The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-10-07
by smart page in the livery OF Hardinge.

c pNse; | have that 10 communicate will gla
Q thee.
= A billet by'r lady !" exclaimed Wy nstone
e "A billet by a lady, frsm the hands Of he
page" replied Andrew, cap in hand.
c There's noble for thee" said the eiate,
= suitor. "lll cen place it 10 my douhlsr an
: read IT,"
Hadst thou not, fair sir, better read il first
aud place il iu thy donblet afterwards Th-r
{ may, pershauce, be some response to the mis-
sive 2"
Wysstoue brskc the seal and read the fol
loving invitation
r "To.nisht, after the hour Of vesrsrs, strik,
thy guitar beneath my window"
"Short-very short" said Master Gerard
turning ever tho laconic episIle.
A wsrJ to the wise is sufficient" said An
drew with lesr. that contained more mean.
ing than the other had wit 10 comprehend.
"True, good Andrew" replied Wyusrone,
"I'll net fsI--say III no, fail"
And Andrew skipped away, his hasd in his
pocket, playing with the noble.
"knavr !" exclaimed a voice nj his ear, while
his arm was rudely grasped. Thou arrspt
knavs!"
"Ah what, Master Valentine :" cried An.
drew. What strange men you lovers are"
Rather say what great rogues you pages
are" rstorted Master Valentine, a most rls.
CANT youth, asd oue Of those same gay young
cavaliers who kissed their hands to Agnes"
when she walked abroad, and who had, more
over. very reasonable hopes that his attentions
were very iavorahly received.
"Traitor did not see thee e'cn now de-
liver letter 10 ysu duudor.headed pumpkin
a~slkins popinjay the mark Of ridieulc, at
whom every finger points"
:" eoufess--l csalsss, replied Andrew
calmly, that did deliver unto his most fpo
worship a letter iudted by the hands OF my
fair mistress"
And addressed 10 him 7" cried Master
Vaentins, in jealous apprehension"
NAY, there was no address" said Andrew,
except in the delivery thereof"
Then it must have bssn intended (er me-,
il was--it was--l confess it was" replied
Asdrsw.
"Asd dearest thou tell me this :" cried Mas
ter Valentine, raising his walking staff
MAY, spare my shoulders" said the page,
"for have spared thine, Sir Valentine, seoing
that that very billet contained sthrashins. Ids
not allnds IL the up-sirskes or the down
strokes in which the fair hand Of my mistress
hath writ the same but, Of = verify. no moro
nor less than a sound drubbing. Master Wya-
stone, depend ont, viii receive the son,csis in
full, to his hearts disoosteDt"
Thou double -iongued, double faced rogue, |
explain this riddle :" exclaimed Master Vslen-
tine. somewhat sppessed and sorely puzzled
And Andrew forthwith informed him that
her guardian, coming suddenly ip, had diseov-
cred Lsr befsrs she had superscriscd il, md
that he took the unfortunate billet, and, sum
moning Andrew into his presence, with mock
politonsss, bads him instssily deliver il 10 the
- gallant sslisr OF Mistress Agnes" who, on
her part, strongly but vaiuly protss,ed against
his arbitrary proceeding. But the page on
his way sverhssring Ilardnee inform the
sturdy porter Of his establishment that h. sus-
pse'ou "'hsre might ne III '"tfnuer IN the
court mat n'sh'' sno srdenos h'" 10 pre-
pare couple OF s'"n' 'aseo S'aves 10 give M"
"e'eo'"e' hs h'd 'aSsn 'h' hoehy To- peep
into the unfortunate spisIe, and wisely csn-
cluding frsm its ambiguous terms that il might
suit Master Wyns'"nea as WE'LL Tor better under
the eircnmstanees,) as Master Valentine, he
had euns'nsly delivered It accordingly vs~'ns
that he really kns" No other gallant 'u'''r' or
'' sucs aeksowledsed at tho house han the
aforesaid Master Wyn'i'oe'
Inc '''sr OF course loudly app'aud'd, ana
amply rewarded th' aofo' 'ao '"'h'"' MAS
ist Ansrs", ~no' g'e'lsn' po'nps 'P 'n' ven
'"'' "'''