Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-02-06
THE MAIL.cLERK's STORY.
By GEORGE ARNOLD.


down Broadway to dine with frien
at Delmonico's, when l observed
handsome carriage, containing two Ia
dies, to stop at the corner of Read
street. One Of these ladies-s younl
and beautiful brunette--smiled on me
in passing, much to my surprise. for
felt sure that / had never seen her be
fore. When the vehicle stopped, sh'
alighted, with the assistance of thu
coachman, and approached me will
outstretched hands.
Two days aiterward, the beautiful
brunette placed small roll of manu-
script in my hands.
sAm I at liberty asked, 'to tel
how and where procured this story?
j had rather you would not,' she
said.
So, dear reader, as it is none of your
business, l think | will not relate the
circumstances.
The following is the story, published
from the original manuscript; and af'
ter perusing it, ~ readers may under
stand the foregoing:
MATRIMONIAL ADVERTISING.
I was once clerk in a mail-station
in New York city.
As can easily be imagined, l have
seen great deal of the under current
of metropolitan life.
Young gentlemen of elegant exterior
came in, occasionally, and left letter:
directed to Josephine, or Isabel, or Flo.
Use, or Virginia, Mail-Station K.
Then young ladies. splendidly dressed
but heavily veiled, came for these let
ters, timidly inquiring of me, from be-
hind their triple screens of silk gauze
Il have discovered, from experience,
that three wells of different colors are
perfectly impenetrable to the sharpest
gaze), if there is anything for jose
phine?'
=. Poor children! Their hands often
zfremb.ed, when they received these
sissixes, directed in the well-known
slorsd hand writing. Sometimes they
fkensopeas utrvously. in too great
bprry 10 wait uhdl they got outside.
setimes they ASSUMED nonchalance
'e>sisEssslidd pot 4eel, and cody
dropped the ietief pocAst or re;i-
cule, as If it were the merest trifs.
Yet, upon such trifes, happiness
eFea life itself!-often hang!
For three weeks, lnRt spring, ynnng
lady had been receiving letters at my
station. Those she received were ad-
dressed: Miss Lizzie Thomas, Mail
Station X, New York City, Those she
left were addressed: 'Halsey Morgan,
ESQ, MaiI-Station X, New York City,
The gentleman who deposited letters
for her was tall, good-looking fellow,
with blond whIskers and blue eyes: he
always dressed fashionably, sported law
ender gloves a gold trimmed eye glass,
cane with jeweled head; and was,
in short, quite swell.
The lady herself was generally veiled
when she came, but once or twice l
caught a glimpse of her face, and
found her very beautiful, having
shower of black ringlets, and eyes Of
that peculiar soft, brown tint that give
such sweetness and vivacity TO bru-
nette countenance. She usually dressed
with great simplicity, but always well,
and neatly; and a certain grace and
ease in all her movements evinced the
cultivated woman.
She seemed to be mostpainfully anx-
ious to receive her letters, and often
exhibited a decided nervousness if abe
did not find one when she expected it.
Plainly, she was deeply interested in
Halsey Morgan, whoever he might be.
He, on the contrary, received her
communications very csvalierly; and
on two or three occasions, when some
friend accompanied him, spoke of them
with the utmost insincerity. A COM
panion once asked him il that were a
love letter he had just got.
'Yes-the fifth this week, and all
from different womenl
had no especial fondness for Nor
gan, after that, as may well be mag
iDed.
Not long after, saw that gentleman
early one morning, coming out Of
notorious gambling-house in Broadway,
arm in arm with one OF the most un-
doubted scoundrels in New York
Their remarks as they passed me, con-
vinced me that if Miss Thomas had the
least respect for the man whose letters
she received so eagerly. il was because
she knew nothing of him.
Accordingly, Iwrote ten words, re-
Iating what had seen and also what l
had heard Morgan say about her let
tiers, and directing the note TO her,
handed it out, the next time she in
uuired at the letter-box opening.
She was evidently surprised at see-
ing q strange handwriting, and read
the note in the Office.
In a postscript, / informed her. that
If she required proofs of my statement,
/ doubted not that l could procure
them, if she would let me know, in
note directed to William at the same
station.
The next day, she entered, and hand
ed in small envelope, directed to Will
liam.' read it Immediately:
.Sir:-I received, yesterday. your
communication concerning Mr.. Morgan.
- In,:-o ,roofs of the fruth of vour