| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Whirligigs by O. Henry: Scotch for himself, Morgan took the same. The sheriff,
against much protestation, filled his glass from the water
bottle.
"Here's to the appetite," said Reeves, raising his glass,
"of Mr. Williams!" Morgan's laugh and his drink
encountering sent him into a choking splutter. All began
to pay attention to the dinner, which was well cooked and
palatable.
"Williams!" called Plunkett, suddenly and sharply.
All looked up wonderingly. Reeves found the sheriff's
mild eye resting upon him. He flushed a little.
|
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Touchstone by Edith Wharton: knows; not even the publishers; so they tell me at least."
"So they tell you to tell us," Hartly astutely amended; and Mrs.
Armiger added, with the appearance of carrying the argument a
point farther, "But even if HE'S dead and SHE'S dead, somebody
must have given the letters to the publishers."
"A little bird, probably," said Dresham, smiling indulgently on
her deduction.
"A little bird of prey then--a vulture, I should say--" another
man interpolated.
"Oh, I'm not with you there," said Dresham, easily. "Those
letters belonged to the public."
|
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Ten Years Later by Alexandre Dumas: Vatel's expedition to La Fontaine, related the history of
Menneville and the skinny fowl to Pellisson, in such a
manner that all the table heard it. A tempest of laughter
and jokes ensued, which was only checked by a serious and
even sad gesture from Pellisson. The Abbe Fouquet, not being
able to comprehend why his brother should have led the
conversation in that direction, listened with all his ears,
and sought in the countenance of Gourville, or in that of
his brother, an explanation which nothing afforded him.
Pellisson took up the matter: -- "Did they mention M.
Colbert, then?" said he.
Ten Years Later |
