Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-01-02
"And pray, Capt. Rowe, by what right
do you dare to peruse my private let

"And pray, Capt. Rowe, by what rights
do you dare to peruse my private let
ters?"
"Why, the abominable thing stared
me in the face. couldn't help seeing
it. My dearest Freddie, indeed! Ugh!'
"At all events that sounds more sen
sible than My darling Curly-locks,
responded, with forced laugh.
"Oh-oh! And may ask who gave
you leave to read my letters?"
1T is just possible that they, too,
may at times stare one in the face"
Dick remained silent for space, his
eyes bent upon the carpet.
81 can explain that letter." he said,
at last, "but 1 would rather you did not
ask me to do so now"
mo doubtyou would" put in, sharp
ly. 81 give you credit for being able to
explain anything and everything, now
and at all times-eminently to your
own satisfaction"
Again Dick was silent. When he
looked up the wrathful CLEAN had fed
from his eyes.
"You have heard me speak of Glaisher,
of Ours" he said, a culver i'll his voice
"a brave soldier and the best friend l
ever had. He died in the hospital at
Cairo. Before his death he asked me
to look after his aughter-motherles
then, fatherless now. She will be 12
years old on the 18th of this month, and
it was to her l wrote. She is at school
in Cambridge. L wanted to spring her
upon you as an agreeable surprise;
wanted you to love her for her own
sake, and not because she was my ward.
l thought perhaps she might be one of
your bridesmaids, if ever"
ooh, Dick-Dick!" I cried, in an ex-
cess of JOY and relief. But Dick waved
me aside.
"This letter was written by you, I
think" he said, CURLY, hourishing the
discriminating sheet in the air.
My lips trembled so violently that T
came near falling. Unconscious of my
distress, Dick deliberately turned upon
his heel and would have gone from the
room if | had not clutched fast hold Of
his sleeve. Listen to me-listen to me,
Dick!"
perhaps it would be better to wait
until your mother"
Mono! Listen to me now!"
Dick swung around.
"You were never very fond of moth
er's lap dog" 1 said, gazing up at him.
timidly.
Dick, puzzled, stared hard at me.
81 beg your pardon" he returned; II
put it that the dog was never fond OF
me-"
"It amounts to the same thing. Ouh
of Difference to your prejudices-or his
i had given up petting him and teach
ing him tricks. You remember how
used to make him sit up, with spec
tacles on his nose, grave as Judge"
Really, Miss Waud, don't see what
this has to do"
"Oh, very WE'LL" I answered, stiffiy.
perhaps you recollect who presented
him to mother?"
Certainly 1 do. 1t was that fellow
Walcott." And the dogs name?"
because of it's snub nose you called
it after it's former owner. Why-con~
found 1.-THE dogs name is Freddie.
too! You can't-no-surely you are
not going to pretend that this letter
was addressed to the dog, and not 10 the
man?"
81 don't pretend at all; it is the fact.
I thought how much greater fun it
would be if could teach Freddie-that's
the dog, you know-to open an I'M
sealed envelope, take out the inclosure
and rub his specialized nose along the
lines as if reading them. If you care to
look at what l have written there under
this new light you will see that"
But where is the necessity of writing
at ALP" queried Dick, the cloud fass
vanishing from his brows. "a blanl:
sheet of paper would have served ths
purpose just as well as this-this stuff.
The dog can't really read"
mo, you silly goose" said I, linking
my arm in his; ''but you can"
what! You designedly placed this
letter where I should drop across il?
Was it drawn up solely for my benefit"
I nodded and smiled at him.
"For your benefit-and punishment"
And yet mother says that I am Woe
fully lacking in diplomacy and tact.
For my own part, think have suffl-
cheney of both.-Household Words.