Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1905-04-10
6Oben 6Gomon
Reads 6Comdrl

observed Edith.
"By what line of reasoning have
you reached that conclusion?" re-
turned Jack, the bridegroom, pre-
pairing the lather 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.
cites, handkerchiefs, cotillon ia
vors, odd gloves, cigars, matches,
photographers, letters. Letters
from a woman too! What careless,
thoughtless creatures men are!"
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 whats
had not been intended for her eyes.
Were not Jack and herself one?
Was he not standing but a 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"
Gust 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 it.
at doesn't matter much," 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 ewes of Edith as she answered:
'Not love letters? Well, if not
that they come very near the defini-
bon"
seNonsense!' exclaimed Jack.
1Dixie never thought of me in that
way. We were friends, that's all.
Good friends, chums, everything
like that, but-oh, no, Dixie never
cared for me in any other sense"
r'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
were friends" he said after a long
pause "She is a good fellow-tht
kind one chums with. We were tina
kind of friends"
Edith picked up one of the let
tiers
''This sounds like friendship
doesn't it," she said, reading:
Jack. dear Jack it seems like an etel
nifty until next Saturday, when you sal
you'd come and have tea with me
81 can't forget, dear old boy, how yo
looked the other night After you left
went to work and drew your face
quickly as I could, so I'd not lose the e.
preston 1t was so lfelike when 1 finisl
ed that kissed it-sketch of you
Sand this" she went on, takin
up the other letters, one after til
other, reading bits from EACH
TON Darling asked me yesterda
whether did not think he had a bett'
physique than you. Imagine the vanit
of him! Why, Jack, dear old fellow,
hnOW IL WOl yON 81 GA; A0A >
aren't a bit vain. but the artists at Il
class all say you ought to let Earl mod
YOU as Hercules. l wish l were a scull
tor instead of a pen and ink. Wouldn't
spring to fame on your shoulders?
You did not come yesterday as yo
promised. I was angry at first, then hui
terribly hurt. But l thought it owe
and concluded I must have said some
thing that displeased you the last nigf
you were at the studio. There should
no misunderstanding between friends
So / am just writing, Jack. to ask you
your Daily Food disagreed with you an
what's the remedy
Jack laughed.
Il suppose you wonder what sh
means by that last sentence?" h
asked.
"Of course. Pm just devoured b