Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1907-10-28

CHAPTER ".
"~A ELL me, what do the papers
say?"
Settling herself comfort

say
Settling herself comfort
ably back in the carriage,
Shirley questioned Jefferson with Gag
erness, even anxiety. She had been
impatiently awaiting the arrival of the
newspapers from home" for so much
depended on this first effort. She
knew her book had been praised in
sOme quarters, and her publishers had
written her that the sales were bigger
every day, but she was curious to learn
how II had been received by the re
viewers
Shirley was not beautiful, but hers
was face that never failed to attract
attention. 1t was a thoughtful and in
teresting face, with an intellectual
brow and large, expressive eyes the
face Of a woman who had both brain
IOwer and ideals, and yet who, at the
same time, was I'm perfect sympathy
with the world. She was fair in COM
1lexion, and her fine brown eyes, alter
nately reflective and alert, were shad-
Cd by long dark lashes. Her eyebrows
were delicately arched. and she had q
good nose. She wore her hair well off
the forehead. which was broader than
Sn the average woman, suggesting good
mentality. Her mouth, however, was
her strongest feature. 1t was we'll
shaped but there were firm lines about
IL that suggested unusual will power
Yet IL smiled readily, and when 1t did
there was an agreeable vision Of
strong healthy looking teeth Of daz-
Kling whiteness. She was a little over
medium height and slender in figure
and carried herself with that unmis-
taxable air of well bred independence
that bespeaks birth and culture. She
stressed stylishly. and. while her gowns
were of rich material and Of a cut
suggesting expensive modistes. she
was always so quietly attired and in
such perfect taste that after leaving
her one could never recall what she
had on.
Tell me-" she repeated. what do
the papers say about the book?y
"Say:' he echoed. why. simply
that you've written the biggest book
of the year. that's all,'
Really. Oh. do tell me all they
said" She was fairly excited now
and I'm her enthusiasm she grasped
Jefferson's broad. sunburnt hand which
was lying outside the carriage rug
He tried to appear unconscious of the
contact which made his every nerve
Sngle. as he proceeded to tell her the
gist Of the reviews he had read that
afternoon.
Isn't that splendid?' she exclaimed
when he had flushed. Then she added
quickly:
Il wonder II your father has seen :"
Jefferson grinned. He had some
thing on his conscience, ana this was
good opportunity to get rid of it.
He replied lacynically:
"Ie probably has read it by this
time. l sent him a copy myself"
The instant the words were out OF
his mouth he was sorry, for Shirley )
face had chrnged color
You sent him a copy of The Amer
lean Octopus|" she cried Then he'll
guess who wrote the book"
"Oh. no. he won't" rcioined Je1er-
son calmly. He has no idea who sent
II " lllllA AAitA-ANA az ttAANAAH tAA'@tt+'tf
Shirley breathed a sigh of relief. II
was so important that her Identity
should remain a secret AS daughteI
o. q supreme court judge she had 10 be
most careful She would not embar
mss her father FOR anything in Tia,
world
Suddenly Jefferson asked her:
"Irlte you heard from home recent
lyT
Il had n letter from father last week
Everything was going on at home q
when ] left Father says he misse.
me sadly ana that mother is ailing, as
usual"
She smiled. and Jefferson smiled too
They both knew by experience that
nothing really serious allied Mrs. Ross
more. who was a good deal Of hypo
ch0ndriac and always 50 filed witt