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Stanford Eveleth - Miss Dexie

S >> Stanford Eveleth >> Miss Dexie




"That is only the first part of the letter, but it contains news enough for
a dozen," said Dexie, as she laid the closely-written sheets on the table
before her. "I am sure you see now what a trouble my marriage has been to
dear Mrs. Gurney."

"Yet we imagined it was a very quiet affair, eh, Dexie?" regarding her with
an amused smile: "However, do not take it so seriously, darling. Things
have, no doubt, quieted down by now, and everyone will not see Hugh's wife
and home with Elsie's eyes."

"But I have not finished the letter yet; wait till you hear the rest."

"There is a postscript, I suppose, and like every other woman's letter, it
needs to be read first," was the smiling reply. "Well, let us hear the
conclusion of the matter."

Taking up the remaining pages, Dexie read:

"I was called downstairs to see Mrs. McNeil, who was in the parlor and had
asked to see me especially, and as my eyes rested upon her the word 'Dexie'
sprang to my lips. She had on your garnet velvet suit, and looked as well
in it as ever you did. I intended to treat her very coolly, for I had not
forgiven Hugh, though I have been to church twice since he offended me; but
she was so very friendly, and so anxious to make amends for Hugh's
behavior, that my coolness melted away. She begged me to try and like her
'for Dexie's sake,' and as Hugh had sent regrets for his hasty words and
wished me to run in as freely as I did in the old times, I feel as if I can
repeat the responses in church this evening without feeling so terribly
wicked over it. I fancy, from what Nina says, that Hugh is often quite
stern and cold in his way of speaking to her, and she admitted that he has
already made her cry. I feel very sorry for her, for I did not know when I
began this letter why Hugh was so put out at your marriage, but I do now,
and I think that since you would not have Lancy it is a good thing that you
are safely married; but take care that Hugh does not run away with you some
day. He is quite equal to it yet."

"There is no danger of that," said Guy, referring to the concluding
passage. "I can read another story between the lines of Elsie's letter, and
I think, dear, that Hugh's wife will not blame you if her marriage should
not prove a happy one."

"I hope you are right, Guy; but how could I bear it if I thought you
married me just because I resembled someone that you knew and loved, but
could not marry," and she put her arms around his neck and looked into his
eyes.

"But you know that my heart has been yours since I first saw you, so why
need you borrow trouble, my little wife? There! lie still in my arms and
rest content," drawing her close to his breast with a tenderness that gave
a fresh assurance of his love.

"Do you know, Dexie, dear," he added presently, "something in that letter
tells me that Hugh explained everything to Nina before he married her, and
she could have refused him if she objected to the conditions. Hugh's money
would overbalance many difficulties, and I have no doubt that Mrs. Gordon
urged her daughter to accept him, with a full knowledge of his reasons for
wishing to marry her. I feel sure that Nina is willing and anxious to
please Hugh, and he may yet find much happiness in the society of your
double. Few men would care to do such a thing, I admit, but if he finds any
solace in his disappointment in surrounding himself with things that are
dear to his memory and in making his wife a second Dexie, it is well."




POSTSCRIPT.


Having happily married my heroine and disposed of her lovers, it occurs to
me that I have reached the place where story-writers usually make a big
flourish, write "Finis," and then lay down the pen.

But the story of a person's life does not end with marriage, as some would
have us think, for marriage generally brings out one's best qualities or
develops the worst, and is sure to make or mar the life of every woman;
consequently, this story is not yet finished. Yet why should I trouble
myself to write out the remainder of it until I have discovered if the
reading public are interested in Dexie's life so far as it has been already
told? It may be that no one cares to follow her fortunes any further, or
feels the least desire to know what the future has in store for her, to say
nothing of the friends who have been associated with her; and as I have no
wish to bore you, dear reader, gentle or otherwise, it rests with you to
say if their married lives shall be laid bare or not.

I am aware that the marriage of my heroine lacked the _eclat_ which usually
attends events of that kind--in story books--but I fancy the average reader
is well acquainted with all the details of an elaborate wedding, and must
be surfeited with the various accounts of them by this time. However, if
that is the style of wedding you prefer, I can give the names of several
volumes which contain everything you can possibly desire in the way of
description of gorgeous wedding costumes and all the rest of the
paraphernalia that goes along with them, and you can read any account that
suits you better, then take up my story further along. See?

