The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-08-08


this time. But I'll give you something to-
night, when you go away, which will ex-
plain it all. Now don't say another word,
please. Indeed, l can't stand it - and
the house
Fred didn't feel very badly, for he knew
her secret but he saw she was too much
unnerved for an explanation just then.
After they reached the house she disap-
peared for few minutes, and Fred, meet
ing her at the foot of the stairs, walked
out under the porch and received from her
a little box, some three inches square, care
fully tied with blue ribbon.
Promise me, :" she said, With trembling
voice, that you won't look at it until you
get home And putting out her hand,
''Good-by; I'm going to morrow, you
know"
He took the little hand pressed it warm
ly, and replied, with much feeling, mo
not good-by. | mean to see you in the
morning.
Dolly turned away without word.
1t seemed at least week before he said
goodnight to his hostess and found him
self at home, where he could examine the
overwhelming proofs of Dolly unfitness to
be his wife. The harmless little box con-
tanned several newspaper cuttings, all
purporting to be written by one Daisy Fern.
There was "A Spring Twilight, ''The
Return of the Robins, y The Oriole's Nest, .
and various others not very original head
ings, introducing not very original verses.
1t took Fred something more than a minute
Ferris must be one and the same person,
and that all his well-meant animadversions
against literary wives had had far differ
ent meaning for Dolly from the one in
tended. He groaned just once, perhaps
twice. to think that even inabilityto read and
write couldn't save a woman from being
the victim of literary aspirations. But one
thought Of poor little grief-strieken Dolly
banished his only half-recognized misgiving
Besides, he wickedly reflected that he
would undertake to make it impossible for
her to find an amanuensis.
At half past nine on the next morning
Mr.. Fred Rylance's gray Roderick was
paving the gravel in front of Mrs. Ferris S
house, and Mr.. Fred Rylance in the draw
ing-room was holding a little white-robed
maiden to his heart, and telling her between
times that he didn't care if she wrote
The0phrdstus Such When a more lengthy
interval of lucidity came to both, Mr..
Rylance asked with amusement.
But, Dolly my dear, who wrote them
for you?''
''Who wrote them o. Indignantly
why, they're mine, even if you don't like
them
''Oh yes, | know but who was your
amanuensis? You know you told me
yourself that you eouldn't write.
What y said Dolly, in amazement.
What do you mean?''
why, at the station, the day you came,
when | wrote your telegram
Dolly looked at him moment in utter
wonder, then burst into peals of laughter,
until rapidly gathering cloud on Fred 5
face sobered her.
''Oh, Fred forgive ME" (more laughter)
Il didn't mean didn't know hote to write,
but you see | had written and written so
much over these things almost day and
night, indeed was SO much alone that
gave my whole time to it-and finally
got that horrid thing the matter with my
wrst-writer's cramp, isn't it?-and the
doctor made me promise before | came
away that wouldn't take a pen inmy hand
while | was gone, not once Oh dear
can not help laughing. 1t is so ridiculous
that You should have thought | eouldn' t
write
Fred joined in the laugh now himself.
and this trifie settled, they returned to the
real business of life.
suddenly Fred jumped up, and cried, in
great anxiety, And can you really read
too?''
why, certainly"
Dul SdN you Iedtillp Ii"fptF HdyW-
zine upside down.
Yes | remember that. | was looking
at that photograph of yourself you gave
Kate, and suddenly heard your footsteps
i'll the hall, and
That morning after his return from the
train which bore Dolly to Lowell, Mr.
Rylance sat down to confess to Everidge
DEAR EyERrDGE.--Assoo soon as it can be
conveniently arranged. Miss Dolly Ferris
will become Mrs. Rylance. feel in honor
bound to explain that she is not the ideal
but she is SO much better that | have
nothing to regret. Come up and spend
Sunday with me. but please do me the
particular favor not TO mention the latest
theory which promised to tell you about.
And let me give you some good advice
you know I'm engaged now. Don't you
bother your head about your ideal. Just
look for nice girl.
Yours. F. r.
Correspondents must bear in mind that
to entitle their communications to notice,
it is indispensable that the real name of the