The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-11-14

They We're talking one day-that is, Kate
and Milly were-of woman's novel that
was running in one of the magazines Dolly
had been very silent, and Fred Judged that
his time had come for declaring his prefer
ence for unschooled and unlearned femininity.
Throwing himself back on the grass, and gaz-
ing up at the blue Iatches of heaven visible
through the net work Of bows above him, he
announced, dictatorially:
u never intend to rad n line again from
any woman. It's all nonsense There's my
friend Danforth who has married Miss
Colby-she calls herself Daisy Earle on parer,
believe Fancy a man deliberately selecting
literary wife! Oh, not anything but an
educated and superior female companion"
Dolly looked conscious and embarrassed,
but was silent. Kate retorted:
"Oh, you goose! You are like all the other
men in the world, thoroughly inconsistent.
notice that in real life you never pursue
sweet ignorance, one would expect from
your conversation; indeed, the girls you like
are invariably those who are called brilliant
and -"
NONSENSE" said Fred: "who ever said
liked foolf' But, seriously, the brightest
and most charming women" (he hardly
dare say woman) Il ever met could neither
read nor write"
No one answered for moment Then
Kate, swapping her embroidery silk petu.
lantly, folded her work, and rose, saying
with some dignity:
"Since you are bent upon making yourself
so agreeable, I'll 60 to my painting awhile"
"Oh. come, now" sal! Fred, springing to
his feet. IN walk to the house with you and
make up"
The next day was the last of Dolly's visit.
1t was to be celebrated by moonlight lawn
party, with all the Charming accompani-
ments of supper served in great, brilliantly
lighted marquee of music everywhere, and
above all, judicious gloom of Chinese Ian
terms in the more romantic and secluded
parts of the grounds.
Everything happened precisely as it ought
even Fred's well-devised scheme TO beguile
Dolly into u PARTICULARLY dim and romantic
and secluded spot, and there tell her that he
loved Ler and her only. The plan was well
laid, and, as had been said, went off with a
precision which i rale.y granted to the
plots of W ding man at moonlight fetes.
But the denouement did gang very much
agley. At the critical moment, when the
heroine permits herself to be tenderly
gathered to the hero's manly heart, and
Reginald whispers, "Oh, sreak ever thus"
Dolly drew herself emphatcally away
and burst into tears. Ere was dis
tracted. He dill his best, his most artistic
best, to comfort her. but s he so evidently
meant what she said in begging him not to
say word that he was forced to wait 81
lently Il til She managed to compose herself
sufficiently to sob out:
"Oh-if-you only [sobl knew all about
me [slbl you wouldn't [sobl ask mo" [sob, sob,
sobL
"Bu' do know, Dolly. know"
"Oh, no, you dont-you don't know the
worst
There can't be any worst Try me, and
see"
II can't cannot" quite composedIy this
time. But I'll give you something tonight.
when you go away, which will explain 1t ALL
Now, dor't say another word, please. In
deed, can't stand it." and Dolly, wiping her
eyes, marched off toward the house.
Fred didn't feel very badly, for he knew
her sec! ct, but he saw she was too much un-
nerved for an explanation just then. After
they reached the house she disappeared for u
few minutes. and Fred, meeting her at the
foot of the stairs, walked out under the porch
and received from her little box, some
three inches square, carefully 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,
Goodbye; I'm going tomorrow, you know"
He took the little hand, pressed il warmly,
and replied, with much feeling, mo; not
goodbye. | mean to see you in the morn
ing"
Dolly turned away without a word.
II seemed at least a week before he said
goodnight to his hostess Sid found himself
at home, where he could examine the over
whelming proofs of Dolly's unftness 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 "A Spring Twilight" THE RE
turn of the Robins, "The Orioles Nest" and
various other not very original headings, in
Producing not very original verses. IL took
Fred something more than a minute to COM
prehend that Daisy Fern and Dolly Ferris
mutt be one and the same person, and that
all his well-mo ant animad versions against
literary wives had had far different mean-
ing for Dolly from the one intended. 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 one thought Of
poor little gref-stricken Dolly banished his
Ouly uiiSslNuh DeSlubS, Ub
wickedly reflected that he would undertake
to make it impossible for her to find all
amanuensis.
At half-past on the next morning Mr..
Fred Rylances gray Roderick was paving
the gravel in front of Mrs. Ferris house, and
Mr.. Fred Rylance in the drawing room was
holding a little white-robed maiden to his
heart, and telling her between times that he
didn't care II she wrote "Theophratus Such"
When a more lengthy interval Of lucidity
came to both, Mr.. Rylance asked, with
amusement:
"But, Dolly, my dear, who wrote them for
your
"Who wrote themf' Indignantly. "Why,
they're mine, even II you don't like them"
"Oh yes, know; but wlS was your aman-
uensist You know you told me yourself
that you couldn't write"
"What!' said Dolly, in amazemen "What
do you meanr
"Why, at the station, the day you ne.
when / wrote ur telegram"
Dolly looked at hi u moment in utter
wonder, then burst into peals of laughter,
until rapidly gathering cloud on Fred's face
sobered her.
"Oh, Fred, forgive me" more laugbter). Il
didn't mean didn't know how to write. but
you see had written and written 40 much
over these things, almost day and night, in
deed-I was so much alone that | gave my
whole time to it-and finally got that horrid
thing the matter with my wrist-writers
cramp isn't iti-and the doctor made me
promise before came away that wouldn't
take pen in my hand while was gone, not
once! Oh, dear, cannot help laughing. It
L SO ridiculous that you should have thought
/ couldn't write"
Fred joined in the laugh now himself, and
this triHe settled they returned 10 the real
business of life
Suddenly Fred jumped up and cried in
great anxiety; "And can you really read,
toof'
sWhy, certainly"
But saw you reading Ha"pers Magazine
upside down"
"Yes, remember that. | was looking at
that photograph OF yourself you gave Kate.
and sud ealy | heard your footsto2 in the
hail. and
Thut morning, after his return from the
train which bcrs Dolly to Lowell, Mr. Ry-
lance sat down to colfess to Everidge:
"DEAR EvERIDGE: As soon as il can he
conveniently Arranged. Miss Dolly Ferris
will become Mrs Rvlince feel In honor
boun To explain that she ~ not the IDEAL
TO regret Come up anil spend Sunday with
me, tut plcase do me the particular favor
not tpsmv1iif NJ lhe latest theory which
promised 70 tel you about. And let me give
You some good advice-you know I'm en-
ga2el now DON'T you bother your head