The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-09-23
HER WRITING TABLE.

=
she adds more hastily, 'put that little
where is IT. under the front leg. No, it
won't hurt 1t really. / keep it there for
the purpose. Oh, yes, IL has a good many
addresses in it, but am afraid haven't
put down most peoples numbers correctly,
I hardly ever use 1t. 1 think IL is al
ways better to put dash instead of
number when you write to people, don't
your Postmen are so Intelligent"
If there is everything I want at the
writing table, might also suggest-only,
of course, wouldn't be such a brute
that there are several things upon il which
don't want.
Tho principal articles on the table arc
as follows: A penwiper, with n group of
silver dachshunds on the top; two vases of
flowers and an tart" pot with bulrushes
In 1t, q patent oontrivance for moistening
stamps, two large pockets of dress pat
torns. C'n not returned in ten days, will
be charged IS. 6d'), a nlagnifying glass,
@ massive silver inkstand with a receptacle
for ink about the size Of thimble inside,
knowing looking cashbox without q
key, a china monkey, two quill pens with
broad points, their feathers stiff with gum,
having been lately used to paste pictures
in a scrapbook; photograph frame of
untarnishable metal, case for post cards,
a case for twine. case for almanac cards.
q case for stamps (all these empty) and q
case for Bradshaw 1S80).
lady exclains in a tone In which natural
surprise mingles with pretty impatience
for not having noticed my want sooner.
"It is in the right hand drawer. You open
1t with paper knife-look, like this
"1'm afraid there Ia no note paper here"
says my lady, pushing her slender hand,
lace ruffies and all, to the back of the
drawer and pulling out some more dress
patterns and quantity of unpaid bills,
"bub I'll run and get some from papa's
study"
"oh, no; DON'T"
"Why not2''
"I don't know. Stay here. Show me
again how this drawer opens.''
Nonsense; the drawer is open. and ii
is nearly post time. !"
"My letter is not important"
"But you said 1t was. -
81 don't think 1t is now"
"Oh," rather quickly, II think should
like TO get you that note paper"
"And dnow'-laying 1t before me-''you
must write your letter quickly il you want
to get it off in time. And you mustn't
talk any more
''I won't. But isn't there something
rather bumpy in this blotting bookf"
"Oh, yes, that is chocolate. 1 always
keep 1t in the pocket of my blotter and
then my maid doesn't cat 1t. Take 1t ont
while you are writing, but put 1t back
again"
WON you ttht ~ out Iile!
"No. But you may eat some of 10 IL you
like"
My lady sits down In basket ehair-it
creaks delightfully-and takes her kitten
on her knee. Tho kitten makes playful
pats at her with his paws, crouches down
on her knee and springs at her hand, fas-
tening his claws In her lace. My lady
shakes her head reprovingly, then seizes
him and holds him close to her and pre-
tends to kiss him.
"You don't seem to be getting on with
your letter very quickly"
'tI can't bear to sit here and see that cat
destroy your ruf1ies."
''Kitty and 1 will take another chair"
"Come now; that's not fair
"It's nearly post time. You really must
got on with that letter.
"well, will you go back and sit in the
basket ohairf"
"No."
az can't write unless you do.'s
"That's silly"
ait is true"
"Oh, well'
Tho basket chair begins to creak again.
wish could remember what was 60
ing to say in this letter. really would
get on with it if could, but for the life
of me can't remember what was going
to write about. Tho kitten has gone on n
tour of discovery round the room, and my
lady sits with lightly folded hands looking
out of tho window.
The china monkey grins at me. do
wish could remember what wanted to
say. suck the top of my pen; it tastes
bad.
Presently my lady looks round. When
she turns her head, 1t just makes a man
feol inclined to stare helplcssly at her and
wonder how she does It, All the old
SMILES about swanlike movements and
fiowerlike grace seem horribly inadequate
when my lady turns her head. She bends
1t "a little forward as she turns It, and one
secs the wonderful lines of her neck and
shoulder and the contour of her check,
clear cut against the light from the win
dow.
"You arc quite sure you have every
thing you wanti"
It is possible that she has been expect
Ing to hear the scratching of my pen on
the paper for some time past.
~ am quite sure haven't"
"Oh, am SO sorry" says my lady. She
rises from her chair and comes half way
across the room toward me. Then she secs
mo looking at her, and she stops
You knew 1 meant writing materials, +"
she says, with terrible severity.
.But there isn't any ink.
"Oh, dear Has 1t dried up agalnf'
81 1t has, and 1 am quite sure these pens
are not fit to use"
'oh, and it is past post timel What
will you dor am afraid it is all my fault"
u am sure of 1t. -
81 really did think there was everything
In that writing table. Then again,
'tWhat will you do?''
81 think I'll go for a walk In the garden
with you.''
"0h, but I am so busy"
still 1 really think you ought to do
something to make up for making me lose
tho post.
"well, 1t must only be for a few min
utes, remember
1t is two hours later when, having
reached the garden somehow never can
remember how-we return to the house,
AS we cross the lawn my lady is saying to
me, "And I'll always help you TO write
your letters, and your writing table shall
have paper and stamps and everything you