The Springfield herald., 1909-12-24
The
Rhyme for
Rachel
i sv=-
Clifford
Howard


Copyright. by shortstory Pub. Coz
Seated in a street car. Miss Marjorie
Hollis was absorbed in the latest issue
Of the Literary Post. 1t contained this
week a most unusual announcement.
and 1t was this which now occupied
her attention to the exclusion Of all
else. The announcement read as fol-
lows:
We. the undersigned executors under
the will of person whose name we
withhold for the present. desire to an
nounce that. in accordance with the terms
of said Will. the sum of 325O.oo0 will be
paid to the first person who Will submit
to us a rhyme for the name Rachel THIS
beQuest Is based on the following condi-
tions. viz: /. The rhyme must be le-
Ultimate one. Dialect. foreign or invented
words will not be considered. 2. This Of
fer Is limited to one year. dating from
December 81. 100.
In explanation of the foregoing offer
1t is deemed proper to state the following
facts: Among the effects of the testator
above referred to is an unfinished poem
addressed to a lady whose full Christian
name was Fedora Lillian Grace Lornin
Hildegarde Louise Rachel. The said
poem was written by the testntor for the
purpose of bringing into rhyme each one
of the names aforementioned. He sue
ceeded in writing six stanzas. In which
the first six names were respectively In
troduced in accordance with his nforc-
said purpose. but he was unable to COM
plete the poem because of his failure to
find rhyme for the last name-Rachel.
For certain personal reasons he provided
in his Will that attempt be made. in
the manner above set forth. to discover
such n rhyme.
AS full conditions and all necessary In
formation foregoing
announcement. the undersigned must de-
cline to consider any Inquiries for further
explanation.
DUNDURY & BoRDEAU.
Attorneys-at-Law. Washington. D. c.
Circumstances compelled Marjorie
Hollis to earn her living. and against
these circumstances her aristocratic
and artistic soul waged constant re-
bellion. Her family and her acquaint-
ances generally regarded her as a
spoiled child. troubled with extrava-
CANT tastes and a lack of practical
sense. On her side. she felt that she
was not understood nor properly ap-
preciated-until she met Carter Dill
lington.
Like herself. Mr.. Dillington was poor
and had literary aspirations. and Mar
jorie felt that in him she had at last
found a sympathetic fellow-mortal.
He accepted special invitations to
the house. but rarely called Of his own
accord. appearing content to ride
home with her in the evening. He
vas excessively reserved-that was
one of his pcculiarities-so that not
hyt n linz 70 a for
of the acquaintanccship. Marjorie
knew no more Of his personal affairs
at the end of nine months than she
did during the first week.
There was one other subject on
which he was, equally reticent. and
that was the discussion regarding the
rhyme for Rachel" The remarkable
offer in connection with Mis- matter
was subject of uneTding curiosity
and discussion In literary circles; but
Carter Dillington pointedly avoided
every allusion to 1t. To Marjorie. on
the contrary. 1t was one of alluring in
terest.
She hesitated a long time before
venturing to speak to Mr.. Dillington
about 1t. His peculiar aversion to the
whole matter embarrassed her. The
mere mention OF the name Rachel"
disturbed him. and her occasional ef-
forts to lead the conversation around
to the subject were promptly frus-
trated.
Finally. however. she decided to ap-
peal to him for help. Only one more
week remained, and she beheld her
dreams of wealth fading into the dull
reality of drudgery. So. as he was
about to take his departure after
short call on Christmas eve. she said
suddenly: ''If u person were to find
rhyme for Rachel 1t would make him
famous. wouldn't it?"
81 suppose 1t would" he answered
dryly.
And 1t would make him rich?"
"Oh. yes" Then IN the same breath
he abruptly changed the conversation.
Perhaps. Miss Hollis. 1t may inter
est you to know that expect in the
next week or two to come into posses
sion of small fortune. and l hope
then to be married." and holding out
his hand he babe Marjorie good night
Good night" she responded me-
chemically; and as the door closed she
staggered into the parlor. and. throw
ing herself upon the sofa, burst into a
torrent of passionate tears.
Suddenly her sobbings ceased She
sat up. bewildered. startled. In the
midst of the turmoil of her troubled
spirit there had burst upon her
without warning. without thought-a
rhyme for RACHEL"