Show The Rhyme for Rachel By — Clifford Howard (Copyright by Shortstory Pub Co) Seated in a street car Miss Marjorie Hollis was absorbed in the latest issue ofj the Literary Post It contained this week a most unusual announcement and it was this which now occupied her attention to the exclusion of all else The announcement read as follows: We the undersigned executors under name the will of a person whose we withhold for the present desire to announce that In accordance with the terms of said will the sum of $250000 will be paid to the first person who will submit to us a rhyme for the name Rachel This bequest is based on the following conditions viz: l The rhyme must be a legitimate one Dialect foreign or invented 2 This ofwords will not be considered fer Is limited to one year dating from December 31 190— In explanation of the foregoing offer it Is deemed proper to state the following facts: Among the effects of the testator above referred to Is an unfinished poem to a lady whose full Christian addressed name was Fedora Lilian Grace Lorain Louise The Rachel said Hildegarde poem was written by the testator for the purpose of bringing Into rhyme each one of the names aforementioned He succeeded In writing six stanzas In which the first six names were respectively Introduced In accordance with his aforesaid purpose: but he was unable to complete the poem because of his failure to find a rhyme for the last name— Rachel For certain personal reasons he provided In his will that an attempt be made In the manner 'above set forth to discover such a rhyme As full conditions and all necessary Information are contained In the foregoing announcement the undersigned must decline to consider any Inquiries for further explanation & BORDEAU DUNDURT D C Washington Circumstances compelled Marjoale Hollis to earn her living and against these circumstances her aristocratic and artistic soul waged constant rebellion Her family and her acquaintances generally regarded her as a epolled child troubled with extravagant tastes and a lack of practical sense On her side she felt that she was not understood nor properly appreciated — until she met Carter Like herself Mr Dilllngton was poor and had literary aspirations and Marjorie felt that In him she had at lapt found a sympathetic l He accepted special Invitations to the house but rarely called of his own accord appearing content to ride home with her in the evening He was excessively reserved — that was one of his peculiarities— so that notwithstanding the Increasing familiarity of the acquaintanceship Marjorie knew no more of his personal affairs at the end of nine months than she did during the first week There was one other subject on which he was equally reticent and that was the discussion regarding the The remarkable rhyme for "Rachel” offer in connection with this matter was a subject of unending curiosity and discussion In literary circles but Carter Dilllngton pointedly avoided every allusion to it To Marjorie on the contrary it was one of alluring in- terest December 27 she walked into the office of Dunbury & Bordeau and quietly announced to those two gentlemen that she had come to claim the for a rhyme for "Rachel" For a moment the two men stared at her without uttering a sound Mr Dunbury was the first to find his voice he ejacu'‘Impossible!" lated Then noticing the sudden flush upon the girl’s face he checked himself "Pardon me my dear young I did not mean to doubt your lady! word' but you have astonished us beLet me explain" and yond measure he placed his chair beside hers "The extraordinary offer to which you have responded was made in compliance with the will of our late client Mr Benjamin F Morton He was a trifle eccentric and one of his hobbles was writing poetry lie took a great fancy to a nephew of his and scared no money to have the boy welT educated The old gentleman himself had a very limited education and he was determined that his nephew should not be handicapped as he had been Well Just about the time the boy got through college the old gentleman struck a snag In this poem of his about Fedora Lilian Hildegarde et al and he called upon his nephew to help him out with a rhyme for ’Rachel’ The young man informed him that there was no such rhyme but his uncle refused to believe it He insisted that as the lad had had a college education he could find a rhyme if he chose Well the upshot of it was that the old gentleman took it into his head that his nephew was obstinate and ungrateful and he cast him off A short time before he died however he finally concluded that perhaps there really was no rhyme for ‘Rachel’ and he decided to reinstate his nephew in his will but