Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-02-02
Seeking a
Theme
1t Was Found,
But Neuer Used
BY ETHEL HOLMES

tractive, c0mely and prominent SOc1al-
ly. But that which raised her above
her fellow spinsters was that she was
a novelist who had won her way to
literary recognition.
Miss Henderson had recently finish
ed a story. 1t had been published and
had made its mark. Already the pub
lie had begun to olamor for more from
her typewriter. She was casting about
for a theme. She had thus far relied
rather upon the naturalness, the hui
mainly of her scenes than upon plot
Now she had come to realize that to
the bulk of the reading public plot was
very acceptable. But for this she had
little talent. She wished he might
come upon some real happening out of
the ordinary that she could develop
into q novel.
Miss Henderson asked friends of
hers to suggest some real happening
in life that had come to their notice.
| Some of them tried to think up a COM
bination of circumstances that might
serve her purpose. But they were all
too tame. She proposed if she should
attempt to please the public by this
kind of fiction to go into it for all 1t
was worth and develop only what was
startling and original.
One day she was out for a walk.
| When she wished for originals for her
characters she would stroll about, no.
ticing every person she passed. Wher-
ever she came upon one who struck
her as being unique she would make a
mental note of the person and when
she got home would jot down a few
salient points by way of description.
On this walk she received a surprise.
A man, evidently a gentleman, who
was passing her paused. looking at her
with wide open eyes.
BELIEF he exclaimed.
There were in the mans face pain,
reproach, a burning love. Evidently
he fancied that she was some one
other than herself. She returned his
gaze, but said nothing.
"Oh, Belle" he continued, "where
have you been all this while? Why
did you conceal yourself from me? 1t
was all a mistake. When we were
separated coming out of the opera,
having lost you, l went to the car
riage. The door stood open, and /
saw a woman inside. Surprising she
was you, I got in, closed the door, and
we were driven away. She supposed
l was her husband. He was coming
for the carriage when he saw me get
into it and drive away. He called an
other conveyance and followed, Over-
took us, and then came the tragedy,
an account of which you probably saw
in the morning papers. This Is the
truth, and all the truth, 1 swear to
you"
Miss Henderson restrained speech,
but not thought. She thought very
hard and very rapidly, and this was
the substance of her thinking:
Here is not only a theme, but l n
of the characters, the heroine. The
woman in the carriage must be the
wicked foil. The man who made the
mistake in thinking his wife was run
ming away with another should be the
hero, but I haven't got, SO far as that
yet. One thing is c~ertain-In get
points by permitting this man to re-
main in error so long as possible"
Drawing away, she said, "Sir, l don't
know you"
Listen to me. 1t was not my fault
that this woman had been an old
flame of mine. Fate plays strange
FRANKS, but you should not, you shall
not hold me accountable for this one"
Miss Henderson was delighted. 1.-THE
plot thickens," she thought.
"If you wish my forgiveness for
She paused. She preferred not to
make the only finish she considered
safe-viz, pretending that she was
some one else than herself. But she
was dishonest enough to put a slight
tremolo into her voice. He continued:
II not only wish your forgiveness; l
will tell you a story that will convince
you of my innocence of wrong. This
man who had married the woman
OhSC LAOuSht L v was DdAhAi6 Win
Jealous rage. He knew of his wife's
former predisposition for me, and, now
thinking that she was untrue to him,
that / had taken my former place with
her, as soon as he had caught us, drew
q knife and plunged it into
The man, overcome by the memory
of a horrid sight, stopped short and
covered his eyes with his hands. Miss
Henderson, who was wrapped in the
dramatic situation. forgot herself and
asked:
you or the woman?"
Removing his hands. he looked al
her wonderingly.
"Do you not know he killed herr"
Her? Certainly. What was l think
ing Off"
"That settles the matter of the female