Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1907-12-23


| on.y mildly Interested.
"Ch, no: wish he were" said Ryder
FALLEN in love with the wrong wo-
man. suppose" she said.
Something OF the sort How cid
you guess:' asked Ryder, surprised.
Shirley couChed to meet her embar-
rassment and replied inGifereEtiy:
$50 many boys do that Besides"
| she added, with a miSchievOus twinkle
IN her eyes. Il can hardly imagine that
any woman would be the right one IN
| less you selected her yourself!''
Ryder made no answer. He folded
his arms and gaZed at her. Who was
this woman who knew him so well,
who could read his inmost thoughts,
who never made mistake? After a
silence he said:
do you know you say the strangest
thingsT'
Truth is strange" replied Shirley
careleSsly. Il don, suppose you hear
IL very often"
Not in that FORM" admitted Ryder.
Shirley had taken on TO her lap
some or the letters he had passed her
aud was perusing them one after an
other.
An these letters from Washington
consulting you on politics and finance
they won't interest the world"
My secretary picked them out" ex-
I planned Ryder, Your artistic sense
/ VIII tell YOU what TO use"
DOES your son Still love this girl?
I mean the one YOU object TO-" inquired
Shirley as she went on sorting the pa
pe-s.
"oh. no, he does not care for her any
| more" answered Ryder hastily.
Yes. he does. He still loves her."
said Shirley positively.
How Go you know?" asked Ryder,
amazed
From the way you say he doesn't"
retorted Shirley.
Ryder gave his caller a look in which
| admiration was mingled with astonish-
ment.
You are right again. he said. 1.-The
| idiot does love the girl"
"Eless his hearth said Shirley to her
self. Aloud she said:
81 hope they'll both outwit you"
Ryder laughed in spite of himself.
This young woman certainly interested
him more than any other he had ever
known.
81 don't think | ever met any one
in my life quite like you," he said.
whats the objection to the grip
demanded Shirley.
Every objection. l don't want her
In my family"
Anything against her character?
To better conceal the keen interest
khe took in the personal turn the con-
versation had taken, Shirley pretended
to be more busy than ever with the
papers.
''Yes-that is, no-not that I know
Of" replied Ryder. But because a
woman has good character, that
doesn't necessarily make her desira-
BILE match, does it?'
Its a point in her favor, isn't it?''
yes, but He hesitated as if IN
certain what to say
You know men well, don't YOU, Mr.
RYDER"
1--WE met enough to know them pref
ty we'll" he replied.
"Why don't you study women for q
changer she asked. ''That would en-
able you to understand a great man,
things that don't think are quite cjea
: to you now"
Ryder laughed good humoredly.
/ was decidedly a novel sensation
( : have some one lecturing him.
2 I'm studying you,' he said. but
4 ont seem to make much headwal
! woman like you whose mind ism
: spoiled by the amusement habit ma
reat posSibiiities-great possibilitie
i Do you know you're the first woma
r 1 ever took into my confidence mea
= at si~ht:" Again he fixed her wit
:, that keen glance which in his bushes
It life had taught hiia how to read me-
lie continued: I'm acting on sent
Re ment-something rarely do. but
he can't help it. | like you, upon II
soul | do. ard I'm going to introdu'
If you to my wi1e-my SON
Is lie took the telephone from his de-
N as if he were going TO use it.
4 What a commander in chief "
IS would have made-how natural it
a. for ou to commando exclaimed Sh
e, ley in a burst of admiration that "
Id half real half hooking. = sUppo
YOU always tell people what tl,ey q
n to 20 and how they are to do it. i
d, are born general You know 1
often thought that Napoleon AMI G
on sar and Alexander must have be
70. great domestic leaders as well as
rs. perial rulers I'm sure of it now
Ryder listened 70 her in ama1e1e,
ed lie was not quite sure if she We
:" making fun OF him or not.
ny We'll. OF all he began; then
he terrupting himself lie said amial
SIN won't you do ne the honor to n
my family!'
OF shirley smiled sweetly and bowed
de Thank you. M. Ryder, l will"
,ss She rose from her seat and les-~
over the manuscripts 10 conceal
nj satisfaction this promise Of an int