with this proviso: That a rhyme should first be advertised for and that should any person produce such a rhyme within a year then the money should go to such person Instead of the nephew “As the executors we of course followed the provisions of the will but we were definitely satisfied there was no such rhyme And yet you say you have found one I am free to say it seems incredible incredible Still at the same time the offer Is a bona fide one and will be carried out to the letter If your rhyme proves to be a legitimate one It will certainly prove a most astonishing revelation to us and — to the nephew Carter Dillington” Marjorie felt that she was about to faint to “May I have Just a moment think?” she asked faintly I did not “Certainly certainly! mean to hurry yoy Of course I understand you feel a trifle agitated but take your time and you’ll recall the rhyme In a minute or two” Several moments passed in sitence Then Marjorie arose She faced the two lawyers and with a tremor in her voice that she struggled bravely to subdue she said slowly: “I have not forgotten the rhyme but — but I have decided not to submit it” It was New Year’s day when MarHe jorie again saw Carter Dillington called late In the afternoon Why had he come? she asked herself Was It to torment her? To cause her wounded heart to bleed afresh? He appeared not to heed her constrained manner nor the quick flushes that reddened her cheeks "Marjorie” he said suddenly with an impulsiveness and a familiarity he had never before manifested “you have wished me a happy New Year Do you know that It is you alone who can make the year happy for me — supremely happy? I did not dare express my feelings before I was absolutely sure that I ceuld offer you the comforts and the pleasures you deI am Independent — Now serve wealthy and you Marjorie will you share my fortune with me?” It was late ere the lovers were ready to part “Is It any wonder” he was saying as he lingeringly prepared to leave “that I avoided the subject of my uncle’s outlandish offer? Supposthere ing that by some possibility had been a rhyme for ‘Rachel’ supin posing some one had succeeded But it! thank fortune dear finding there Is none!” “Yes but there Is a rhyme for ’Rachel’” she answered softly casting down her eyes to hide her sudden emotion “Would you like to hear It? Let us sit down here — on the sofa and I will tell It to you” She waited a moment after they were seated and then in a half tremulous whisper she recited the following lines: “A fitting rhyme has long been found For each and all of these — Lilian Grace Lorain Fedora And Hildegarde Louise And in these names themselves we find She hesitated a long time before venturing to speak to Mr Dillington about it His peculiar aversion to the whole matter embarrassed her The mere mention of the name "Rachel" disturbed him and her occasional efforts to lead the conversation around to the subject were promptly frustrated Finally however she decided to appeal to him for help Only one more week remained and she beheld her dreams of wealth fading into the dull So as he was reality of drudgery about to take his departure after a short call on Christmas eve she said suddenly: “If a person were to find a rhyme for ‘Rachel’ it would make him famous wouldn’t it?” "I suppose it would’’ he answered dryly “And It would make him rich?” “Oh yes" Then in the same breath he abruptly changed the conversation Miss Hollfs it may inter"Perhaps est you to know that I expect In the next week or two to come Into possession of a small fortune and I hope then to be married” and holding out his hand he bade Marjorie good night "Good night” she responded mechanically and as the door closed she The hidden rhyme for Rachel staggered into the parlor and throwFor lo the letters of these names ing herself upon the sofa burst into a Are F L G L H L” torrent of passionate tears Then In the quiet glow of the midSuddenly her sobbings ceased She night firelight she told him her llttl sat up bewildered startled In the story midst of the turmoil of her troubled spirit there had burst Woman as a Creator ipon her — without warning without thought — a A woman who creates and sustains rhyme for “Rachel!” a home and under whose hands' children grow up to be strong and purs Two days later Marjorie Hollis was men and women Is a creator second Jn Washington and on the morning of only to God— Helen Hunt Jackson SENSITIVE SAYS 1909 TO 1910 "I found a purse this morning” “Did you return It?” "No The owner might have offered me a reward and It would have wounded my pride” Told In the Doctor’s Dr Arthur T Holbrook Is credited with the following: A man by the name of Evans died When he arand went