The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-03-27

was doing, ana ask Tor suggestions.
He took my manuscript, promising to
return it when read, with his criticism.
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
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.
was somewhat discouraged at this
and resolved that IL / could not key
up the rustic l would at least try to
reduce the fascinating powers of his
rival.
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
l had asked Mr.. Forester for an opin-
ion on nay work.
After consideration concluded to
keep my knowledge Of his being a
novelist to myself. permitting him to
presume that was ignorant of 1t. |
labored 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 on coming out in
Denton. After much working over the
character found that the more labor
| put into it the more Of middle |
made Of 1t. Then, in despair, l gave
up the whole matter. l was tired out
with it and determined to go home and
undertake another work later Before
setting out concluded to tell Mr.. For
roster that notwithstanding his reti-
cence knew who he was.
We sat on the veranda of the hotel
when / began by announcing that
proposed to leave the next day. l 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. II
am scribbler as well as you. came
here to write novel, and would like
your opinion Of it"
"My opinion would be worthless" /
replied, but such as it is would be
happy to give it to you. Let me have
your manuscript, and win read 1t be-
fore CO."
He went to his room and brought his
novel. l withdrew to secluded spot
and read till ] had finished it. When
had done SO saw Mr.. Forester sit
ting on the veranda. Returning his
manuscript, said
1T Is singular that / 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 look Of disap-
pointment. smile.
what pleases your" asked
II have unconsciously and despite
myself shown that man cannot take
for model a woman be is Interested
Ia 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"
presume should have confessed
that we had both fallen into the same
error, but did not. l did not propose
to tell him that had tried to make a
villain of him, but had failed because
admired him. He had not recognized
himself In my character of Denton,
and was well pleased that be had
not
We left together the next day for the
city, and the evening after our arrival
he called on me. His calls became
more and more frequent, and at last
we became engaged The next spring
we made our wedding trip 70 the place
where we had supposed we were en-
gagged IN literary work. 1t was then
confessed that had failed in making
villain Of him as he had failed in
putting malice into me-