Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1900-02-15
A DICTATED LETTER.

sell OF ulS StINlctS. lHOugH ne udQ not
prepared himself for anything in particular,
he felt capable of doing everything in gem
eral. He wondered where he could 60 to be
best ppreciated-where, in fact, his learn.
ing and uncommon intellect would do the
most good.
He was inexpressibly hurt when he found
that no one noticed him at all. The crowd
| jostled him ON the street contemptuously,
there was no good fellowship abroad in the
busy city so far as he could find no one gave
him any dinners; he was not invited to Join
the clubs, and most emphatically he was not
offered any occupation. He tried to be pa
tient with this colossal stupidity on the part
| of Chicago, but it was difficult. lie then
even condescended to look for work, but it
was not to be found. He was too sure of
| himself in a way, too confident Of good birth
and the inherited convictions of gentleman
to care what he did-he did not make those
cautious distinctions which middle class
fellow would have made. But it did not
seem as if there was anything that came
within his possibilities within the length and
| breadth Of the city that wanted doing
However, by assiduously consulting the
paper he found at length an advertisement
for private secretary. The correspondence
that followed led to his being installed in a
luxurious mansion as the secretary and
factotum Of certain distinguished lady.
To say that Howard Moore enjoyed such
situation would be incorrect. As a matter
of fact, he would rather have driven street
car in happy independence than have been
in place where his qualities were appre
ciated, yet where his poverty and posi-
| ton placed him at disadvantage. At first
he fumed and went to his room after his
days work hot and angry. Not that he had
anything to complain of in the department
of the beautiful chatelaine. She was
courtesy itself, but he could not claim
that she treated him with exceptional
kindness, for the truth was that she was
kind to the whole world. Not letter reached
Edith Vaille that was not considerably
answered, no matter what its import. Ii a
| young man wanted TO read her his verses,
hoping to secure her for a patron, or an
educational enthusiast came with a new
fad, OF singer begged the privilege Of dis
playing her voice for the benefit of the lady,
she heard them all, if her time permitted.
The greater part of her day was spent in at
tending to charitable and benevolent mat
tiers; society she patronized capriciously
and haughtily. Her library was her happy
retreat, and here only her intimates were adj
mitted 1t was in this room that her chosen
friends came at five Of each afternoon for a
| little time of true sociability and rest around
Miss Vaille's fragrant samovar. And in
| these peaceful pleasures Moore was always
invited to participate.
Such strong friendships did Howard Moore
form in this familiar room and in such high
esteem was he held that be forgot all about
his foolish vanities and chagrins. More
over, he became absorbed, too, in the chart,
ties of the cbatelaine. The struggles OF
which he learned, the heroic bravery Of the
poor, the pains and dsappointments OF
genius, the frghtful suffering Of those
whom society trampled under foot, made
him forgot all about himself. In a short
time he realized that the small knowledge
he had acquired at the schools was totally
inadequate to permit him to solve the least
of LIES problems.
But along with the happiness that arose
| from true knowledge like this was a terri
bic sorrow. He discovered to his unqual.
fed dismay, that he loved Edith Naille. 1t
was no whimsical iniatuation, no light.
adorng admiration that coed lie put aside
for other thoughts. lie realized that he
was destined to worship this woman to the
last day of his life. That his love was alb
surd, impairment, impossible, he did not
doubt. There was not grain of hope in his
passion. lie resigned himself to his mis-.
fortune and got what comfort lie could from
! the reflection that IT was a noble love and
for woman of incompatible qualities
lie was quite sure that his manner be
trayed uothng-he would never permit him.
sell even to be distant or conventional IN
his dcmcanor. lie aimed to keep the cordial
ard respectful attitude OF a trusted assist
ant and friend II sometimes his face
flushed when her pertumed garments
| brushed hIm in passing # lie sometimes
picked up the flowers that fell from her
corsage; if, when she came to dinner, glow
ing II her laces and jewels, his eyes be.
trayed an uncomfortable admiration, he
prayed that she did not see it.
But as time went on his pain became al.
most unsupportahle. lis nights were nearly
s!eepless lie had to force the food over
his hps. There were half insane moments
when he thought he should fan at her feet
and confess with anguish his foHy. lie be
gan 10 debate the propriety OF leaving, but
he was held to his place by two considera.
tons. The first was that he had made him
self necessary to her comfort, and the exc
cutlon Of her disinterested public services;
! the second, that be knew Of no other way
in which lie could make his living
He came down 10 the morning room one
day after a nearly sleepless night to find
her looking more beautiful than even before
a volumnous morning robe of grass green
silk swept about her, bringing out the fresh
ness of her kindly face In her wreaths
OF brown hair were white carnations. a
chain OF heavy silver links beted IN her
| draperies. Something unusually tender ami
mated her face. Her eyes seemed almost
humid as she lifted them when she made
her morning sautation. lie was pale and
| trembling, and it seemed to him foI a mo
ment that he should be obliged to excuse
himself till he had gained more sell con
troll, but she motioned him to seat and
took up her note book.
kindly take this dictation from me, Mr.
| Moore" she said. lie took up his pencil
mechanically-at her request he had ac
| quainted himself with the time saving proc
ess Of shorthand
Chicago, Sept 49," her clear voice die
tated.
MIR. Herbert Moore-My Very Dear Sir"
Her secretary looked up apprehensvey,
but she did not return his gaze, and he again
gave his attention to his task
You may be interested to know that /,
who count myself your friend and who sure.
~ have right to your sympathy, am
strangely unhappy. 1t is because Ieel my.
self TO be beloved by one of the most manly
OF men, who, nevertheless, so far torgets
his manhood as to let the accident OF worldly
possessions stand between him and his sense
| of justice. ! submit to you the question
Is il right for him to wear his heart out 10
silent bitterness and torment and TO allow
me to experience an always increasing lone
! Illness Of the soul. merely because Of his
PRIDE? Have not won the right to be treat
ed with more consideration at his hands:
! Kindly answer al your earliest convenience
! Yours WAYS. EDITH NAIILE."
But though The letter had been so ably
| dictated the answer was incoherent- per
| haps even inartr late.-Chicago Tribune.