The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1920-03-11
THE BlOTTING PAD
sy MILDRED WAITE.


"you won't mind. u ! put Won In
here during Mr.. Ierome's absence. ="
.Ios-phines cousin asked 1T really
Il the most pleasant rom la the
house. aud that's why Frrd insists up
On keeping II sacred to his friend. You
know loie. that Fred aud Iudsnn
Jerome were chum~ ~ college Judd
wns Frrds hcst man when W. were
married aud throughout our married
life. their David aud Jonathan friend
ship has fiourishcd. Il seems u pity.
that Judsn prefers bachrlurhoud he
II such fine character Hut then.
he j. contentrd ~ student and So
wrapped up In books. that when he
visits ". We have To- sound the dinner
gong ~ his very door You should have
had the guest chamber had not ID"
Blains arrived ne the last lnupportune
moment However. make yourself com
there l. no chance II his coming To
claim a. lie II 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 square 81 blot
ting paper lay across "n" broad end.
Tier cousins friend was evidently q
pcnman 81 legihle finrncSs. Tor the
hlottlng pad wns plainly stamped With
HfsIF fffaH
Ioie walked to the mirror. where
hung n memoranda its pages covered
with the same distinct chirugrphy.
Then her attention conferred upon a
speaking photograph ~ hudson Ie.
rome. the scholar himself \ neat
autograph beneath the picture. pro
claimed IT, Identity
Joie. In one ~ the whimsical mo"d~
which characterized her. greeted the
picture each morning. or waved Ia Il
laughing farewell n she left the
room.
Cousin Necl was vastly amused.
Don't breathe word to Joie. she
secretly admonished her husband Il
am going 20 write Judson. asking him
,o stop over on his return "trip viii
explain that for night or two he
will have to put up with your den rs
n sleeping place"
"No hope ~ matchmaking where
Judd Is concerned" her husband
warned her.
His wife merely smiled She knew
her Joie we'll And. when the scholar
was duly Installed ia Fred's den. for
once books were forgotten. No long
or was IL necessary TO seek him out for
meals. Judson Jerome was always
on hand. Incidentally. always nj
Joie's right hand Eagerly. he
watched the girl. new hopeful ex-
preston upon his fine serious face
Jole. Il was. who turned perverse
Ioie, who fingered In her borrowed
room until the last possible moment;
Jole. who perslstently turned n cold
shoulder TO the original Of the por-
trait with which she had communed
Her cousin was In despair. "IIe
loves her" Nell dlsconsolately told
her husband. as JudsOn Jerome for
second time postponed his depar-
ture. 'and fears TO lose his chance by
going away. And Jole loves him.
know H."
'''rhen what the deuce Is the matter
with herr" the husband asked. His
wife shook her head. II can't i'm.
agine." she replied.
Judd Jerome met his host later in
the hall. Il am going away. Fred"
he said Jerkily. THAT little cousin
of yours seems 10 have secret antip-
athy TO me, and | will not annoy
her longer with my presence
Judd" his friend said slowly. "Nell
tells me that Joie sits weeping before
your picture. when alone l. the an
tlpnthy 81 strong. do you think that
Il causes her 10 moon over your ar
i incoming supposed 10 have another
signihcanceT'
Judson was already far down the
hall IN coy nook NJ IT, end wher, be
had spied Josie Anticipating her
movement toward hight, he barred the
door. Il love YOU" the scholar burst
out hreathlessly. II love you more
than life. want you for my wife
oh why will you not let me try 20
seach you To- care. Ioief"
With flashing eyes the girl faced
him.
"You dare say that 20 me-" she
cried. while you write, as You do. To
another woman ! thoughts there had
been no sentiment IN your life. until
l read that horrid blotter la your room
II was an accident az nrst. The wor'ls
flashed up into the mirror Of my
handbag. as happened ia hold Il open
above a. Love passages are not IN.
cluded In articles uf scientific re-
search. are theyi Wait" commanded
Joie, aud dashed az the Stair. When
she returned she bore la her hands
not only the familiar blotier. but
hand glass as well.
Read that" said I9le, and In the
glass he saw reflected precisely
written line:
What shall ! DO with all the DAYS
and hours until | ~. thy fucef"