Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-03-24
6Oben 6GIomon
Reads 6giomon


"1'm glad to find that there are
no old maid proclivities about YOU"
observed Edith.
by what line of reasoning have
you reached that conclusion ?" re-
turned Jack, the bridegroom, pre-
pairing the hther for his matutinal
shave
Edith, in kimono and silk petit
coat, had paused, with her hair half
brushed, to rummage in the top
drawer of her husbands chiffonier.
'Ties, handkerchiefs, cotillon IA
vors, odd gloves, cigars, matches,
photographs-yes, letters. Letters
from woman too! What careless,
thoughtless creatures men arep'
Jack was busy lathering his pink
cheeks and paid little heed to the
chatter of his vivacious bride. Let
her rummage among my effects, he
thought, if it pleases her.
Edith sat quietly with a pile of
letters in her lap, some in their en-
velopes, some heaped up without
having been refolded after their
perusal by the recipient. She sorted
out several in the same handwriting
from the mass of bills, invitations
and wedding announcements that
helped fill the drawer. She did not
feel that she was doing anything
mean or underhand in reading what
had not been intended for her ewes.
We're not Jack and herself one2
Was he not standing but few feet
away, and could he not prevent her
from reading the letters if he
wished?
Jack, however, was carefully re-
moving the lather from his upper
lip. To keep his razor on the proper
road was all he was capable of con-
sidering at that moment.
He finished shaving just as Edith
finished the last letter. Then he
looked around and saw her occupa-
ton. He took up one of the letters
and, recognizing the handwriting,
gave little start.
That's not exactly honorable of
you, Edith" he said, "to read Dix
les letters"
"Just as honorable for me to read
them as for you to leave them about
so carelessly," she retorted.
A sharp answer rose to his lips,
but he repressed il.
at doesn't matter mueh," he re-
turned, with a smile, "for they
aren't love letters. / don't think
Dixie would mind your seeing
them"
There was an odd expression in
the eyes Of Edith as she answered:
Not love letters?s Well, if not
that they come very near the defni-
ton"
"Nonsense" exclaimed Jack.
Dixie never thought of me in that
way. We were friends, that's ali.
Good friends, chums, everything
like that, but-oh, no, Dixie never
cared for me in any other sense"
Perhaps you were in love with
her, though" observed Edith, with
some frigidity In her tones.
Jack Strengthened up his tall fig
ure and proceeded to brush his
smooth hair deliberately. He did
not answer at once.
81 told you, Edith, that Dixie and
l were friends" he said after a long
pause. "She is a good fellow-the
kind one chums with. We were that
kind of friends"
Edith picked up one of tho let
tiers.
"This sounds like friendship,
doesn't it?" she said, reading:
Jack. dear Jack. Il seems like an eter-
nifty until next Saturday, when you said
yoY'd come and have tea with me.
can't forget. dear old boy, how you
looked the other night. After you left j
went TO work and drew your face as
quickly as I could, so ia not lose the ex-
preston. 1t was so lifelike when finish
ed that kissed it-sketch OF you.
"And this" she went on, taking
up the other letters, one after the
other, reading bits from each:
Tom Darling asked me yesterday
whether did not think he had a better
physiQue than you Imagine the vanity
or h'ml Why. Jack. dear old fellow /
know II won't hurt you at ALL for you
aren't a bit vain, but the artists at the
class all say you ought to let Earl model
you as Hercules. wish I were a sculp-
Tor instead OF pen and ink. Wouldn't
spring to fame on your shoalders7
You Old not come yesterday. as you
rl1 $3.50 -
terribly hurt But I thought Il over
and eopciuded I must have said some
Thing that displeased you the last night
you were az the studio. There should be
no misunderstandin9s between friends
30 am just Visiting. Jack. to ask you IL
yous Daily Food disagreed with you ana
what's the remedy.
jack laughed.
Il suppose you wonder what she
means by that last sentenceY he
asked.
"of course. Pm just devoured by
curiosity"
Jack did not notice the sarcasm
lurking in her words.
at was joke of Tom Darling's,"
ne explained. "You see, Dixie is
such nice little thing, and once a
fellow Mt one of her parties quoted
that thing about
"a creature not too bright and GOOD
For human natures daily food"
Tom started calling Dixie Daily
Food after that, and when any of us
had falling out with her she used
to say eur food didn't agree with
u.s."
Edith tossed the last letter con-
temptuously into the drawer upon
the heap of ties, collars, invitations,
fayors, bills, cigars and matches.
"YOu must be obtuse not to know
love letters when you see them" she
said.
ooh, no. You're mistaken" an
swered Jack eagerly. "Wait and I'll
read you the last one she wrote"
From the wardrobe ne extracted
an old blue coat, one not included in
the honeymoon outfit. From the
breast pocket, after some fumbling,
he drew a letter.