index for ready reference, and useful
information for every day of the year. It was my intention to have given
her such a book, which would have been a proper vehicle to convey to her
my--my regard, but I learned only last night that she already had a copy
of that work, without which no home is complete, and which is published
by Jarby & Goss, New York, five dollars, bound in cloth; seven fifty,
morocco. I learned that she already had one."

"She told you I had given her my copy?" asked Mrs. Smith.

"Yes," said Eliph' simply. "So I could not present her with a copy of
that work. My preference was to give a work of literature; I am a worker
in the field of literature, and it would have been more appropriate.
But I could give her nothing but the best of its kinds, and where find
another such book as Jarby's Encyclopedia of Knowledge and Compendium
of Literature, Science and Art? Nowhere! There is no other. This book
combining in one volume selections from the world's best literature,
recipes for the home, advice for every period of existence, together
with one thousand and one other subjects, forms in itself a volume
unequaled in the history of literature. No person should be without it."

"I know, Mr. Hewlitt," pleaded Mrs. Smith, smiling, "but I have already
bought two copies. Don't you thing you ought to let me off with that?"

"I was not trying to sell you one," said Eliph' with embarrassment. "I
hoped----" He paused and coughed behind his hand again. "You know my
intention in sending a present to Miss Briggs," he said bravely. "I
admire her greatly. I--to me she is, in fact, a Jarby's Encyclopedia of
Knowledge and Compendium of Literature, Science and Art among women."

"Dear Mr. Hewlitt," said Mrs. Smith, taking his hand, "I understand. And
I wish you all the good fortune in the world. I shall do all I can to
help you."

"Thank you," said Eliph', shaking her hand as if she was an old
acquaintance he ad met after long years of separation. "So you
understand that I can feel the same to no other woman. Not even to--to
anyone." He wiped his forehead with his disengaged hand. "So I feel that
you will not misunderstand me if I ask you to accept a copy of Jarby's
Encyclopedia of Knowledge and Compendium of Literature, Science and Art,
bound in morocoo, seven fifty. I mean gratis. No home should be without
one."

"Why, it is very kind of you to suggest such a thing," said Mrs. Smith,
"and I'm sure I'll be glad to ow