| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Options by O. Henry: much compass or variety--but still--er--sweet--in--er--its--way, and--
er--"
"Thank you, Mr. Harris," interrupted Miss Hinkle. "I knew I could
depend Upon your frankness and honesty."
And then C. Vincent Vesey drew back one sleeve from his snowy cuff,
and the water came down at Lodore.
My memory cannot do justice to his masterly tribute to that priceless,
God-given treasure--Miss Hinkle's voice. He raved over it in terms
that, if they had been addressed to the morning stars when they sang
together, would have made that stellar choir explode in a meteoric
shower of flaming self-satisfaction.
Options |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Breaking Point by Mary Roberts Rinehart: executors of the Clark estate kept her on the ranch, but when the
estate was settled three years ago she had to move. That broke her
all up. She's always said he wasn't dead. She kept the house just
as it was, and my wife says she had his clothes all ready and
everything."
"That rather sounds as though the story is true, doesn't it?"
"Not necessarily. It's my idea she got from hoping to moping, so
to speak. She went in to town regular for letters for ten years,
and the postmaster says she never got any. She was hurt in front
of the post office. The talk around here is that she's been off
her head for the last year or two."
The Breaking Point |
