Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-10-15
TALES AND SKETCHES.
lEoNArsD WATsON,s LETTER.


| p.essiDn; again she would toss back her
b light curls, and a saucy sni e would cross
| her little mouth as mischief flow ed from the
small golden point of her weapon. One
.tte, another, the little sheets OF note paper
| Fl !, with dainty characters, folded, and
ipped into the snowy envelopes. Sudden
| ly the pretty writer paused. Resting her
! little dimpled chin on her hand, she sunk
! INTO q reverie ; the blue eyes lost their smil-
ing light, tue rosy mouth folded into Il
sN ee;, earnest gravity, rs sue sat buried ~
thought.
III only dared" she whispered"
only dared" Then, with quick impulse,
she selected sheet of paper somewhat
arger than those she had been using, and
aegan to write again, not, as before, merry
and careless, but with deep earnestness, the
rapid p,n evidently tracing words of grave
import and weight. Once she paused and,
folding her little hands, raised her eyes in
prayer. As she sealed the long letter, she
aid what she neglected before-directed it,,
in clear, pretty hand, and then placed it
carefully in her writing desk. Again she
continued her task, sometimes scrap of
OF verse, saucy quotation. or evan an adj
dress, filled the sheet, but ottener a little
graceful note was written and folded. She
was busy, when laughing voices in the hall
hail made her pause.
Come right up, girls. am in my room, "
she called.
And in answer to the summons four gay
belle, Ot Clalrc>iile came dancing into the
raom, with "How many have you written,
Amy!"
/ "Oh, ever so many! Idon't know. Let
MT see youis."
Aud a shower of snowy bilets fell from
eight white hanGs into her lap, while the
t,ar girls eagerly opened and read the mis-
si' Is upon the table.
We've sold every ticket" cried Leouore
Darcy, the brunette, whose charm had set
, !ai ClaireNllc in u terment.
"A...' said Amy. The hall will BE pack
el.'
"Yes,' said pr tty Mabel Lee, "and every
BODY says the p It office will he the most
at.r ,ctiIe feature of our fair. l am 50 glad
YOU suggested it, Amy. And if it was late,
we've got good pie Of letters written
There said Amy, signing note with
"Gahrica," in the most minute character,
There's my last sheet OF paper and my last
o nee of brains. I'm utterly exhausted!'
, "Dut, Amy, you won't feel exhausted to-
morrow, said dcmure Susy Jones, when
We land dear Mr.. Rivers nice sum OF
money t. hep hlu rebuild the parsonage
That dreadful fre!' said Amy, shudde:
ing, M, tner says she don't approve OF fairs
generally; bur wien ones minister's burned
out, aud the money won't come in fast any
other way, why, she'll bake cakes and make
pincushiunS with the best Ut US
And then, you know said Natal, car
neslly, there viii be no railing or cheat
ing and the articles are all pretty, and 4 rod
oi their kind
Girls, is it not time to dressl" said Susy,
consulting wee watch ut her belt. I'VE
open at scvel."
The ;abcs are all ready"
"Trac, but it is after five now. and every
body ants time for at least one extra touch
10 their fnery, when they must face all
C.aircvilie.'
"Sca,ter, them" said Amy, langhing.-
run home, all Of you Leave the letters
here; viii take care OF them. am TO be
pustmistress, you know"
Not bit OF it," said Leonora. "You
are only to sit in the background and di.
rect the envelopes, which l viii deliver to
anxious nquirers.'
"Whew how important We arem was
the merry answer. Aud the laughing group
dispersed.
The large hail of Claireville WAS brilliant.
ly Illuminated when two hours later the
Young giIls announced all in readiness for
opening the doors The pretty tabels, taste
iul decorations, and groups OF lovely girls
made no uean picture, aud Cialrevlil walk
ed about, admired, and, above all, purchas
c. To The foil content of the fair originators
o! the ,nt,r.ai mrnt. Hid en- away from
si-hi 10y The iuil toidb ofa curtain, Amy sat
surlncd in the pust-oliice, answering LeonO'
ris call ior lerters. Busy excitment had
flushed her fair checks, and, rs her pen
traced familiar danes, one after another
smiles chased each other over lips and eyes
suddenly call from Nora made her luru
pale: her fingers trembed as she drew from
her bosom the letter she had written with d
prayer. IL was fully directed, yet she hesi
iated, holding it as it reluctant 10 let il
go.
"Come, Amy. Is there nothing for Nj
Leonard Watsonp cried LeunOra.
The letter was slipped through the sp
pointed place IN the curtin, and Am! drew
u quick breath os apprehension as size hear,
TIE manly voice that sand, Thank You Miss
Darcy"
If he is ANGRY she whispered. If h
should bv angQ"
But Leonard Watson had slipped the let
ter caT,less!y into the breast pocket of IN
coat, and Was saUpteripg IN his usual lsI.
uauner down the hall. lie Wac a tall hand
some wan, aith broad forehead and larg
eyes, which spnke we'll for hls heart and IN
. te.lrct; bat with the bia1S and dsb0Aaalr
d manner Of one for whom the World had oi
Iered its pleasures 10 salisiySand who la,
= not learned 10 look lOr liius purpose Ia duty
j The little word OF ClaiTeyille spnke Wei
J ol Leonard Watson. The girls admired hi
q ennTiiy galGnlry, his p"llshrd manner en'
- Money vd Aor,ls; the Young men appaudr,
. hH Htnrfusiiy, his N4ues, bis hOTses, anal hi
sn"d temper the older heads wnrship hl
"rAlh, hlrlh, and position; only here anl
", t',Ie ~ufd wss whisPv,ui nf Iale ryysls a
u hfnaes' oi 81 uoe aslaaly lapse ihlo lueil
nrll, "F dropped a hint that "yOung Wal
y $50 an ii,.ng zoo lasiH
lasfe Ntg, many bright lolles Who chez
lshrd . SCENT brllsi ~ Lssnafds nark.,
pfeirfshes, yet ihe gap h,.a Has ualnaehe1
~ iLs uaEtllta gnssiisasd, snd hu 9as q n,
y Han, ia snfd snd ,hnaghl - be saanlss,,
70 40 l4g lslf 81 ll4lfg d.le sith Amls lette
igin3 uppa be hlg.st
!, "a sss nighl, ani hs sas slsne ~ lhs IN
/, IlIy tslpfs IA Ircallseisl ils p,luslss tbs,
- NliA aa inl9lsnt clIioslgy, he agsN u lisli
'n.iiar a. teleol giila ssf,ss, hs mslisls,
7. 20 sel.s, apss - aa1lssl 'slisa - >
"A lhc gotta
I ns,t la Hal slth isst ssns...la