Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-04-30
call any such hardness on the part of an eager

"What does it mean, do you suppose 2
she asked of Nelly, as she reluctantly turned
down the gas at the close of the third even
ing, and went slowly up stairs to bed.
81 don't know, aunty, I'm sure" returned
the malicious damsel. Perhaps he's like
the boy who has pulled the string of a show
er-bath, and lodges back in terror at his own
holiness Suppose you send a committee to
bring him to a sense of his situation y 80
r.. Aunt Melissa slammed the door other room
with a bang that made the very policeman in
the street below open his eyes.
Gerald Plumer's room at the - Hotel
was literally blue with cigar smoke fact
easily accounted for when you glanced at
the recumbent figure of his roommate and
boon companion, who was lazily watching the
fire and smoking as if for a wager 1t was
pretty room, full of elegant bachelor-k nick-
knacks, only it looked as if pair of wild
horses might have torn through it, and no
body have picked up things afterwards For
the flower vases were on the floor, and the
slippers were on the table, and the boot; jack
reclined on the mantel, in companionship
with wash-pitcher and an odd boot, while
the bronze inkstand was crammed back of a
heap of crumpled newspapers, and a pair of
lavender kid gloves lay in the coal scnttle.
sWhat do / care y remarked Fred, Pow
ers, as he surveyed the scene of desolation
from behind his fortress of wreathing smoke.
81 can always find thing when / want it,
| if only look long enoughl Halo, Gerald y,
for his friend had hastily entered the room,
whats up now? What are you throwing all
those papers about for? how do you know
but they are my loye-letters Why can't
you tell fellow what you're looking for?
Don't believe its under the coal-box, nor yet
in the soap-cup. Own upi What piece of
carelessness have you been perpetrating,
now?"
"Have you seen folded note, lying about
here, Fred ?" Suddenly questioned Gerald
"Pve seen the wash woman's bill and the
tailor's little account, rendered in to your
humble servant"
"Pshaw-I mean note in my own writ
ingl" :,
"No, / haven't" said Fred, raising himself
on one elbow. "But why are you so anxious
about it, my boy 1 hope you've not been
| forging my name to check for forty thou
sand dollars ?" s
"Pm a fool, Fred" groaned Gerald, biting
| his lip as he leaned against the mantle-piece.
$50 I've always told you, you'll please to
| remember. But in what particular instance
has your folly developed itself this time ?"
"Well, I've been trying to muster up courage
| these six weeks to tell Effie Lee how much
| loved her; and at length, in despair, l 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 I"
Fortunately, there was no names mention
ed in the note, and | had determined not to
use it but to speak out like a man. But, to
my surprise, find the letter is gone-slipped
through treacherous rip in the lining of my
coat pocket. 1t is nowhere to be found, and
feel a little uneasy"
every natural that you should I" remarked
Powers. "Suppose the greasy old laundress
should pick it up on the stairs, and imagine
herself invited to become Mrs Gerald Plumer !
Don't look so appealing at me, old fellow
you say no names were involved, and if you
dropped it here, as is most likely, il has prob
ably been twisted into a cigar-lighter long
ago. Don't fret, until you find yourself sued
by somebody for breach of promise |"
And Gerald Plumer resolved for the nine
hundred and ninety-ninth time to be more
careful, and the matter slipped from his mind,
just as the mischief making little note slipped
from his pocket!
off you please, Miss Fife, here is card
fol you, said the misehievous black boy who
attended the door of Mr.. Towards residence.
''Do gon'lnan's in de paror, and wants for to
| see you 'ticular."
"Mr. Gerald Plumer," read Efie in sur
prise.
"There's some mistake" exclaimed Miss
Melissa, starting up in a smiling futter ''The
card was for me, Pompeyp
"No, Miss 'Lizzy," persisted Pompey, firm
ly, cit was Miss Fife Lee, de gentleman said !;
and he guy me a quarter, he did y
Efie rose Quietly.
az will see Mr.. Plumer," she said, with
| dignity; "but the interview must necessarily
be brief one"
She left the room, while Miss Melissa fdg-
eted about in a tremor of eager expectation,
wondering, every moment, how it happened
| that she was not sent for
Gerald Plumer was rather dismayed at the
| frigid reception vouchsafed him by his lady
love, but he determined to win the golden
prize now or never, and boldly ventured on
his errand.
"Effie," he said, firmly, ct have called
| this morning to speak to you on a subject
inexpressibly near and dear to me. | might
make longer preface, but / am not skilled
in the use of words. Effie, / can only say,
that | love you most truly and passiOnately,
may l venture to hope that my love is re-
| turned?"
This is very strange announcement, Mr..
Plumer," returned Effie, calmly, "and singu-
larly inconsistent with the declaration of
love you have so recently made to my aunt
Melissa"
al"
"You, SIR"
Effie, let me understand. Is it possible
| you are under the impression that"
al am under an impression, sir and a
pretty strong one, too that it is scarcely
three days since you wrote, offering yourself
to Miss Melissa Jones. do not know how
many love affairs you have on hand at once,
| but"
''Efie, there is some mistake here" inter-
rupted Gerald. az 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 flew open as if by magic, and Miss
Melissa herself-who had been stationed sus-
piciously near the key-hole for some minutes
stalked into the room.
Then, sir" she calculated, "Pd like to
know what you meant by writing me this
love-letter? I'll have justice done me if
there's law in the land !"
Gerald took the letter from her hand, and
his face frightened up with asudden compre-
hension.
81 regret that such an embarrassing mis-
take should have been made, Miss JONES'" he
said, but by what right do you appropriate
the contents of this letter to yourself? 1t
was written to Miss Fife Lee. / had con-
cluded, however, not to use it, but to speak