Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1863-07-28

gloves lay IN the coal scuttle.
'What do l care = remarked Fred. Pow
ers, as he surveyed the scene Of desolation
from behind his fortress of wrea.hine
smoke. can always find thing when
| want tiff only look long enough =
Halo, Gerald !! for bis friend had hastily
entered the room, what's up now2 What
ore you throwing all those papers abou,
for 7 bow do you know but that they're nv
love letters? Why can't you tell a fellow
what you're looking for? DON'T believe il q
under the coal box, nor yet in the soar cup
Own up! What piece Of carelessness have
you been perpetrating now? g-.s z-
Have you seen folded note, lying abou,
here, Fred p suddenly questioned Gerald.
I've seen the wash woman's bill and the
tailor's little account, rendered in to YOUR
humble servantl
'Psbaw-I mean q note in my own
writing =
No, haven't said Fred, raising him.
self on one elbow. But why are You 81
auxio0s about it, my boy? hope you've
not been forging nv name to a check for
forty thousand dollars p
Pm fool. Fred groaned Gerald, biting
bis lip as he leaned against the mantle
piece. r f.rm..s. -.
so lge always told you, you'll please to
remember. But in what particular in
stance has your folly developed itself this
timer
Well, I've been trying to muster up
courage these six weeks to tell Fife Lee
how much l loved her; and at length, in
despair, | was foolish enough to write a
declaration of my sentiments
You made donkey of yourself that
time. my boy, interrupted Powers. These
things are awkward in black and white y
Fortunately, there were 20 names men.
toned in the note, and I had determined
not to use il, but to speak out like man,
But to my surprise, l find the letter is
gOne-slipped through treacherous rip
in the lining o. my coat pocket. Il is no.
where to be found, and feel a little IN.
easy'
Very natural that you should p remark.
ed Powers: Suppose the greasy cid laun.
dress should pick il up on the stairs, and
imagine herself invited to become Mrs,
Gerald Plumer DON'T lock So appealinp
at me, old fellow; You say no names were
involved, and If you dropped it here, as is
most likely, 1t has probably been twisted
into cigar lighter long ago. Don't fret.
until you find yourself sued by somebody
for breach of promise
Aud Gerald Plumer resolved for the nine
hundred ard ninety ninth time to be more
careful. and the matter slipped from bis
mind. just as the mischief making little
note slipped from his pOcketl
'lfyou please, Miss Efie, here is a card
tor you said the mischievous black bov
who attended the door of Mr.. Towards
residence. DE geDPman's in de parlor.
and wants for to see you 'ticular.'
MIR. Gerald Plume-,' read Effe, in sur.
prise.
There's some mistake exclaimed Miss
Melissa, starting up in a smiling 1utteF
The card was for me. PompeyP
No, Miss Lazy persisted Pomnev
firmly; 'it was Mss Effe Lee, de genI'map
said; and he guy me quarter, he did
Etie rose quietly.
>. i will see Mr.. P!umer,' she said, with
dignity; but the interview must uecessa.
rily be brief one.'
She left the room while Miss Melissa
hdgeted about in tremor Of eager expec.
tation' wondering, every moment, how it
happened that she was not sent for
Gerald Plumer Was rather 6ismayed at
the frigid reception vouchsafed him by his
lady love, but determined to win the gold
en- prize now or never, and boldly ventured
On bis erraud.
'Ef6e,' he said, firmly. 4 have called
this morning to speak to you on a subject
inexpressibly near and dear to me. |
might make longer reface, but am not
skilled in the use Of words. Efie, | can
only say that love you most truly and
possiODateIy-mayI venture to hope that
NY love is returned p
This is strange announcement, Mr..
Plumer,' returned Efie, calmly. and sing
ularly Inconsistent with the declaration of
1--we you have SO recently made to my aunt
Melissa
II
You, SIR
'Efie, let mo understand. 1t is possible
that you are under the impression that
i am under an impression, sir, and q
pretty strong one, too. that it is scarcely
three days since you wrote, Offering your
self to Miss Melissa Jones do not know
how many love affairs you have on baud at
once, but - ......
'Efhe. there is some mistake here > inter-
rupted Gerald. i never wrote to Miss
jones in my life-never thought of her
save as very respectable maiden lady.
old enough TO be my mother
The words had scarcely, passed his lips.
ere the door few open as if by magic, and
Miss Melissa herself-who had been sta,
TONED suspiciousIy near the key hole for
some minutes-stalked into the room.
Then, sir she calculated, I'd like to
know what you meant by writing me this
love letter I'll have justice done me, if
there's law in the landP
Gerald took the letter from her hand.
and his face frightened up with a sudden
prehensou.
Il regret that such an embarrassing mis-
take should have beer made, Miss Jones,
he said, but by what right do you appro-
pirate the contents of this letter to yours
self. It was written to Miss Efie Lee.
had concluded, however, not to use it, but
to speak instead, in my own proper Der
son. l lost it several days since and am
at loss to imagine bow it could have
come into your hands. regret that your
feelings have been enlisted, Miss Jones.
but should as soon think of marrying nv
grandmother 7 -...-
The quiet self possession with which he
spoke crushed the last faint futter of hope
in Miss Melissa's virgin breast. She turn
ed white and red-half decided to go into
Mysteries at first, and wholly decided to
fall back on scOrn and contempt at last.
So she walked out Of the room, her nose
high In the air, and kept the. Mysteries un-
til che was safe within the precincts of her
own room. And then-but our tale has
no more to do with Miss Melissa Jones.
We must return to the apartment where
Gerald Plumer stood, with his arm around
the wais: Of the scarce resisting Efie.
so you didn't want to marry my aunt
Melissa 2 demurely asked that damsel
MOL want to marry you, darling'
And he did marry her-bnt Miss Melissa
was not one Of the bridesmaids
Aoral-YOung men, don't be careless Of
your love letters '@i