The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-01-25
THE PRIVATE SECRETARY.

unobserved, when my friend Willard
Fleming caught sight of me.
Don't go yet, Arthur" he said; 81
want you to do me favor. You saw
me with a lady dressed in blue?"
l assented. "a beautiful girl, with
dark hair and eyes!'
"The same he responded. "ITer
name is Lydia Moreton; beautiful, as
you say, and, what is no less interesting
heiress to half a million. l want you to
be introduced to her and form general
idea of her. 1t is very important mat
ter.
| stared.
'NWhat part am l to play in this mys-
FERROUS drama" / asked in surprise;
"surely you do not propose to adjust
your inclination for the lady by what |
acquaintance"
II will explain afterward," he replied;
"come and see her first
Very much mystitcd, l followed him
into the conservatory. where l was for
mally introduced to Miss Moreton. On
taking my place beside her, | saw that
Fleming had left us to ourselves. | con
fess | was not displeased, for found her
very charming We were on good terms
Immediately, and | was half inclined to
be angry with Willard when he,returned
and took me away from her.
81 envy you," 1 said. "she is ex-
quisite."
81 am glad you approve, he replied,
'but 1t Is by no means settled yet, and
that is why | want your help"
81 wish you would not talk in riddles,
Willard, = exclaimed. Tell me what
you mean
"Just this, he said, taking my arm
contidentially. 81 think have produced
an impression, but as she is going abroad
tomorrow, for year, shall have no
opportunity of following it up. l have
gained her permission to correspond with
her, and you are going to write my let
tiers for me-"
III" l replied. ''You seriously ex-
pect me to correspond with her in your
nameW
"Just so, he said. cit is the bright
est idea that ever entered my head, too.
Now, | write an abomnable letter, and
in spite of the understanding between us,
might do myself more harm than good
You have an especial talent that way.
Everybody admires your letters, for you
can produce any impression you choose.
You have a general notion of her charac-
ter: that was why | introduced you. If
you will undertake the campaign, adding
a little more warmth and that sort of
thing in each successive letter. we shall
capture her before the year is OUT
i" 1t strikes me the course you propose
i, trir 1ali T
replied, Indignantly. "What will she
think of us when she discovers the
truth"
ooh, never mind that he returned,
carelessly. AFTER | have made her Mrs
Fleming l will undertake to pacify her. ."
| was on the point of refusing positive
ly when Miss Moreton, on her way to her
carriage, met us in the hall. She smiled
and gave me her hand. What was there
in her look, her voice, the touch of her
small, gloved palm, that stirred me so2
What was the wave of regret that swelled
up in my heart as | saw her turn once
more at the door and smile back her
farewell 2 | stood in profound reverie
until Fleming plucked me by the arm
and said, impatiently:
"Well, what is your decision2 Will
you write to herr"
In an instant the thought entered my
brain that, though she could never be
nothing more than pleasant vision to
me, | might at least retain the bitter
happiness of holding intercourse with
her for time, even if under another
mans name. The temptation was ire
sistible, and yielded.
eyes" l replied, 81 will write your
letters"
"The thing is done, then" he said,
rubbing his hands glcefuliy. 81 shall
owe you the handsomest wife in Ameri-
ca, and half million besides.n
| turned away with throb of indig-
nant envy, and left him exulting over
his anticipated success, That night l
wrote my first letter to her and signed it
Willard Fleming. put all my strength
into it, shadowing out the conflicting
emotions which filled me. | felt that it
could not fail to have its effect for / was
writing for myself--as should have writ
ten had it been my right to address her
in my own name. | mailed it two days
later, knowing it would reach her short
ly after her arrival.
waited impatiently for her reply.
Willard had arranged to have her letters
sent to me- After had read them was
to turn them over to him, together with
Il draft of my answers.
Three weeks later found an envelope,
postmarked France, and addressed in a
delicate feminine hand, lying upon my
desk. l tore it open with trembling
fingers. 1t was from Lydia Moreton. In
every line OF it | detected the effect OF
the letter | had written her. 1t was
more than kind; it was just upon that
neutral ground which lies between friend
ship and something more tender, read
and re-read it, | carried it about with
me for several days before | could bring
myself to give it to Willard. 1t seemed
as if it had been meant for me. What
difference was it whose name was at thu
top of itl My words, my feelings, m!