Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1920-03-12
THE BLOTTING PAD
BY MILDRED WHITE.
Upright, 1920, western Newspaper UnionJ

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Copyright. 1920. Western Newspaper Union)
"You won't mind, If put you in
here during Mr.. Jeromes Absence"
Josephine's cousin asked. ut 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, Jole that Fred and Judson
Jerome were chums at college. Judd
was Fred's best man when we we're
married, and throughout our married
life, their David and Jonathan friend
ship has flOurished. 1t seems pity,
that Judson prefers bachelorhood; he
is such a fine character. But then,
he is contented as a student and so
wrapped up In books, that when he
visits u.s. we have to 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.. Jeromes 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 hneness, for the
plotting pad was plainly stamped with
even, well-formed lines Of writing.
Joie walked to the mirror, where
hung memoranda, its pages covered
with the same distinct chirography.
Then her attention centered upon
speaking photograph Of JudsOn Je-
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 1t
a laughing farewell as she left the
room.
Cousin Neel was vastly amused.
Don't breathe a word to Joie," she
secretly admonished her husband. II
am going to write Judson, asking him
to stop over on his return trip. l will
explain that for a night or two he
will have to put up with your den as
sleeping place"
mo hope of 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 in Fred's den, for
once books were forgotten. No long
er was it necessary to seek him out for
meals. Judson jerome was always
on hand. incidentally, always at
Joie's right hand. Eagerly, he
watched the girl, a new hopeful eX-
preston upon his fine serious face.
JOie, 1t was, who turned perverse;
Joie who fingered in her borrowed
room until the last possible moment;
JOie, who persistently turned a cold
shoulder to the original of the por-
trait with which she had cOmmuned.
Her cousin was in despair. "He
loves her" Nell disconsolately told
her husband, as Judson Jerome for
a second time postponed his depar-
ture, "and fears to lose his chance by
going away. And Joie loves him.
know it."
"Then what the deuce is the matter
with herY' the husband asked. His
wife shook her head. 81 can't i'm
agine," she replied.
Judd Jerome met his host later in
the hail. II am going away, Fred"
he said jerkily. THAT little cousin
of yours seems to have secret antip-
athy to me, and l 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 Is the an
tipathy so strong, do you think, that
it causes her to moon over you? Or
is incoming supposed to have another
significance?"
Judson was already far down the
hall in a coy nook at its end where he
had spied Josie. Anticipating her
movement toward flight, he barred the
door. 81 love you," the scholar burst
out breathlessly. II love you more
than life. want you for my wife.
Oh! why will you not let me try to
teach you to care, JoieT
With flashing eyes the girl faced
him.
you dare say that to me-" she
cried, while you write, as you do, to
another woman? l thought there had
been no sentiment in your life, until
l read that horrid blotter in your room.
1t was an accident at first. The words
flashed up into the mirror Of my
handbag. as happened to hold It open
above it. Love passages are not in
cluded in articles of scientific re-
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