Year: 1873

women OF the land have cause to thank
you for the commOn-sense views you have
disseminated


Every mite is of avail, | am aware
but hitherto my field Of action has been
so small that the fruit of my efforts can
scarcely have spread very widely through
the landn


You are too modest-too modest
Why, it would be impossible to estimate
the good you have done"


But how do you know anything about
me? Mr.. Martin has hitherto been my
only acquaintance here, and with him"


"a town possessing the facilities of
ours interrupted the Judge, chuckling
with excessive amusement, while the wis
dom of an owl settled upon his counte-
nance, need scarcely rely upon Mr.
Martin for information. We manage to
keep up with the current literature of the
day, | assure YOU"


Il do not doubt it, yet cannot conceive
what you thus learn about me-"


Truly that is a cOmical remark-you
must excuse my saving so, Miss Dodge
a most comical remark for lady of your
reputation 10 make.n


II do not understand YOU" she said, re-
garding him with a puzzled air


why, simply, the author of your writ
ings-"


My writings-my writings Why
where have you seen any of my letters?'


1T would be rather absurd to intrude
upon Miss Dodge's private correspond
ence, when her books and magazine arti-
clcs have so large circulation"


My books? My magazine articles?
Judge Alden, | never wrote a line for pub
lication in my life cried the astonished
girl.


The little Judge looked seriously of
Tended, and assumed rather a severe tone
as he replied:


Miss Abigail Dodge forgets that her
disguise has long since been penetrated,
and that our quiet community, as well as
the great world, recognizes her identity
with Gail Hamilton


Gail Hamilton? |? Oh, Judge Alden ,
Truly, this explanation Of the mystery
never entered my brain. What shall l
do? What will the people think Of me?
| am not Gail Hamilton; my name is not
Abigail. | am simply Annie Dodge, and
came here to open millinery and dress
making establishment in connection with
Mr. Martins store. Ny reception here
has astonished me, but l attributed it
to desire to encourage my industrial
schemes"


The Judge seemed quite as much f1us-
tered during this speech as did his pain
fully embarrassed companion, but he was
not the man to permit circumstances long
to endanger his dignity. Closely ques-
tioning Miss Dodge upon the facts of her
life, he was soon thoroughly conversant
with all needful points


My dear Miss Dodge" he then said,
you talk well; and if you will be guided
by me, you need have no difficulty in ex-
Treating yourself from this trifling dilem-
ma


HereupOn he proposed that she should
consent to his calling another meeting at
the town-hall, and that she should under
take TO explain her position as she had
done TO him. Also, he suggested that it
might be as well to let it be supposed that
he and his family had known from the
first who she was. Without some decisive
step, all her Well-matured plans would be
ruined, and therefore she yielded.


The Judge performed his part of the
compact and after keeping her room all
day Miss Dodge stood that evening once
more surrounded by an admiring assem-
blage. There was something regal in the
girls appearance; her eyes sparkled with
an unwOnted fire, her complexion was
brilliant, and people wondered why they
had never before discovered how hand
some she was. Leaning against her Grim
son-covered desk, she gazed calmly over
the room until a hush had fallen upon the
audience. then she began as follows:


My friends, | learn from Judge Alden
that | have been basking in the sunshine
OF tavors accorded to me under total
misrepresentation This deeply mortifies
me; and unaccustomed as | am to speak
ing in public, | cannot rest until | have
explained my position to you. When
you hear all, your generosity will, | trust,
eXonerate me from any suspicion of com
ing among you under false pretences."


An observer of physiognomy would
have found abundant material for investi-
cation in that asSemblage when the speak
er proclaimed that she was not a cele-
brated writer, but simply Annie Dodge,
an unknown modiSte. Some exchanged
glances of CONSERVATION and surprise,
others endeavored to look unconcerned,
as though they had all along been behind
the scenes; still Others in whom sense
of the ludicrous was keenly developed,
seemed heartily to enjoy the discontinue
of their neighbors. With one accord,
however, all paid breathless attention to
the musical voice of the noble-looking
woman before them.


From my earliest childhood she said,
II have yearned for independence Do
not understand that | was imbued by a
QuiXotiC desire to wrest from so-called
tyranniCal man certain vital concessions
| have never found man more tyrannical
than woman, and | hold it for truth that,
as society Is at present fashioned, we
women have to a great extent in our own
hands our veal and our woe Every
earnest woman who makes practical use
of the enormous influence she has il in
her power to exert, accomplishes more for
the good OF humanity than hundreds who
blindly pirate about vague rights and
wrongs. Wherever woman turns, work
stares her in the fac, and if she strive to
attain tirmness of purpose and noble
superiority in the avenues already opened
TO her, new ones viii present themselves
when they are needed.


MY father is one of the officers of a
prominent insurance company in Phila-
delphia. He possesses no pecuniary re
sources beyond his salary, and | am the
oldest of his seven daughters. With their
slender means, my parents wished their
mode of life TO appear on an equal footing
with that of their more prosperous neigh
borS. and this struggle to keep up appear
ances. which is the bane of so many Phil
adelphia families. robbed both father and
mother of all peace. As we seven girls adj
vanced toward womanhood, our position
became uncomfortable | grew melancholy