Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-02-07

LADY,s HEART TO BE LET.
ICoNTINUED.

"Lady's heart to be let" mused Mr. Woke
~, putting down the paper, his mind reverting
back to the advertisement. Chow very odd
Suppose Constance should be some respecta-
bic, middle-aged lady, situated as / am-wor-
Tied to death in lOdgings-lonely and friend
les. She would not advertise for a husband
if she were young and saw lots of society.
Egad, have great mind to write to her, and
arrange meeting, if it were only to spy what
she is like. Perhaps she has lodging to let. If
could see nly way clear to a home Of my own
I'd let Mrs. Nagger be hanged before I'd stop
here another day. I'll answer the advertise
ment. I'll write now, and post my letter this
very night" And full of his great resolve the
old gentleman sat down and began to concoct
his " billet doux." He spoiled about half a
quire Of satin note paper before he produced a
commencement to his satisfaction, and when he
had got as far as to request that Constance
would meet him, he could not for the life of
him think of a suitable rendezvous. At length,
when he had nearly given up in despair, his
eye fell upon some writing, on his blotting pad,
letter there few days previous, and in press
ing 1T on the pad quite wet, had left an imprint
on portion of its contents which his uncle
made out as follows:
-" can see you. There is q secluded little
valley, close under the seven fir trees, on the
path toward Higbgate. not more than
The rest was so smeared as to be illegible.
"Ha!" thought Mr.. Vickery, Jack has
been describing the beauties of the heath to
some friend. This same little valley will do
caPitally for a place of meeting for me and
Constance"
So he finished his letter, and started off in
the rain to post it,
Sunday came, and with it Jack Vesper to
breakfast, as punctual as the clock. That re-
past went of better than might have been ex-
pected, and uncle and nephew set off to church
The Parker's pew was next to Mr.. Vickery's
From uh IaoE hoI G,Il -. r
the crown of an exquisite little bonnet, which,
throughout the service, was bent downward
disclosing glimpse of about two inches, of a
little white neck, down which one little stray
curl of glossy hair trisked provokingly. Poor
Fanny it was great shame of Jack to dis
turb her deyotions, when he knew that they
must pass at the church door without word
Jack Vesper wandered all over Hampstead
Heath that day, from two o'clock until dusk,
and went home as cross as two sticks He re-
covered the usual serenity of his temper, how
ever, the next day, after perusing the following
letter:
"DEAREsT:-I really could not get out yes
terday to meet you as 1 had promised. Oh,
dear Jack feel so ashamed of this secret
engagement, that much as love you, must
tmptOTe that you will not ask me to meet you
again-that il to say-only once more before
you can ask papa's and mammals consent
Don't be angry, have told all to my good old
nurse, Mrs. Tredham. She has Just overed
from hard fit Of the gout, poor woman but
che has promised to meet you tomorrow, at
our old rendezvous, should anything prevent
my being able to keep my appointment. Say
when you will be there. have 50 much to
tell you. Your own FAN"
To which Mr.. Jack replied in this ridiculous
style:
"Mr PRECIOUS OwN:-I cannot stand this
any longer, and I won't. I'll 60 straight to
my uncle-tell him all-get him to promise to
see you, you darling and, then, he is sure to
make no objection to our marriage. Go on to
our old rendezvous. See you there at four,
and pop formally to the old people>this even
ing, if you will let me.
"Your own JACK"
Business always flows in upon a man when
he does not want 1t. Jack Vesper was detan-
ed most proftably until the middle of the day,
and then sprang into Hanson, and told the
driver to cut along liks-something-to Pros
pect House, Hampstead. Arrived there, he
was told to his modification, that Mr.. Vickery
had gone out about an hour. Where had Mr..
Vickery gone? Let Us follow him.
Mr. Vickery had gone to meet his "Con-
stance" in the little valley by the seven fir
trees and arrived at the trysting place, saw
IN elegant little figure sitting on bench very
busy working " brederie Anglsise." Can this
possibly be Constance? he asked himself. He
gave q loud hem, and a face in harmony with
the figure was turned toward him. 1t can't
kp very pretty, and yet it's three CLOCK, and
there is no one else in sight Perhaps she is an
orphan, poor child If she is the owner of the
Heart to be Lett what lucky dog am, TO
be sure. By Jove, I'll speak to her. Faint
heart never won fair LADY, So here goes,
Hem" "
Did you address me, sir ," asked Fanny
who at once recognized our friend as Jacks
uncle and guardian.
Address you no, no, THAT is, I-Oh,
asked me if addressed you2 Oh, see-oh
yes,-I-I-did not exactly address you. /
merely obseryed-I mean / was only going to
take the liberty of asking whether you were
expecting any one?
Fanny instantly guessed that Jack had seen
his uncle, had told him all, and that the kind
old fellow had set of to give his consent in per-
son, not wishing to keep her in suspense She
therefore replied, bending her face very closely
down upon her work.
We'll! must confess that am expecting
some one"
"A gentleman
Yes; a gentleman. He was to have met
me here at four o'clock"
"And his purpose in coming'" demanded
Mr.. Vickery, eagerly, " was mat-was-was
matrimony?"
zvp Poor little Fan crimsoned, and the tears
started into her eyes.
Tis Constance herself, thought Mr.. Wick
cry, transported with joy.
"It's my uncle, that is to be-" thought Fan
ny.
My dear young lady" Jeremiah began,
trying to take her hand my very dear young
lady, / see by your bushes, that my surmist
was correct. You are-you are-I assure it rs
:, not out of my disrespect for you; but IL"
= Z" understand you, sir, /" said Fanny, trying
to help him out Of his embarrassment; "you
would spare'm all sllusion to the past"
She means the advertising" thought the
happy Jeremiah; but, Of course, Fanny was
thinking of her secret engagement to Jack.
Town." she continued, still blushing over
her work, " that it was very, very wrong but
you will forgive me, will you not? You will
forget the secresy and conceslment which sur
rounds the cause Of our acquaintance"
Forgive of course, i do, cried old Wick
cry, seizing her hand, and shaking ii violently.
"And We may be openly engaged ?' de-
manded the now delighted Fanny.
"0f course" again, my sweetest young
LADY," Vickery replied, getting more and more
impressive every moment, "don't give the past
another thought. ITS all my own fault.
Why did l not know you long ago."