The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-01-04
!. ss s:s s e. z =: y = PRIVATE ss:s :'s e.

do you dar ne my private let
! ters?
~Why. the Ehable thing stare.
me IN The face. I couldn't help seein,
it NY dearest Freddie indeed. Ughi
Eat all events that sounds moreA&sn
sible than Ny darling Curly-locks.
responded. with a forced laugh i
-Oh-ohi And may 1 ask who gass
you leave to read my letters?"
ct is just possible that they, too
may at times stare one in the face"
Dick remained silent for a space. his
eyes bent upon the carpet.
Il can explain that letter. he said
at last. but l would rather you did not
ask me TO do so now"
"No doubtyou would, put in, sharp
IL. Il give you credit for being able tc
explain anything and everything, now
and at all times-minently to youl
own satisfaction"
Again Dick wa silent. When he
looked up the wrathful CLEAN had fed
from his eyes.
heard me speak of Gfaisheri
of Ours" he said, a CULVER in his voice
"a brave soldier and the best friend
ever had. He died in the hospital at
Cairo. Before his death he asked ms
to look after his daughter-motherless
then, fatherless now. She will be Il
years old on the 18th of this month, and
it was to her Iwrote. She is at school
in Cambridge. / wanted to spring her
upon you az 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"
"Oh. Dick-Dick!" / cried, in an ex-
cess of joy and relief. But Dick waved
me aside.
"This letter was written by you, ]
think" he said, CURLY, fourishing the
discriminating sheet in the air.
My lips trembled SO violently that /
came near falling. Unconscious of my
distress, Dick deliberately turned upon
his heel and would have gone from the
room if l had not clutched fast hold of
his sleeve. Listen to me-listen to me,
Dicki'
perhaps it would be better to wait
until your mother"
"No-nol Listen TO me now!"
Dick swung around.
"You were 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; 81
put it that the dog was never fond of
me-"
1T amounts to the same thing. Gu:
of Difference to your prejudices-or his
Il 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 a Judge"
"Really, Miss Wand, 1 don't see what
this has to do"
"0h, very WELL" 1 answered, stif1y
perhaps you recollect who presented
him TO mother?"
Certainly 1 do. 1t was that fellow
Walcott." And the dogs name?"
because of its snub nose you called
~ HlttA 10 4OlHuCt ONnCI. hAl-SOtF
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
MANI"
81 don't pretend at all; it is the fact.
I thought how much greater fun it
would be il Icould teach Freddi-that's
the dog, you know-to open an un.
sealed envelope, take out the Enclosure
and rub his specialized nose along the
lines as if reading them. If you care to
look at what 1 have written there under
this new light you viii see that"
But where is the necessity of writing
ut ALP queried Dick, the cloud fast
vanishing from his brows. "a blank
sheet of paper would have served the
purpose just as well as this-this stuff.
The dog can't really read"
"No. you silly goose" said j, linking
my arm in his; "but you can"
what! You designedly placed this
letter where 1 should drop across l.?
Was It drawn up solely for my beneft?'
/ 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, l think / have a sufi-
cheney of both.-Household Words.
H