The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-11-26
al srrllnuD. y .
Tho Love Letter.

Inc LOVo Lctter.
Robert Tracy sauntered along the
principal street # the thriving town of
Carlisle, l;fing his bat and bowing grace.
fully 80 tho numerous ladies Of his &C.
qusintancc. whom he met on their way
to the stores Of Mcssrs Radcliffe & Co.
and their brother merchants.all Of whom.
as the daily papers Informed those whom
it might concern. had "jnst received
from New York fresh supply If goods.
consisting off, whatit is quite unneccs.
sary for us to rarticulsrize. MS it wns du
ly set forth in the aforesaid papcrs. 10.
gcther with the unparalleled low prices
at which these articles were to be had
since all the merchants had adopted the
motto. "L-rpc sales and small profits
Many wcrc the winning smiles of the
fair shopper. that greeted Mr.. Tracy's
low bows, and many were the pleasant
looks that seemed to invite him-or so
the vanity Of his sex led him to imagine
to turn and Join them or their expcdi-
tion. But he had been shopping before
now, when ho was younger and more in.
experienced and not even the bewi;ching
smile of Miss Lizzie Raleigh, the ac.
knowledged belle Of Carlisle, as she
trippo6 bv. could invcisle him into the
snare He remembered too we'll his for.
mcr expercncc-the sitting for an hour
or more by counter piled with silks.
gazing at all the colors of tho rainbow
in quick succession, as the obscquious
clerk held them up to view. declaiming
on their lovelincss in words as would
have benefited description OF 6 gor.
goous sunset then tho hesitation cf his
fair companions between "that lovely
apple green pouh.dc soic," and that
heavenly blue brocsde "-the referring
it to him. poor wretch who had been
twisting about uneasily on his rotary
stool all this time. and who was obliged
to confess his utter inability to help
them out of their dilemma; then the de.
cision TO "look little further" at which
he, as we'll as the clerk had inwardly
groaned in bitterness Of spirit. and the
repetition of this procedure at nearly ev-
cry store in town-thoso were some Of
the "reminiscences of his first going
shopping" and while the ladies grew
more voluble. and ore oblivious OF him
in their consultations, he had had leisure
to make q solemn vow. which he had not
as yet tempted to break, never again to
go shopping with ladies'
Miss Lizzie did not know this, or she
might have been spared wondering if
sho had offended Robert Tracy in any
way, that be did not join her as he usual
ly did when he met her on her walks; he
meanwhile strolled on, his fine eyes cast
down, apparently in deep meditation,
though, if the truth must be known, his
thoughts were on no more important
subject than what he should do with
himself a problem of pretty difficult so
luton, considering the idle, aimless life
he led.
To be sure he had a professionalism
Of the law-and talent enough to make
him eminent, had he chosen to apply
himself; but unfortunately he was veal.
thy and lie had 10 occasion for burying
himself in musty books so after leav-
ing college and the law school, he tossed
them oil aside aud determined to enjoy
himself
One would have thought this no diff
cult task, situated as was Robert Tracy,
blessed with youth. health and wealth;
but he soon found time drag heavily on
bis hands lie determined 10 travel,
and for time thought he bad discovered
the road to happiness; but ere long he
weariod of sightseeing, of strange faces,
strange tongues and strange places, and
returned TO his native land Ho made
acquaintances. friends, as they called
themselves, but as he saw more of their
society, its emptiness disgastcd him. lie
took DO pleasure in the villa and vicious