The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-12-11
The
Rhyme for
Rachel
L z,...,
Clifford
Howard

or the Literary Post. 1t contained thi
week a most unusual announcement
and 1t was this which now occupied
her attention to the exclusion of al
else. The announcement read as fol
lows:
We. the undersigned, executors unde
the Will OF a person whose name W,
withhold for the present, desire to an
nounce that, in accordance with the term.
OF said will, the sum of s250OO0 will b,
paid to the first person who will submit
TO us rhyme for the name Rachel Thi.
Dequest is based on the following condi
tons, viz: /. The rhyme must be a le
Ultimate one. Dialect. foreign or invented
words will not be considered. 2. This Of
Ter Is limited to one year, dating from
December 81, 190-.
In explanation of the foregoing Offer
Il Is deemed proper to state the following
| facts: Among the effects of the testator
above referred to 6 an unfinished poem
addressed to a lady whose full Christian
name was Fedora Lillian Grace Lorain
Hildegarde Louise Rachel. The said
poem was written by the testator for the
purpose of bringing into rhyme each one
OF the names aforementioned. He sue
| ceeded in writing six stanzas, in which
the nrst six names were respectively in
troduced in accordance with his afore-
| said purpose. but he was unable to COM
plete the poem because of his failure to
md rhyme for the last name-Rachel
For certain personal reasons he provided
In his will that an attempt be made. 10
the manner above set forth, to discover
such a rhyme.
| As full conditions and all necessary in
formation are contained in the 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
lingtsn.
Like herself, Mr.. ellington was poor
and had literary aspirations, and Mar
1orie 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
was excessively reserved-that was
one OF his peculiarities-so that not
withstanding the increasing familiarity
of the spontaneously, 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 this matter |
was a subject of unending curiosity
and discussion in literary circles; but
Carter ellington pointedly avoided
every allusion to it, To Marjorie. on
the contrary. it was one of alluring in
terest
She hesitated a long time before
venturing to speak to Mr.. Dillington
about it. 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 an
peal to him for help. Only one more
week remained. and she beheld her
1reams of wealth fading into the dull
reality of drudgery. So, as he was
about to take his departure after a
short call on Christmas eve, she said |,
suddenly: "If a person were to find a
'hyme for Rachel it would make him
amous, wouldn't it?"
Il suppose it would" he answered
Iryly.
"And it would make him ricb,.
"Oh, yes" Then In the same breath
le abruptly changed the conversation I
Perhaps. Miss Hollis. It may inter- I
st you to know that expect in the !
ext week or two to come into possess
ion OF small fortune, and I hone {
hen to be married." and holding ont 6
is hand he babe Marjorie good night
Good night" she responded me- 6
and as the door closed she
into the parlor, and, throw. t
ng herself upon the sofa, burst into a 6
orrent Of passionate tears. IL
Suddenly her sobbings ceased. She \
at up, bewildered, startled. In the 4
lidst OF the turmoil Of her troubled b
pirit there had burst upon her p
ithout warning, without thought 4
lynne for RACHEL"
Two days later Marjorie Hollis was c
Washington; and on the morning Of q
ecember ~ she walked into the ~. e
ce of Dunbury & Bordeau and quietly L
announced to those two gentlemen a
lat she had come to claim the $3.50.
g. II - ~