The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1917-02-15
Seeking a
Theme
IL Was Found,
But Never Used
Ry Ethel HOLMES

tfaftlNg. tOtHtiy anu IfHuiAlt'At "Ne t'Ai-
". Bot that which ulScd her above
Der fellow splusicrs was that she was
a novelist who had won her way 10
literary recognition
Miss Henderson had recently finish,
I'd story. 1t had been published and
had made IT'S mark Air ady the pub
tic had begun TO clamor fos more from
her typewriter. she WIS casting about
for theme She had thus far rciicl
ruthrr upon tie naturanesS. the hu'
manity u her scenes than upon plot,
Now she had come to realize that TO
the bulk ~ the reading publ plot was
very acceptable. But Tor this she had
little talent. She wished she might
clmc upon some real happening out of
The ordinary that she could develop
into move
Miss Henderson asked friends OF
hers to suggest some real happening
Ia life that had come TO their notice.
some Of them tried TO think up com
lina,ion Of circumstances that might
serve her purpose, But they were all
too tame. She proposed II she should
attempt 20 please the public by this
Kind OF fiction to 80 into II for all 1t
was worth aud develop only what was
startling and Original.
One day she was ont for walk
When she wished FOR originals for her
characters she would stroll about, no.
Gcing every person she passed. Wher.
ever she came upon one who struck
her as being UNIQUE she would make
mental note Of tie person aud when
she got home wcuid iot down a faw
salient points by way Of description
On this walk she received surprise.
4 man, evidently II gentleman who
was passing her paused, looking at her
with wide open eyes.
Belief he exclaimed.
There were ia the mans face pain
veproach, n burning love. Evidently
he fancied that she was some one
other than herself. She returned his
gazc, but said nothing.
ooh. Belle he continued. where
have you been an this whieI Why
did you conceal yourself from mel II
was all mistake When we were
separated coming out of the opera,
taying lost you, went TO the car
riagc. The door stood open. and !
saw a woman inside. su9posing she
was YOU. got in, closed the door ana
we were driven away. She supposed
was her husband. He was coming
Tor the carriale when lie saw me re;
into IL and drive away. lie called an
other conveyance and followed, over
cook us, and then came the tragedy,
an account # which You probably saw
In the morning papers. THIS Is the
truth, and all the truth, | swear 10
you"
Miss Henderson restrained speech.
but not thought. She thought very
hard ana very rapidly, and this was
the substance Of her thinking:
"Ilcre S not only theme, but | one
Of the characters, the heroine The
woman IN the carriage must he the
wicked foil. The man who made the
mistake ~ thinking lis wife WIS run
ming away with another should be the
hero. but ! haven't got so far as thar
yet. Cne thing il certain--l1l yet
points by permitting this man TO re-
main in etrr 50 long as possible"
Drawing away, she said. "sIr, don't
know yoa."
Listen % me. II was not my faul,
that this woman had been on cid
Gamc ~ niue Fate plays strange
pranas. but yfu should not yon shall
DOT holl me accountable FOR this one
Miss Henderson was delighted The
plG, tAi>asu," sic ta0gslt.
"lf you wish my forgiveness for
She paused. She preferred net 10
male lie only finish fhe considered
safe viz. pretending that she was
rome one eie taaa her e. But she
was q oarst cn9grh % put q sjslIt
tremelo Iut3 her voice. lie continued
= MT olly NJ, your forgiveness;
viii e.. yca : story Ihat SIN convince
you If g innocence IL wrong THIS
ulu who l msGie Tine woman J
oaec 10 ht !ogel was burning WITH
Jealous r re knew 81 bs wjses
foEr $50 osil.yn I0T Eo, and, now
tltrGiNs ilat shc vas untrue ID lin