The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1905-03-23

I'm glad to find that there are
no old maid procliyities about you,'
observed Edith.
by what line Of reasoning have
you reached that conclusion p" 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 fa-
vors, odd gloves, cigars, matches,
photographs--yes, letters. Letters
from a woman too! What careless,
thoughtless creatures men arep
Jack was busy lathering his pink
checks 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 pile of
letters in her lap, some in their en-
velopes, some heaped up without
having been refclded 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 eyes.
Were not Jack and herself one |?
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-
tion. He took up one of the letters
and, recognizing the handwriting,
gave little start.
"That's not exactly honorable of
you, Edith" lie 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.
ut doesn't matter much," he re-
turned, with 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? Well, if not
that they come very near the defni-
tion."
"Nonsense!" exclaimed Jack.
"Dixie 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"
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.
II told you, Edith, that Dixie and
] were friends" he said after long
pause. "She is a good fellow-the
kind one chums with. We were that
kind of friends"
Edith picked up one of the let
ters.
"This sounds like friendship,
doesn't it?" she said, reading:
Jack. dear Jack It seems like an eter-
nifty until next Saturday. when you said
you'd come and have tea with me.
II can't forget, dear old boy, how you
looked the other night After you left
went to work and drew your face as
quickly as / could, so I'd not lose the ex-
preston. It was so lifelike when fnish-
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
did not think he had better
than you. Imagine the vanity
Of him! Why. Jack, dear old fellow, I
know It 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 I wish were sculp-
Tor instead OF a pen and Ink. Wouldn't
spring to fame on your shoulders?
you did not come yesterday. as you