The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-03-01
THE BLOTTING PAD
Copyright, 1920. western Newspaper Union)
BY MILDRED WHITE.


"You won't mind, If 1 put you in
here during Mr.. Jerome's absence
Josephine's cousin asked. at really
Is the most pleasant room in the
house, and that's why Fred insists up
on keeping it sacred to his friend. You
know, Joie, that Fred and Judson
Jerome were chums at college. Judd
was Fred's best man when we were
married, and throughout our married
life, their David and Jonathan friend
ship has flourished It seems Il pity,
that Judson prefers bachelorhood he
is such a fine character. But then,
he is cOntented as student and so
wrapped up in books, that when he
visits us, we have 10 sound the dinner
gong at his very door You should have
had the guest chamber, had not the
BlainS arrived at the last inOpportune
moment. However, make yourself com
Portable in Mr.. Jerone's sanctum,
there is no chance of his coming to
claim it. He is down South" Joseph-
inc closed the door after her hostess,
and stood looking about the room
with its dark impressive furniture.
One long table was almost covered
with books, while a square OF blot
ting paper lay across one broad end.
Her cousins friend was evidently
penman of legible fineness, for tile
blotting pad was plainly stamped with
even, well-fOrmed lines of writing.
Joie walked to the mirror, where
/ hung q memoranda, its pages covered
with the same distinct chirography.
Then her attention conferred upon
speaking photograph of Judson sJe-
rome, the scholar himself A neat
autograph beneath the picture, pro
claimed its identity.
Joie, in one of the whimsical moods
which characterized her, greeted the
picture each morning, or waved to il
a laughing farewell as She left the
room.
| Cousin Neel was vastly amused.
Don't breathe word 10 Joie" She
secretly admonished her husband II
am going to write Judson, asking him
to stop over on his return trip. / viii
explain that for a night or two he
will have to put up with your den Is
sleeping place"
1 mo hope of matchmaking where
Judd is concerned her husband
warned her.
HIS wife merely smiled. She knew
her Joie well And when the scholar
was duly installed in Fred's den. for
T once books We're forgotten. No long
i er was it necessary to seek him out for
meals. Judson Jerome was always
f on hand Incidentally, always at
:, Joies right hand Eagerly. he
watched the girl, a new hopeful cx-
t preston upon his fine serious face
n Joie, it was. who turned perverse
Joie, who fingered in her borrowed
I room until the last possible moment
7 Joie, who fersistently turned a cold
shoulder to the original of the por
g trait with which she had communed
Her cousin was in despair III,
loves her Nell disconsolately TOLD
her husband, as Judson Jerome fo
a second time postponed his depar
II ture, land fears to lose his chance b,
going away. And Joie loves him.
II know it."
II "Then what the deuce IS the matte
II with herr" the husband asked. Hi
Il wife shook her head. ~ can't i'm
II agine," she replied
II Judd Jerome met his host later il
! the hall. i am going away, Fred.
he said jerkily. THAT little cousin
of yours seems to have a secret ant.p
9 athy TO me, and l Will not ammo
!. her longer with my presence"
= Judd his friend said slowly, "Nel
If tells me that Joie sits weeping befor
u your picture. when alone Is the an
le tipathy SO strong do you think, tina
a it causes her to moon over you? o
q, is incoming supposed to have anothe
u significance?"
i Judson was already far down tn
i hall in coy nook at its end where h.
II had spied Josie. Anticipating he
IS movement toward flight. he barred tn
door. Il love YOU" the scholar burs
il out breathlessly. = love you NOR
4 than life. l want you for my VIII,
:. y Oh! why viii you not let me try I
=. teach you TO care. Joie?"
" With flashing eyes the girl face
&c him.
$ You dare say that to me-, sh
e cried, while you write, as yol do. 1
y another woman? l thought there hu
- been no sentiment in your life. unr
il read that horrid blotter IN your rcoa
1t was an accident at first The word
at flashed up into the mirror Of m
IN handbag, as l happened to hold il ope
ys above it. Love passages are not n
We Guided in articles of scientific n
VI search, are they? Wait" c0ramanfe
Joie, and dashed up the stairs Whc
~ she returned she bore In her han,
not only the familiar blotter, bn
MT hand glass as wei.
te. READ that" said Joie. and I'm n
ND glass he saw reflected a precise
ce written line: