Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1854-09-04
Angling For a Husband.
From the French

Iprided herself upon her great insensibility
and her profound indifference has repulsed
all those gallants who had yentured to of.
fer their addresses. The country was fol
her veritable retreat; she Stunned re-
unions, and was only happy in solitude
The charms of a chosen circle, the pleas
ures of the world had for her no attrac-
ton, and her favorite recreation was that
lot angllng-an amusement worthy of an
Iunfeeling woman.
She was accustomed every pleasant day
td station herself at the extremity of the
lonely island of Chanton, and there, with
a book in one hand and her line in the 9th
Ter, her time was passed in fishing, reading
or dreaming.
I a. lever who had always been intimida-
ted by her GOODNESS, and who had never
Iventured on spoken or written declars-
ton, surprised her at her favorite pursuit,
one day when he had came to the island
for the purpose Of enjoying swimming
bath. He observed her for long1 time
without discovery, and buisied himself wish
thinking how he might turn to his advan-
tage this only amusement of angling
His reveries were SO deep and SO fortunate
that he at last hit upon the desired plan, a
novel expedient indeed-yet they are al
ways more successful with such women as
pretend to be invulnerable.
The next day our amorous hero returned
to the island, studied the ground, made his
arrangements, and when Nine. D had
resumed her accustomed place he slipped
away TO remote and retired shelter, and
after having Invested himself of his cloth
ing he entered the stream. An excellent
swimmer and skilful diver, he trusted to
his aquatic talents for the success Of lis Ell
terprse. He swan to the end of the island
with the greatest precaution, favored by
changes of the bank and the bushes which
hung their dense foliage over the waters
In his lips was note folded and sealed,
and on arriving near the spot where Nine.
D was angling, he dove under the wa
ter and attached it to her hook. She per-
ceiving the movement of her line, suppo-
sed that fish was biting.
The young man had returned as he
came; he had doubled the cape which ex-
tending out into tie water, separating
them from each other, and had regained
his post without the least noise in his pas
sage under the willows The deed was done.
Nine. D pulled in her line, and
what was her surprise to observe dangling
upon the barb Of her hook, not the expec-
ted sinner, but an unexpected letter.
This was, however, trihing, and her sur
prise became stupefaetion, when on detach-
ing the transfixed billet, she read upon tie
enyelop- name!
So then, the letter which she had ffshed
up was addressed to her
This was something miraculous. She
was afraid, her troubled glance scrutinized
the surrounding space, but there was moth
ing to be seen or heard; all was Still aid
lonely both on land and water
She quilted her seat, but took away the
letter. As soon as she was alone, and clos
eted herself, and as soon as the paper was
dry-a paper perfectly waterproof, and
written upon with indelible ink-she IN
sealed the letter, and commenced its peru
sal.
"a declaration of loye!" cried she at the
first words. ''What insolence"
Still the insolence had come to her in
such an extraordinary manner that her Gu
riosity would not suffer her to treat this
letter as she had 50 many others-pitiless-
ly burn it without a reading.
No, she read it quite through. The low
er who had dated his note from the bot
tom of the river, had skillfully adopted the
allegory, and introduced himself as a gro
tesoue inhabitant of the waters The ia
bic was gracefully managed, and with the
testing tone which he had adopted was
mingled with true, serious ardent senti-
tilnent expressed with beauty and elo-
quence:
The next day Nine D returned to
the island, not without emotion and some
trace of fear. She threw her line with
trembling hand, and shuddered as, mo-
ment after, she perceived the movement Of
the hook. ~
Is it fish, Is it letter
Il was letter.
NlIIlG. - WAC ilO OCliCFSt III
still there was something strange and super
natural in all this.
She had an idea of throwing back the
letter in the stream, but relinquished it
The most stubborn and naughty woman is
always disarlned in face Of that strange
mystery which captivates her imagination.
The second letter was more tender, more
passionate, more charming than The first.
Nine. D re-read it several times,
land could not help thinking about the de-
Ilightful norman who wrote such bewitching
letters!
On the subsequent day she attached
her line to the bank, and left it swimming
| in the stream, while she withdrew to hi
ding place upon the extremity of the island.
She watched for long time, but saw moth
| mo. She returned to the place, withdrew
the iine-and there was the letter!
I This time an answer was requested. 1t
was perhaps, premature, yet the audacious
request obtained full success. The reply
was written after some hesitation, and the
hook dropped into the stream charged with
letter which was intended tosay nothing,
and affect sort of badinage, which was
nevertheless bulletin of victory gained
lover the harsh severity Of a woman until
then inapproachable.