and l threw away what l con-
sidered false modesty and resolved to
spare no effort to submit him to my
purpose.
I soon convinced him that l desired
his acquaintance, and, when sure that
he would not be presuming, he recip-
rocated my advances, and, although
there was no revelation of his inner
self, we came to be on excellent terms.
Every day my play was taking
shape, the young couple had seen at
the barn dance being my leading man
and woman and to whom l had given
the names respectively Of John and
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 l found myself obliged to make
Forester the villain of my play. But
IL he must be villain he should be
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 I 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 scenario of it
l resolved to submit it to Mr.. Forres-
ter to whom l had confessed what
was doing, and ask for suggestions.
He took my manuscript, promising to
return 1t when read, with his criticism.
l had named him in my story Alfred
Denton, and had no fear that he
would recognize himself under this
name | don't think he did, for when
he returned the manuscript his chief
criticism was that had made my vii
lain very attractive character and
my hero a country pumpkin. An au-
dience would naturally sympathize
with the former and condemn the lat
ter.
l was somewhat discouraged at this
and resolved that il | could not key
up the rustic would at least try to
reduce the fascinating powers of his
rival
One morning, taking up newspa-
per, / noticed an announcement that
Edward Forester the novelist, was
taking 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. l blushed at remembering that
! l had asked Mr.. Forester for an Opin-
ion on my work.
After consideration | concluded to
keep my knowledge of his being q
novelist to myself, permitting him to
| presume that l was ignorant OF 1t. l
iabOred to reduce the attractiveness OF
my villain, but found it impossible.
| The truth is that / had conceived an
admiration for the model for Denton
that would insist Oh coming out In
Denton. After much working over the
character l found that the more labor
| put into it the more of a muddle |
made Of it. Then. in despair. l gave
up the whole matter. | was tired out
with it and determined to go home and
| undertake another work later. Before
setting out concluded to tell Mr.. For
rester that Notwithstanding his reti-
cence knew who he was.
We sat on the veranda of the hotel
when l began by announcing that |
proposed to leave the next day. | was
] looking him in the eve at the time,
and, despite his control Of himself.
saw that my announcement was some
thing of n backset to him.
Il am sorry for that" he said Il
am a scribblcr as well as you. l came
here to write novel. and | would like
| your opinion OF it,"
| "My opinion would be worthless" l
replied, but such as it is l would be
happy to give it to you. Let me have
| your manuscript. and will read it be-
fore 60"
| lie went 10 MS TOolu ana DTOuSul MS
novel. l withdrew to secluded spot
and read till had finished it, When
/ had done so ! saw Mr.. Forester sit
| ting on the vcranda. Returning his
manuscript. said:
1T is singular that l 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 been the heroine and the
other the foil"
| was somewhat surprised to see on
his face, instead Of a look of disap-
| pointment, u smile.
What pleases you?" | asked.
| Il have unconsciouSly and despite
| myself shown that man cannot take
for a model a woman he is interested
In and make her unattractive."
| There was something in his tone and
the way be looked at me when he said
this that called blush to my cheek.
Your model was asked. turning
my eyes from his.
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