to heaven rived at the pearly gates he said to St Peter: “Well I’m here” “John St Peter asked his name Evans’’ was the reply St Peter looked through the book and shook his bead “You don’t belong here” he said “But I am sure I belong here” said the man He “Wait a minute” said Peter looked again and In a back part of the book found a name “Sure” said the guardian of the but you gate “you’ belong here weren’t expected for 20 years Who’s your doctor?” — American Druggist Beware of Ointments for Catarrh that Contain Mercury The Old Person— wish you all kinds of prosperity during your term bub but I want to warn you this year’s job is a fast life In just 12 months or in about 8760 hours you will be wearing a long gray beard r spectacles on your nose a blacc suit badly wrinkled weigh of office The Old Year and the New Do you hear “Seveil— that?” asked the old clock In the corner “Here it Is a full hour after your bedtime and yet you sit there staring Into the fire!” In front of the fire sat an old woman — gray haired wrinkled feeble The voice of the clock did not disturb her but as she watched the fitful flames one could have read her thoughts "But It’s excusable on this night” continued the clock In soft tones “Heigho! but it’s the last night of the old year! Three hours more and we You and I are are done with 1909going to watch the old year out together Let’s see? How many years have I seen come and go? Forty — exactly forty with this one That’s a long time long time” The woman rocked gently to and fro and by and by the clock suddenly called out: “What tears In your eyes! Come now but that’s no way to end the year We are thinking of the same thing Yes he was a good and loving husband and I’ll say this for both of you that I never heard an unpleasant 12 word between you It is years since he died I could only look Into his face as he lay on his dying bed and If ever heaven sent its light to lead a soul across the dark valley It was given to him I remember your tears and moans and sobs and you prayed that death might come to you as well” about and carry pounds around one of those glass thingumbobs they have in the kitchen to time the egg boiling And some will be sorry others glad that you are then ready to be succeeded by another fat little Infant labeled "1911 ” will surely the sense of smell destroy mercury end completely the whole system when derange Such It through the mucoue surfaces entering on prescripnever be used except should articles as the damage tions from reputable they physicians will do is ten fold to the good you can possibly Hall’a Catarrh Cure manufactured rive from them no merO contains by F J Cheney A Co Toledo and la taken Internally acting cury directly upon surfaces of the system In the blood and mucous Hall's Catarrh Cure be sure you get tbs buying It Is taken Internally and made In Toledffc genuine tree Ohio by F J Cheney A Co Testimonials Price 75c per bottle Sold by Druggists Take Hall's Family Pills lor constipation The American Passion Knicker — What do you think of the airship In commerce? Bocker — Fine it will give a chance for passing a lot more laws The woman choked back her sobs and her lips moved as if she were speaking the names of her dead ones PILES CURED IN fl TO 14 DATS For many minutes her reverie was PAZO OINTMENT is guaranteed to cure any case of Itching Blind Bleeding or Protruding Pile in unbroken and she heard not the 6 to U days or money refunded 60o ! old of the steady A woman dislikes being jealous alclock “Nine — ten — eleven!” suddenly most as much as she likes making called the clock “The son? Ah! how some other woman jealous absentminded I have become! 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I cannot tell you to forget the past for a mother’s heart ever goes out for her dead but the new year may have more sunshine Come now I am about to strike the old year out and the new year In Let us greet the new with a smile of welcome as I count — — twelve — a happy New Year!” The woman did not move “Heigho!” callei the clock: “We have left the old behind!” Her hands had dropped beside her and her head had fallen “Dead!” clicked the clock as the last faint echoes of his bell died away Is Growing Smaller Every Day CARTER’S LITTLE ©Hi®'?) mO®G3(ll The Army of Constipation LIVER PILLS ere responsible— they d only give relief— j they permanent' cure ConstipaMiltion lions we them far nest Indigestion Sick Headache SaSew Skin SMALL PILL SMALL DOSE SMALL crwi iimc FMCl QUICKEST WITH SAFETY 9i tut CURE usi imn m (ouuusMJi&S For the baby often means rest for both mother and child Little ones like it too — it’i so palatable to take Free from opiates All Druggists 25 cents |