Those that take objection to Dexie's home-life--particularly to that
immediately preceding her marriage--are reminded that such lives do exist.
When death visits a family, and removes the restraining head, the petty
faults of the remaining inmates are apt to grow apace, unless the Angel of
Death has touched their hearts with divine grace. Lacking this, the
development of character has a downward tendency. It does not make pleasant
reading, but I have not told an impossible tale. But who knows "how the
other half lives?"

The question is--Do you care to know if Dexie has chosen her life as wisely
as she might have done? Would her married life have been happier if she had
married Lancy Gurney? The affection they had for each other was akin to
love; there was a sympathy between them which those who have an intense
love for music can alone understand, and which might have proved a source
of happiness, even during a life-long existence. They might not have
experienced the rapture of heartfelt love, but their lives might have been
more peaceful and contented without it, for deep love often means keen
sorrow.

Or would it have been better if she had accepted the love as well as the
money which Hugh McNeil was so anxious to lay at her feet? She might have
learned to care for him in time, and to have found pleasure in a life
surrounded by all the joys that wealth can bestow. To have an abundance of
worldly goods, and to be exempt from the petty cares and economies which a
limited income necessitates, is a condition much to be desired, even where
no love exists to soften the heart of husband and wife, and in this case
Hugh McNeil could not be charged with possessing an unloving heart.

Dexie thinks she has made the wisest choice in accepting Guy Traverse and
marrying for love, but she has yet to face the question--Is mutual love
alone essential to secure a happy married life? or in the language of the
world:

"Does it pay to marry for love alone?"

* * * * *

ABOUT SHORTHAND!

The need of a simpler and swifter mode of writing is felt by all who have
much writing to do--by newspaper men, by legal gentlemen, by clergymen, by
students in taking class lectures and making notes of many things valuable
for future "refreshment," authors and scientific men in recording important
facts.

Amanuenses are in demand as corresponding clerks and secretaries in all
important mercantile and literary offices, at salaries much higher than is
paid in any similar employment. Indeed, many of the leading business and
professional men owe their prosperity to their knowledge of Shorthand and
Typewriting.

If a young man or woman desires a business or profession, light, pleasant,
what is more congenial than stenography? Other occupations are crowded, and
the income for years is small. But stenography, on the other hand, is an
opening through which one can enter any business or profession with rewards
equal to ability and capacity.

Which System?

There are a dozen or more different systems of shorthand. Each one is best
to somebody. Which is best for you? Eleven are hard to learn, and harder to
practise; who will learn them? One is simple and easy--children learn it.
The one is

Simple Shorthand

best, because simplest, easiest, quickest learned, most legible of all, and
fully answers every purpose for which shorthand is desired.

Shorthand must be learned quickly, or most people cannot afford the time.
There has never been a satisfactory system till now. Previous systems have
been too complicated, and people get an idea that shorthand is very
difficult--it is not. Simple Shorthand is not.

Simple Shorthand excels the difficult systems in all their good points, and
seems to have none of their faults. Therefore I cannot be too exact in
describing it. The several advantages are:

No shading, no positions, no arbitrary characters, and the vowels are
written in their natural order without lifting the pencil; as in longhand,
no depending upon "context."

If you could learn the Pitman system (100 words a minute) in six months,
you could easier learn Simple Shorthand in three months. Our scholars learn
Simple Shorthand in a week, then use it writing up their book-keeping. It
saves more than half their time.

You can learn shorthand by mail just as well. I guarantee success in every
case, or return the money. I send lessons, instructions, criticise and
correct all exercises, until you can write 100 words a minute, for $10,
payable at beginning.

Lesson free, write for it.

SNELL'S ACTUAL BUSINESS AND SHORTHAND COLLEGE,

TRURO, N.S.

* * * * *

R.J. TURNER,

VICTORIA SQUARE, TRURO, N.S.,

Direct Importer of

Hardware, Crockery and Groceries.

THREE SEPARATE DEPARTMENTS UNDER ONE ROOF.

FRENCH, ENGLISH AND AUSTRIAN CHINA GOODS A SPECIALTY.

Blanchard, Bentley & Co.,

IMPORTERS OF

DRY GOODS,

MILLINERY,

CARPETS, Etc.,

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL.

Large Assortment, Small Profits and Strictly One Price.

TRURO AND NEW GLASGOW,
NOVA SCOTIA.

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