The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-11-16

dearest aud best: : Long, long have
endeavored to address you, and stll nv
courage fails; fate has placed us so wide
ly apart. The world may sneer At NV de-
votion; but love you, dearest, though
opportunities have been denied Inc OF ex-
pressing what feel. can enuure this
no longer; ut least you shall know how
tcrvently, how fondly adore you. Iou
must have observed how | have watched
you from my easement. You cannot be
ignorant OF INV unceasing. admiring gaze.
Give me but the slightest sign that INV
suit is not displeasiug to you, that have
no happier rival, and that, when fortune
smiles--and smile it shail-l will not fail
my life-let me but hope that then may
win you to be mine.
ARTHUR"
laws! now,"saii Mrry, as she re read
the precious missive; "who can this come
from! There's n deal of Young men al
ways staing ut me-ju>t like their i,npu-
dencc. Now, is it the barlar! NJ. To
be sure: he spoke ont long ago. Then !,
can't be that saucy butcher-bny-he can,
write like this, he always greascs the pa.
per. Arthur! who The dickens il Ar
thur! What a spoony he must be-, nor
to write his name in full! Buti', very
pretty letter, though. Fortune smilps!
what does that meant" Smash went the
beau! fil Sevres cup shghad knocked over
in busting. "Oh! my goodness miSsuS's
blue cup broken--anG she so Imr,iru ".
tpo! | shall lose my plac' f Ger ain:
she as good as gave IN, warning last
time. Drnt the letter. Oh, dear! what
shall dol"
She strovc with trembling hands to col.
lect the fragments, hoping they might no,
he past cementing, but alas! they were
tar too minute; and tears of despair n,
the imminent danger she -ns in oi losing
her very goo.l place were slowly trickliny
over her pretty, plump cheeks, now pallid
with fear, when bright idea struck
her.
The letter Was in an envelope she tore
oil the cover, whipped into the garicn,
caught up stone, wrapped the note round
it, and, jumping OH c .air, first brok. -
pane OF the thick plate glass. and then
fragments on the carpet. She had sca!cc,
ir effected her artitice, when her mistress
appeared. .- .s ...
Miss Char!tons attention WAS at one.
attracted to the wreck. ..
"What is thisi !" she cried.
Il don't know, p!csSe ma'am." Mary
submissively an,wercd; "here's n stone
IN IA mn - 10, TO- II
busting, and il gave me sich a turn when
It came smash"
She certainly did lo"k very pale.
And my poor cup, too; dear Lruisa's
parting present | would not have lost it
on any account"
"lhe saucer Is not touched, ma'am.
suppose the cup toPplcd over; but | wis
not hooking"
Poor girl, You do seem startled. How
very Fortunate you We're not standing
near! 1t cannot he IN iccid mt. Give
no the paper; there, brush away those
pieces, and put the saucer on my dressing
table; that ut least Is left"
Mary gladly rel'nqulshed her letter, and
ana az size WAS bid. II was sacriticc:
but lovers were not Il scarce commodity
with her. aud she would have parted with
two-thIrdso of her young men rather than
lose her place. Mary did not .'like tn tell
any more lies than she could help;" and
u decidedly "hurt her conscience to hc
iound out; b,'t tile loss OF place involv,
ed the loss OF home, income, and many
comforts ana the assistance she afforded
nj n1EA te l,.t