Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1921-11-30
VERSE AID SENSE
BY ELIZABETH c. NICHOLS.
q 1891. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.

was new to that household. Allyn had
never known his wife Margie to keep
from him a secret. He was becoming
suspicious Of her behavior. Several
times the telephone had rung and he
had fastened to answer it, only to
hear the same voice each time say,
Guess l have the wrong number"
and shut of Immediately. Twice
when he had arrived home earlier than
usual he had heard his wife answering
the telephone. Upon discovering that
he was in the next room she had hur-
riedly left the telephone and had add
ed to his suspicious by blushing en-
barrassedly.
One morning when Margie had gone
to town Allyn had been obliged to re-
turn to his home for some important
papers. He saw on the table in the
reception room not less than dozen
letters all addressed to his wife, but
not as her mail always read. These
had been sent to Miss Margie Gray
Davis"
Allyn instantly decided to watch
her. He would confide in no one.
That night when Margie returned
from town she wondered what in the
world had happened to Allyn that he
should be so talkative. He had al
ways been dignified, stern man,
preoccupied with thoughts of bust
ness, but kind to her even in his
busiest moments.
Allyn was practical and never hest
tated to say so. At the same time he
was sensitive because Of his lack Of
aesthetic culture, which was sc high
ly developed in Margie.
"Have you been lucky today, dear?"
Margie asked.
Allyn had been so carelessly tender
and so effusive that she had decided
that he must have had a stroke Of
good luck.
"Oh, moi" he assured her, "only our
regular business"
AS they left the table he watched
her narrowly as she hurried to the
reception room to get the mail She
tore open excitedly one envelope after
another, and with each one her dis
appointment was reflected on her face.
With the last one came a gasp. AS
he hurried to her side she slipped it
into the pocket of her dress and slid
the others behind bowl Of roses on
the table.
For three months conditions did not
hon A1vryo Mornin hid{nO
something. Always Allyn was sus-
picious but carefully concealing his
feelings by his attentions to her
wishes, yet keeping watch of her.
Finally at the end Of three months
Margie, radiantly happy blew into his
Office with the first fall Of snow, and
flourishing a magazine before his eyes,
exclaimed: 1--WE made the Atlanta !"
"Atlanta" inquired Allyn.
eyes, the Atlanta. Now, what do
you think Of your wife? am in the
contributors column. Read what
puff I have" she said, passing the be-
wildered Allyn the magazine. "And
it's all because I have written SON.
net"
"SOnnetY exclaimed Allyn. do
you mean to tell me that you have
been spending your time writing fool
verse;?
Margie's heart turned trick or
two, as It had way of doing when
she was happy. But she was too near
heaven for anything which Allyn
might say to possibly bring her down
to his practical plane Of life.
"Of course I have, you dear old
thing. I've been writing for months.
I received my first check three months
ago. 1t seemed too good to be true,
so I decided to wait until the sonnet
was published before telling you. But
now it's really in the Atlanta. Isn't
1t glorious7"
For q week Margie talked Of moth
ing but the sonnet, until Allyn was
desperate. She repeated the words
over and over; she talked about what
she was going to do with future SON.
nets.
AT last Allyn could stand 1t no
longer. He would 60 to New York
for a week. But he did not ask Mar
gle to 20 with him. as he always had
done. He packed his bag and babe
her good-by.
When he retired that night at the
hotel in New York. he opened his bag
and pulled out his pajamas Some
thing ratified like paper. AS he turned
of the light he said. snow for a peace
full sleep. No sOnnet!"
Al he turned on his left side he
felt something stiff against his heart.
Feeling In his pocket and turning on
the light, he found a sheet Of violet
paper neatly folded. Opening 1t, ne
read:
SONNET"
by
Margie Gray Davis.
And across the page was penclled: