Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-02-07

asked
Miss Murphy nodded.
well, I'll sign it now" he said, as
he tilted back the typewriter carriage
and penciled his initials upon the
sheet II must get the rest of this
stuff up to the postofice to catch the
New York mail sure. Then when l
come back we'll go out on the lake"
You forget interrupted Miss Muir
ply, that 1 have those letters to get
off for that Chicago man"
THAT Chicago man is altogether too
communicative" growled Livingston.
Il can't say that l blame him. used
to write lots of letters l didn't have to
when | first came
II know" said Miss Murphy, wick
edly. II felt like urging you to dictate
from some book when 1 saw you cudg
cling your brains for things TO say in
your letters"
Then she went back to her work.
Livingston Spencer was by no
means as happy as he pretended to be.
1t was no pleasant task for a chap to
compose a letter telling his mother
that he is about to upset all her cher
ished plans, even when he has the
valuable assistance of the sweetest
little woman in the world.
When he had come to Glenvale in
the early summer, he had been won
derfully attracted to the public stem
ographer. He had written scores of
Io& &l,oG ~ tcrt,f ho,
chance to study her, and In the end
he asked her to be his wife, and she
had said Eyes" very prettily and
sweetly.
Then he had begun to think what
his mother and sisters would say 1t
would make no difference so far as
the engagement was concerned, but
they would make it very unpleasant
for Edna, and he was determined to
protect her feelings.
The letter to his mother was fol
lowed by one to his elder sister Grace.
she had always stood by him, and he
knew just how to word the letter to
her. Grace was abroad with her moth
er, and he needed her moral backing
and persuasive powers at this critical
moment.
For week he lived on in his dream
of happiness, and then came Dr. Prem
tiss, their family physician, who was
clearly i'll at ease, but alert and watch
full.
For several days the doctor inter
fered with Spencer's plans, insisting
upon going everywhere with him and
watching him narrowly, until finally
Livingston, irritated beyond passive
ness, broke all bounds
See here, Doctor he said stoutly,
Il want to know what this all means?
You follow me about as though l were
under your care, and sometimes you
treat me almost like a child. What's
the matter?"
It's nothing, livingston" protested
the physician stoutly. Il needed a lit
tie rest, and came down here to get it
with you
Nonsense" replied Livingston
Did my mother send you down here
to prevent my marriageT"
Which one?" asked the doctor alb
senty.
(Which one?" shrieked Spencer.
what in time do you mean?"
why. the typewriter or the other?'
There isn't any other" protested
Spencer.
"Oh, yes, there is" retorted Prentiss.
"You see, my boy, you are suffering
from rare form of dementia. You
have a belief that you are going to
marry both Miss Murphy and Miss
Carruthers."
But l don't even know Miss Car
ruthers," insisted Livingston.
The physician drew from his pocket
a cable form. Read that" he said
shortly. 1t ran:
please see Livingston, Glenvale. He
thinks he is going to marry a Miss
,Carruthers and a typewriter. Must be
insane"
1t was signed with his mothers
name.
See here DOCTOR" he said as quietly
as he could. Il am going to marry
EDNA Murphy. just her. Nobody elser'
We'll" said the physician, Il am
glad that you have come to your senses
OF last"
Livingston flung himself out of the
room and went In search of Edna, to
whom he poured out all his trouble
To his dismay, instead Of sympathiz
ing with him, she laughed till the tears
ran down her checks.
Its too funny" she painted, "a heI
laughter died down for moment
Then. catching sight of his expression
Df mingled surprise and injury, the
laughter started afresh.
Its too bad dear" she said finally
as she stopped laughing from sheer
exhaustion ut was all my fault
Edna Murphy was one of the girls
met while taking a business course
Father insisted on my having profes
sion or trade. and learned typewritin:
and shorthand.
when Edna was i'll, after havin,
secured this place, l persuaded hin
that il --.es.:s,i h. good practice and ex
persence for ne to take her name an,
position. / pay her the money l ge'
and I've been having a ioT@ly time
when / wrote TO your mother di
not take your dictation literally. bu
substituted my own name for the on
under which have passed all summer
You wrote your sister Edna Murphy
and did not tell me. Can you blan
them for being upsety'
And to think" he said with twiRl
ling eyes, that / am engaged to I
married to Edna Murphy when wal
You. I've always said Id never mari
for money and il you're John Csrrun