The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-01-27
A SECRET.

AJHE Doris married arranged to
Wv allow her a couple of hundred q
year, on condition that she kept it a
secret. 1 am blessed with number Of
other nieces to whom I have no de-
sire to allow anything. They are all
nice girls, in their way, and I've no
particular fault to find with them;
but they aren't Doris. She was always
my favorite, from the time she began
to talk. No doubt it was artful of her
| mother to teach her to say: "Nice
| uncle!" before she could toddle, but
she did, and that settled the question
of favoritism.
Doris is a romantic young person,
with weakness for writing poetry.
and all that sort of thing, and she had
some scruples about keeping secret
from her husband; but insisted.
"Of course, if Harry should ever be
hard up, you'll have to tell him and
60 shares" said. "But If he has a
| fault"
"He hasn't" she assured me.
When they had been married about
| is months she called at my Office one
| afternoon. She kissed me three times,
and termed me "Dear old uncle" twice;
so I knew she had come to propose
something preposterous.
"Well, madam" inquired, crossing
my legs and folding my hands judicious-
ly, may I ask the real purport of this
demonstration?
She traced the pattern OF the car
pet thoughtfully with her parasol. at
is getting rather worn," she said, land
the pattern is too small. should have
warmer color next time If I were
you; and-O! come to propose some
thing"
"Yes, my DEAR" said, calmly, II
could have told you that"
81 was going to say that you were
quite right about that allowance OF
mine. 1t is kind of you, uncle, really"
She touched my arm with her tiny
gloved hand, and I patted it.
81 trust Harry hasn't been plung-
ing?" asked, with alarm.
20, dear, mol" she cried. ~How could
you imagine such thing?"
''Then how is my wisdom proved?"
II am going to explain. You-you
won't be cross1or satirical-wiu you,
uncle dear?"
81 hope not"
~It's this, uncle. You know how
fond Harry is of painting, and how he
gets up early and does such lovely
pictures before he goes to the city?"
"Ye-es. Go on, my DEAR"
81 call them beautiful; but they don't
have them at the academy-Pm sure
it's only jealousy-and he can't sell
| them often, you know"
'Umph!" I thought she wanted me
to purchase them.
81 want you to get an agent to buy
some-with my allowance-which Har-
ry knows nothing about" I was pre-
| pairing to object, but she put her hand
on my shoulder. ''It would please poor
Harry So" she pleaded, "and should
| be just as well off. He would be sure
to buy things for me and the baby
with the money. If he didn't, we have
everything we really need. He is so
good and kind to me, and-I do so want
| to-uncle, dear" She paused for
breath, while her big eyes looking so
entrea tingly. 1 wiped my pen careful
| ly and considered.
Master Harry is a sufficiently lucky
man, without being great artist"
said, at last.
''It would please me, uncle"
| "My dear child, the allowance is to
| be spent entirely at your own discre-
ton. It's a good plan-of good little
woman She jumped up and fairly
hugged me, until 1 had to protest that
one of my clerks might come in.
Doris plans were duly carried out
they generally are. We bought II of
the masterpieces for $215. Doris was
| in high glee, and actually offered to
stand me lunch out of her small bal
ance. Strange to say, Harry made no
| mention of the sale to her, though he
seemed jubilant. So we felt sure that
he was preparing some grand surprise.
When p week had passed, however,
began to feel uneasy. Then he called at
the office.
81 want to consult you about some
thing, uncle" he said. at is secret
from Doris, you must understand"
"Yes," said 1, rubbing my hands and
| laughing up my sleeve. Eyes, my boy"
'I've sold some of my daubs," he con-
tinued. with a hearty laugh, 'for a
couple of hundred. It's quite wind
fall. SO l want to do something for
Dorry with the money"
Exactly" 1 agreed.
"You know she wrote a book of
poems before we were married, called
'Roseleaves-not half bad, either"
"Yes, of course, l know; but ]
wouldn't encourage her to do any more
if were you, Harry. She's better oc-
cupied with her baby and house-and
husband"