Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-01-20
A SECRET.

blessed with number of other nicces to
whom l have no desire to allow anything.
They're 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, mice uncle" before
she could toddle, but she did, and that
aottled the question of favoritism.
Doris is a romantic young person, with
1weakness for writing poetry and all that
sort of thing, and she had some scruplcs
bout keeping secret from her husband,
but insisted
OF course, if Harry should ever be hard
up, you'll have to tell him and go shares,
said. but If he has a fault
He hasn't" she assured me.
We'll, if he had, it would be a tendency
10 extravaganza. 1t is much better that
he should underrate the resources of the
establishment. So at last she consented
always had good bit Of influence
0Fer her.
When they had been married about 10
nonths, she called at my Office one after
uoon. She kissed me three times and
armed me ''dear old uncle" vice, so ]
new that she had come to propose some.
ming prepostcrous.
Well, madam" 1 inquired, crossing
my legs and folding my hands judicially,
may ask the real purport of this dem
onstration?'
She traced the pattern of the carpet
thoughtfully with her parasol at is get.
Ting rather worn" she said, land the pat
tern is too small. l should have IA warmer
color next time, If were you, and, oh, l
came to propose something"
Voc Il 7 .ns1 IL
have told you that
You are so clever" she said enthusi-
estically, THAT 1 don't believe any one
could deceive you"
i begin to suspect a very wild pro-
posal" informed her.
I You are horrid," she retorted, "but"-
WellP"
really did want to pay you one COM
pIiment if you hadn't stopped me-" She
tkaced the pattern again.
By all means
Il was going to say that you were quite
right about that allowance of mine. 1t is
very kind of you, uncle really. l don't
mean that for flattery." She touched my
arm with her tiny gloved hand, and pat
ted it. "You were right, was going to
own, about keeping it secret
trust larry hasn't been plungingP"
nsked with alarm "He is an unusually
nice fellow and has seemed quite steady
since the marriage"
Fob, dear, nor she cried "How could
you imagine such thingf"
Then how is my wisdom proved9"
Il am going to explain. You-you
won t be cross-or satirical-will you, dear
uncle?" She leaned eagerly toward me,
with her head little ON one side. She is
nice to look at.
Il hope not
"Promise"
Very we'll 1 promise not to be cross
or satirical, but of course 1 may object"
4 It's this, uncle. You know how fond
Harry is of painting, and how be gets up
early and does such lovely pictures before
be goes to the city,"
. Ye-es. Go on, my dear" They re
rather of the dabby order to my mind
call them beautiful, but they won't
have them at the academy. I'm sure it's
only jealousy, and he can't sell them often,
you know"
Umphl" thought she wanted me to
purchase them.
i want you to get an agent to buy some
with my allowance-which Harry knows
nothing about" was preparing to OBJ
iect, but she put her hand on my shoulder.
1T would please poor Harry so" she
pleaded, land 1 should be just as well off.
He would be sure to buy things for me
and baby with the money. If he didn't,
We have everything we really need. He is
20 good and kind to me, and-I do so
HAnt to-uncle-dear. She paused for
bleath, with her big eyes looking entreat-
ingly. 1 wiped my pen carefully and con-
Eidered.
Master Harry is a sufficiently lucky
nan without being great artist, l said
ct last ~ don't know that he deserves
any more good fortune"
1T would please me, uncle"
my dear child, the allowance is to be
6pent entirely at your own discretion"
But you wouldn't mind it, would
yonP" 1 watched her eager face admir-
lngly.
mo, my dear child" 1 told her, 81
Ehpuldn't mind. 1t is very good plan
Of D very good little woman" She jump
ed up and fairly Rugged me until l had to
protest that one OF my clerks might come
H.
Doris plans were duly carried out-they
generally are, We bought II of the mas
tefpieoes for e215. The agent evidently
thought that we were pair of lunatics,
but he promised to send Harry check
81 the amount, less the commission, at
ice, and, as we found afterward kept his
WDrd. Doris was in high glee, and actual
u offered to stand me lunch out of her
nall balance. Strange to say, Harry made
10 mention of the sale to her, though he
~ med very jubilant. So we felt sure
LIT he was preparing some grand sur
pr se. When a week had passed, however,
began to feel uneasy. Then he called at
he office.
Il want to consult you about some,
ia ing, uncle" he said. ''It is a secret
ION Doris, you must understand.
Yes" said 1, rubbing my hands and
I1nghing up my sleeve. eyes, my boy"
live sold some of my old daubs," he
cor tinued, with hearty laugh, "for a
folple of hundred It's quite a windfall
So / want to do something for Dorry with
~ money"
Exactly" agreed.
You know she wrote book of poems
Lore we were married, called Rose
I|hves'-not half bad, either"
Yes, of course, know, but wouldn't
courage her to do any more If l were
IN, Harry. She's better occupied with
b baby and house-and husband.
Certainly. But they were published
Al her own risk-or'- He looked at me.
.'MineY Well, I'm afraid So" Ninety,
pounds odd had to pay for excess OF
III over receiDte.