The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1917-07-21


him. and 1 threw away what ] con-
sidered false modssty and resolved to
spare no effort to submit him to my
purpose.
I soon convinced him that I desired
Ills acquaintance. and. when sure that
lie would not be prcsuming. lie recip-
rocated my advances. and. although
there was no revelation OF his inner
self, we came to he 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 had given
the names respectively OF John and
Edna. concocted pretty scenes be-
tween the lovers. lnterspersing 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
II he must be a villain lie should be
fascinating villain.
What Mr.. Forester was doing at
the inn did not know. lf he did any
work he must have dom 1t In his room.
for 1 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 knbw why he was thus spending his
time, but l became 80 interested In
my play that thought very little
about his occupation.
When had finished my story In the
rough before making scenario OF 1t
| resolved to submit 1t to Mr.. Forces
ter, to whom | had confessed what
was doing. and ask for suggestions.
He took my manuscript, promising to
return 1t 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 CHER
criticism was that had made my vii
lain a very attractive character and
my hero a country pumpkin. An au-
dlence would naturally sympathize
with the former and condemn the lat
ter.
I was somewhat discouraged at this
and resolved that II could not key
up the rustic would at least try te
reduce the fascinating powers OF his
rival.
One morning, taking up newspa-
per, I 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. l blushed at remembering that
I had asked Mr.. Forester for All opin-
ion on my work.
After consideration l concluded to
keep my knowledge Of his being .
novelist to myself. permitting him to
presume that wns ignorant OF 1t.
labored to reduce the attractiveness or
my villain. but found 1t impossible.
The truth Is that l 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
I put into 1t the more of middle
made of 1t. Then, In despair. l gave
up tho whole matter l was tired out
with 1t and determined to go home and
undertake another work later. Before
setting out l concluded to tell Mr.. For
roster that Notwithstanding his reti-
cence I knew who he was.
We sat on the veranda of the hotel
when began by announcing that I
proposed to leave the next day. was
looking him in the eye at the time,
and, despite his control Of himself. l
saw that my announcement was some
thing of backset to him.
II mn sorry for that" he said. 81
am 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 1t is I would be
happy to give 1t to you. Let me have
your manuscript. and will read 1t be-
fore ! CO.
He went to his room and brought his
novel. l withdrew to a secluded spot
and read till had finished 1t. When
| had done so saw MIR. Forester sit
ting on the veranda. Returning his
manuscript, I said:
cit is singular that must make the
same criticism of your work that you
made of mine. The woman whom you
have made a 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 you?" I asked.
II have uncOnsciously and despite
myself shown that man cannot take
| for model a woman he Is interested
In and make her unattractive."
There was something In his tone dnd
the way he looked at me when he snid
| this that called blush to my cheek.