The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1864-03-18
VOL. I.
upon the hook, not the expected "shiner,"

upon the hook, not the expected "shiner,
but an unexpected letter.
This was, however triAing; but her
surprise became stupefaction when, de-
taching the transfxed billet, she read upon
it--her name. -,
So, then, this letter which she had fish
ed up was addressed to her.
This was somewhat miraculous. She
was afraid. Her troubled glance scruti-
nized the surrounding space, but there
was nothing to be seen or heard; all was
still and lonely, both on land and water.
She quilted her seat, but took away
TIE letter. AS soon as she was alone and
closeted with herself, and as soon as the
paper was dry--a paper perfectly water
proof and written upon with indelible ink
she unsealed the letter and commenced
its persual.
IA declaration Of love-" cried she at
the first words. "What insolence
Still the insoence had come to her IN
such.an extraordinary manner that her
curiosity would not suffer her to treat
this letter as she had so many others
pitilessly burn it without reading.
No--she read it quite through. The
lover, who dated this letter from the bot
tom Of the river, had skillfully adopted
the allegory and introduced himself as
grotesque inhabitant Of the waters. The
fable was gracefully managed, and witt
the testing tone which he had adopted
WIS mingled true, serious, ardent senil
mont, ex expressed with beauty and eloquence
The next day, Madame D--returnet
to the island, not without emotion and
trace Of fear.
She threw her line with trembling
hand, and shuddered as moment af,e
she perceived movement OF the hook.
Is it fish? Is it letter? it was
letter
Madame D was no believerin mag
ic-still there was something strange an
supernatural in all this.
She had an idea of throwing the lette
back in the stream, but relinquished it,
The most stubborn and naughty woman
always disarmed in face Of the Nyster
which captivates her imagination.
The second letter was more tende
more passionate, more charming than tn
first. Madame D. read it seyert
times, and could not help thinking abol
the delightful mernan who wrote sue
bewitching letters.
On the subsequent day she attaeht
her line to the back, and left il swiinmir
in The. water, while she withdrew TO
landing place upon the extremity Of Il
island. She watched for long time b
saw nothing. She returned to the pla
withdrew the line-and there was the Ia
tie.
This time an answer was requested
1t was rather premature; yet the aud
oious request obtained full success
The reply was written after some hesii
ton, and the hook dropped into the strea
charged with letter that was intend
to say nothing, and effect sort OF ba'
. nage-which was, nevertheless, bullet
Of victory gained over the hard severi
OF woman till then unapproachable.
}, Madame D. had too much shreN
d ness not to guess that her mysterious c.
g respondent employed instead of MAJ
y the art of a skillful diver Scruples ca
>, ly understood retained her from that p
ulO0 Oh IIlG Ddllh WSlS ollS was SuAS u
's the diver would emerge from the water
"a But this game of letters amused her.
g. First it pleased her intellect, and her
a. riosity became so lively that she wrote
G. ssLet us give up this jesting, which
~ pleased me for the moment, but sho'
N continue no longer, and come with "
apologies to Chaton.
y The lover answered Eyes, if you v
ie add Hope
a The inexorable lady replied
u = 'If only word is necessary to dec
d you be it so." And the word was writ
Tue young man appeared and was nc
a loser. The gift OF pleasing belonged
er his person as much as to his style, and
a a had made such rapid progress under
III ter that it was easy to complete his c
IA quest on land They were married.
= -