The Shasta courier., 1862-05-24

III MS tCct ktoShCt-
g. Edgar he said, with wave of hi
hand, this lady is no snbject for your i'm
pertinent curiosity. and you will not intrud
his airs, as we called them, he walked of.
Father was in the city at the time for som,
months, SO We three conspiritors were lef
alone.
"' What was in the note 2 said Edgar t,
to me.
. Oh, the lady saw him at Cambridg,
when he graduated, and was smitten. Sh,
is widow, rich and young. and she implore.
him not to despise her for leaving the beater
track of propricty to follow him here
She begs that he will not call at the tavern
or seem to pursue her, but wait until she
names fitting opportunity for meeting.-
In the mean time, that he may know hel
at such time. he must be at the confec-
TONER'S on Main street, tomorrow, after
noon, just before dusk, and she will pass
Upcn pain of her eternal displeasure, he is
forbidden to join her then.'
'' Amt it fun p said Edgar. wonder
if be will go.'
g Of course he will.
s. The next afternoon / went to the little
store where we bought the few sweetmeats
and many cakes which Meyersyille deman-
dcd, and under the prctencc Of buying some
cake for tea, went in. There was Tom eat
ing pound cake, and playing the agreeable
to the shopkeeper while both eyes were fixed
on the door. lie looked vexcd when l came
in, but it was no part of our scheme to
allow him to join the fair widow, / stocd
my ground. In few minutes, she passed
She was dressed in the full fashion of the
day, and half the children of the village were
running after her. An immense bonnet,
profusely trimed with choice flowers and rib
bons, came far over her face, and from the
front depended n green vail. She was very
tall but the gored skirt of her rich green
silk fell to her ankles, and terminated in a
broad rufe at the bottom of the skirt. The
trimmings of the velvet pelisse Edgar had
described was not the only fur article, for
she carried an immense muH, and as she
passed she slightly waved kid gloyed hand,
the first ever seen in Meyersyille, towards
the door of the store.
''Oh Tom | said, that must be the
Boston lady. Dosen't she look queer?'
- don't see anything queer, said Tom.
She is dressed in the style of fashionable la
dies in Boston, and really carries herself
very well. | wish you managed your figure
as WE'LL IIetty.'
g kepta grave face, and as soon as she
was far enough ahead invited Tom to escort
me home. As had a basket, and it being
near dark, he could not we'll refuse, and SO
we went home together.
- The next day another scented note
thanked him for his punctuality and obcdi-
ance. Renewed protestations and cautions
filled it up. 1t was brimming full of Hat
terry, but Tom swallowed the whole of it.
Vail opJ t1a Ga,
being occasionally allowed Tom glimpse
of her furs, silks, and velvets, but no chance
Of seeing her face. Molly or l contrived
that Tom was never alone at such times
Two choice boquets, some Jalet-dour and
a basket Of fruit left at the tavern testified to
onr complete success. 1t was the last day
of March, and the conversation had turned
upon the jests and follies usually played off
on April Fools day. Tom had declared in
his grand way, that none but fool was ev-
er fooled, and detied the world to cheat
him.
= At breakfast the next day, The little
mote, about which he would never give any
satisfaction, was handed to him. IL was rs
follows =
Me5ersville, April, lst. 1896.
My 1poL: can no longer bear the ago
ny of being near and not with you. Meet
me at four this afternoon at the foot of the
Poplar Avanue, and all the mystery shall be
throxn aside. In love-
Yours ernally ARABELLA.
The Poplar Avenue terminated at the
high wall which separated our garden from
the village property and you may be sure
we had made hole through which to see
the fun.
q Four o'clock came, and punctual to the
hour we saw Tom come along the avenue in
| his finest broadcloth, and most exquisitely
arranged hair and whskers. He had gone
from the front of the house, lest we should
suspect something if we saw him climbing
the wall In a few minutes We saw the well
known huge bonnet, green pelisse, and silk
dress coming up the avenue but the wild
dow was minus the muff she well knew that
she would want the use of both hands
shortly; Toms last bouque', however, she
carried daintily in one hand. As my broth
er sprang forward to meet her, she let her
head droop, and said in low, feigned voice
of rather dubious sweetness
. Pardon oh, pardon this unwomanly
fo-wardness."
81 Speak not of that ~ cried Tom, ar
IDENTIFY. :. Love breaks the barrier of cold
prudence and your bewitehing eandor is my
dearest blessing"
| a lot more of such talk followed, and
then Tom put his hand on the green vail.
:" Suffer me, he said, to tear aside
this envious veil. which shields your lovi-
ness from my admiring eyes,"
"' Spare my bushes !. cried the widow,
holding the veil fast g Oh F.! if, after all,
you do not love me. Swear, swear you
will be true
g If Tom at this didn't kneel right down
on the ground!
g At your feet hear me swear eternal de-
votion ! he cried. and then turned his eyes
to the now unveiled face.
I" One cry of rage, and he sprang up, just
as the widow vaulted over the wall, and lii
beside Molly and me. Tom followed and
( dragged her from behind us, tore off the
bonnet, leaving Edgar's fair head uncovered
and shook the boy violently, fairly crimson
with rage. Molly and | flew to the rescue,
aud pulled him away, and, still speechless
Tom stood off. For years after, whenever
Tom began a eonceited speech, we coul dsi
lenee him by afectionately inquiring after
the health of the widow from Boston
Godey's Lddy's Book.
ALL roR GoLp.-Would men do for any