The Portland daily press., 1863-09-26
MISCELLANY


Oniy joke
1 say Lofty, (my aunt always called me
lofty for Natluria,l what are you writing
there?
"a letter, aunt replied.
"A letter, who to?"
at is a anonymous letter, aunt"
"Ah? my child" said she gravely, "you
should not do 1t, it is very wrong"
"Wrong aunt, why, don't think it Is when
it. only joke
Only Joke, my child, jokes sometimes
turn out to be very serious" kt
"But this wont, aunt, let me tell you. Fred
Lacy is in love with Nina Agleron, but she
does not care one straw for him; and even if
she did. she would not encourage him, for he
is poor-Well, Nina and l are going to send
him love letter; he will think 1t came from
Nina, and we shall have some rare sport"
"Dont do it, my dear. Let me tell you
what happened when was girl, though it
was only joke sRs
Iseatcd myself at my aunt's feet to listen to
her story. She tenderly stroked my curs and
ccmmenced
my room mate and confidant at boarding
school was most beautiful girl; her name
was Irene Carlton. She was the daughter
ola rich southern planter, aud the Iavourite of
the whole school. She told me one night, that
Henry Saffarans, the clerk at the village con-
fectionary had told her that he loved her;
she was SO surprised she could not answer,
but promised to do so at some future time.
She asked my advice about it, and told me
that she really loved him, for III he was poor.
he was handsome and polished but her par
ents would never be willing for her to marry
him. IL told her to do nothing which was
likely to anger her parents, and to send to him
TO discontinue hisattentons. She did so, and
In q very short time the whole school by some
means found out about their love affair.
"Lelia Brown, my next best friend, and /
resolved 10 have some fun at the expense of
Irene and her lover. We wrote an anony-
nous letter to Henay: he, Of course, suppos-
ing II came from Irene, answered it. We
received it, and wrote another, and regular
correspondence was established. We took
good care 10 keep them from meeting, for we
knew If they did all would be discovered. In
his letters Henry begged and implored for an
Interview, and all the while Irene was wond-
ering why he would not come; but she was too
proud to ask
"Thus matters continued for two or three
months, when Henry found an interview
would not be granted, he proposed by letter.
That was just what we wanted. The joke
was SO good that we told it to several others,
after promising to keep the utmost secrecy
aboutit it. We answered in the affirmative,
and told him to engage priest and come at
ten O'Clock the next night and be married
clsndestinely. Silly foolish girls we were not
thinking Of the wrong we were doing, for we
persuaded the chambermaid at the Seminary,
bright negro girl, to participate in the joke
and personate Irene, and be married TO Henry
Sqfdrnns. N
At the appointed time, the girl dressed in
some of our garments, and a large black lace
shawl thrown over her head to disguise her
was waiting in the garden for Henry
We girls were concealed behind the shrub
berry to witness the grand scene and
disclosure, as we thought. We could hardly
restrain our laughter as we saw Henry APP
proach and take her hand which was incased
In kid glove; he whispered few words in
her ear and kissed her through the veil. /
was so convulsed with laughter that really
though / should die. GRAINED my skirt in
my mouth, and succeeded in keeping him from
hearing me. 1890