Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1907-12-30

who are better entitled to make q free
selection than they who are going TO
spend the rest of their days together?
OF course Ii is a fathers duty to give
his son the benefit of his ripper expert
only on business interests is little less
than crime. There are considera-
lions more important IL the union is to
be happy or lasting one. The chief
thing is that the man should feel real
attachment for the woman he marries.
Two people who are to live together as
man and wife must be compatible in
tastes and temper. You cannot mix
oil and water 1t is these selfish mar
riages which keep our divorce courts
busy. Money alone won't buy happi-
ness In marriage"
"No," sighed Mrs. Ryder. "No one
knows that better than t.
The financier's wife was already
most fayorably impressed with her
guest, and she chatted on as if she had
known Shirley for years. 1t was rare
ly that she had heard SO young wom-
an express such common sense views,
and the more she talked with her the
less surprised she was that she was
the author of much discussed book.
Finally, thinking that Shirley might
prefer to be alone, she rose to go, bid
ding her make herself thoroughly at
home and to ring for anything she
might wish A maid had been assign
ed to look exclusively after her wants,
and she could have her meals served in
her room or else have them with the
family, as she liked. But Shirley, not
caring to encounter Mr.. Ryder's cold,
searching stare more often than neces-
sary, said she would prefer to take her
meals alone.
Left to herself, Shirley settled down
to work in earnest Mr.. Ryder had
sent to her room all the material for
the biography, and soon she was com
pletely absorbed in the task of sorting
and arranging letters, making extracts
from records, compiling data, ETC., lay
ing the foundations for the important
book she was to write. She wondered
what they would call it, and she smiled
as a peculiarly appropriate title fash
ed through her mind-"The History of
a Crime" Yet she thought they could
hardly infringe on Victor Hugo. Per-
haps the best title was the simplest
'"The History of the Empire Trading
stand that it told the story of John
Burkett Ryder's remarkable career
from his earliest beginnings to the
present time She worked feverishly
all that evening getting the material
into shape, and the following day
found her early at her desk. No one
disturbed her, and she wrote steadily
on until noon, Mrs. Ryder only once
putting her head in the door to wish
her good morning.
After luncheon Shirley decided that
the weather was too glorious to remain
indoors. Her health must not be jeop-
ardized even to advance the interests
of the Colossus, SO she put on her hat
and left the house to go for a walk
The air smelied sweet to her after be-
ing confined so long indoors, and she
walked with more elastic and buoy
ant step than she had since her return
home Turning down Fifth avenue
she entered the park at Seventy second
| street. following the pathway until she
came to the bend in the driveway op-
! posite the Casino. The park was al
| most deserted at that hour, and there
| was delightful sense of solitude and
a sweet scent of new mown hay from
the freshly cut lawns. She found al
! empty bench. we'll shaded by an over
! spreading tree, and sat down, CRATE
| full for the rest and quiet.
She wondered what Jefferson thought
Of her action in coming to his fathers
house practically in disguise and un
der an assumed name She must see
him at once, for in him lay her hope OF
obtaining possession of the letters
Certainly she felt no delicacy or com
junction ia asking Jefferson to do hel
this service. The letters belonged tt
her father, and they were being wrong
fully withheld with the deliberate pur
pose of doing him an injury. She haG
a moral if not legal right to recover
the letters in any way that she could.
She was so deeply engrossed in be-
thoughts that she had not noticed {
hanson cab which suddenly drew u
with a JERK at the curb opposite he,
bench. A man jumped out. 1t was JEFF
ferSOn.
Hello, Shirley" he cried gayly
"Who would have expected to find yol
rusticating on bench here? picture,
you grinding away at home doing lit
erary stunts for the governor" H
grinned and then added: Come for
drive. / want to talk to YOU
Shirley Ge,nurred. No; she could no
spare the time Yet, she thought t
herself. why was not this good OF
portunity to explain to Jefferson hoy
he came to find her in his fathers L
brsry nasquerading under aHothe
: name and also to ask him to secure tn
letters for her? While she pondere
JEFFERSON insisted, and a few minute
later she found herself sitting pesid
him in the cab. They started off at
brisk pace. Shirley sitting with he
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