Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-11-21

manly heart, and Reginald whispers, "Oh
speak ever thus" Dolly drew herself en-
phatically away and burst into tears
Fred was distracted. He did his best. bis
most artistic best, to comfort her, but she
SO evidently meant what she said in beg
ging him not to say word. that he was
forced to wait silently until she managed
to compose herself sufficiently to sob out
!, "Oh-if- you only [sob] knew all about
me [sotl you wouldn' t [sob] ask me" [sob,
sob, sob.
"But do know, Dolly. know
"Oh, no, you don't-you don't know
the worst.''
"There can't be any worst. Try me,
and see."
II can't-I cannot" quite composedly
this time. ''But I'll give you something
tonight. when you 60 away. which will
explain it all. Now, don't say another
word, please. Indeed, I can't stand it.
and Dolly, wiping her eyes. marched off
! towards the house.
Fred didn't feel very badly, for he
knew her secrect, but he saw she was too
much unnerved for an explanation just
then, After they reached the house she
disappeared for few minutes, and Fred,
meeting her at the foot of the stairs, walk
ed out under the porch and received from
her little box, some three inched square,
carefully tied with blue ribbon.
"Promise me-" she said, with tremb-
ling voice., that you won't look at it
until you get home.'' And putting out
J her hand, "Good-bye; I'm going to-mor-
row, you know"
He took the little hand, pressed it warm
ly and replied, with much feeling. mo;
not good bye. I mean to see you in the
morning"
Dolly turned away without word.
1t seemed at least week before he said
good night to his hostess and found him
self at home, where he could examine the
overwhelming proofs of Dolly's unfitness
to be his wife. The harmless little box
contained several newspaper cuttings, all
verses, and purporting to be written by
one Daisy Fern. There was IA Spring
Twilight" 1.-THE Return of the Robins.''
1.-THE Orioles Nest," and various other
not very original verses It took Fred
something more than a minute to COM
prehend that Daisy Fern and Dolly Fer
ris must be one and the same person, and
that all his we'll meant, anlmadyersions
against literary wives had had far diff
ferent meaning for Dolly from the one ill.,
tended. He groaned just once. perhaps
twice, to think that even inability to read
and write couldn't save woman from
being the victim of literary aspirations.
But the thought of poor little grief-striek-
en- Dolly banished his only half recog-
nized misgiving. Besides, he wickedly
reflected that he would undertake to make
J it impossible for her to find an amanuen.
sis.
At half-past on the next morning Mr..
Fred Rylance's gray Roderick was paw
ing the gravel in front of Mrs. Ferris
house, and Mr.. Fred Rylance in the draw
ing room was holding little white robed
maiden to his heart, and telling her be-
tween tunes that he didn't care If she
wrote "Theophrastus Such" When a
more lengthy interval of lucidity came to
both, Mr.. Rylance asked, with amuse.
ment:
"But, Dolly, my dear, WHO wrote them
for you2"
"Who wrote them2" Indignantly
"Why. they're mine, even if you don like
them.'
"Oh yes, know; but who was your
amanuensis9 You know you told me
yourself hat you couldn't WRITE"
What" said Dolly, in amazement.
"What do you mean?"
why, at the station, the day you came
when wrote your telegram"
Dolly looked at him m moment in utter
wonder, then burst into peals of laughter
until rapidly gathering cloud on Fred's
face sobered her.
"Qh, Fred. forgive me-" (more laugh.
teri. II didn't mean I didn't know how
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 wrist writer's cramp
ism 'tp-and the doctor made me promise
before came away that 1 wouldn't take
pen In my hand while was gone. moi
once! Oh, dear. I cannot help laughing
It is 80 ridiculous that you should have
thought couldn't write"
Fred joined in the laugh now himself
and this trifle settled they returned to the
the real business of life.
Suddenly Fred jumped up and cried, in
great anxiety: And can you really read
too?"
"Why, certainly"
"But saw you reading Harper's Mag
aZlne upside down."
rye I remember that. I was looking
at that photograph Of yourself you gave
Kate. and suddenly heard your footstep
in the hall. and"
That morning, after his return from
the train which bore Dolly to Lowell, Mr.
| 1GylauCo SdG uuWu W COuIeSS W LVcIluso
| stDEAR EvERIDGE: AS soon as it car
be conveniently arranged, Miss Dolly Fer
ris will become Mrs. Rylance. feel ir
honor bound to explain that she is not the
ideal, but she so much more and bet tel
that I've 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 tel
you about. And let me give you some
good advice-you know Pm engaged now
Don It you bother your head about your
ideal. Just lock out for nice girl.
Yours, F. R."
SsThot :,