Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-01-03
LEONARD wATsoN's LETTER


She was sitting in the prettiest OF bedrooms,
writing busily; sometimes the blue eyes filled
with mirth, as the rapid pen jotted down some
odd COZ ceit or queer expression; again she
would toss hack her bright curls, and saucy
smile would cross her pretty mouth, as mis-
chief flowed from the small golden point OF
her weapon. One after another. the little
sheets OF note paper were filled with dainty
ehsra cters, folded, and slipped into the snowy
envelopes. Suddenly the pretty writer paused.
Resting her little dimpled chin on her hand,
smiling light, the rosy mouth folded into q
sweet earnest gravity, as she sat buried In
thought.
"If / only dared !" she whispered-"if on.
y dared" Then with quick impulse, che
sele cted sheet of paper somewhat larger than
those she had been using, and began 70 write
again, not as before merry and Careless bat
with deep esrnestnees, the rapid pen evidently
tracing verbs OF grave import and weight.
Once she paused, and, folding her little hands.
raised her eyes in prayer. AS she sealed the
directed 1t, in clear, pretty hand, and then
placed IL carefully in her writing desk. Again
she continued her task, sometimes a scrap OF
verse, a saucy quotation, or even an address,
filled the sheet, but oftener little graceful
note was written and folded. She was busy
when laughing voices in the hall made her
pause.
"Come right up, girls. am in my ROOM
she called.
And in answer to the summons, four gay
bellies of Clairev'lle came danein into the
Amyr
"Oh, ever so many! don't know Let me
zee yours"
And a shower Of snowy billets fell from
eight white hand into her lap, while the four
girls eagerly opened and read the missives
upon the table.
"We've sold every ticket" cried Leonora
Darcy, the brunette, whose charms had set
half Claireville In ferment
"Anr' said Amy. "That hall will be
YES .aid pretty Mabel Lee, .'and every.
body says the post. oftice will be the most at
traetive feature OF OR fair. ! am so glad You
suggested 1t, Amy. And II IT was late, we've
got good pile of letters written"
There" said Amy, signing note with ''tia.
brieIla," in the most minute characters,
ounce Of brains. I'm utterly exhausted!'
"But, Amy, you won't feel exhaused to-mor-
row." said demure Susy Jones, "when we
hand dear Mr. Rivers ,h nice sum OF money 70
THAT dreadful fret! said Amy, shudder-
ing. "Mother says she don't approve of fairs
generally; but when ones minister is burned
cut, and the money won't come in fast any
other way, why, she'll bake cakes and make
pincushions with the best Of us"
"And then. you know" said Mabel, earnest:
ly, "there win be NO railing or cheating, and
the articles are all pretty, and good OF tneir
kind"
"Girls. is it not time to dress," said Susy,
consulting wee watch at her belt. "We
open at seven"
..The tables are all ready"
True but IL is after five now, and every
body wants time for at least one extra touch to
their hnery, when they must face all Claire.
VILE"
"Scatter, them" said Amy, Laughing. "Run
home, all OF you! Leave the letters here; will
take care of them. am TO be pOstristress
you know"
met a bit Of it" said Leonora. "You are
only TO Sit in the back ground and di rect the
envelopes, which / will deliver to anxious in.
sulrers
"Whew! how important we arer' was the
merry answer: and the laughing group dis.
the large hall at Claireville was brilliantly
illt INMATE when, tw o hours later. the youn
girls announced all in readiness for opening
lhe doors. The pretty tables, tasteful decora-
tlons, and groups of lovely girls made nc
mean picture. and Clairevllle walked about
admired, and above all. purchased to the full
content OF the lair origiBators OF the entertain
ment Hidden away from sight by the full
feds Of a curtain, Amy sat shrlned IN the post
Office, answering LeonOra's call for letters.
Busy excitement had flushed her fair cheeks,
and. ~ her pen Traced familiar names. one al
ter another, smiles chased each other over lips
and eyes. Suddenly call from Nora made
her turn pale, her fingers trembied as she
drew from her bosom the letter she lad writ
ten with q prayer. 1t was fully directed, yet
she hesItaed, holding it as if reluctant to let it
"Corne, Amy. Is there nothing for Mr..
Leonard watson" cried Leonora.
The letter WAS slipped through the appoint
ed place in the curtain, and Amy drew Qulck
~ uoice that said. THANK you, Miss Dacy "
If he is angry" she whispered. III he
should be angry:
But Leonard Watson had slipped the letter
eareIpssly INTO the breast pocket OF his coat,
ard was saunteriDg In his usual lazy manner
down the hail. He WAS tall, handsome man
with broad forehead and large eyes which
spoke well for his heart and intellect: but with
the blaze air and deboanatre manner OF one FOL
whom the world had offered its pleasures tc
safety, and who had not learned ID lock fol
N EfH1t q Ia yETHr
Glare vile spoke well OF Leonard Watson
The girls admired his courty gailantry, bis
polished manner, and boneyed words; the
wines, his horses, and his good temper tht
older heads were ready to worship his wealth
hi. birth and POSITION only here and there q
word was whispered OF late revels at Fair
bank, of an occasional lapse into ineoriety, OIL
dropped hint that "young Watson was living
too fast"
There were many bright bellies who cherish
ed a secret belief of Leonard's married prefer
ence, yet the gay heart was untouched, the
burdened soul unsatisfied, ard he " as fret
man, in word and thought, as he sauntered W
the fair at Cisireville with Amy's letter lyini
upon his breast.
I was mig at and he was alone In ht. library
before he recollected the misslve; then, witt
An INCIDENT curiosity, lac dre W ii forth som,
nat school girl verses, he muttered, ''or worse
a dose Of fiaitery yelled by on incog nita.
At first he read with 8 lazy expression O
lnocking nPon his lips; but, as tne lives wer'
mans soul was aroused to thought and inter
est. Hot, angry Pushes chased each other over
his brow, yet he did not finch; every word OF
the appeal, though il stuDg him with its scorch
tng truth and searching questions, vas pnr
sued faithfully, till at the end, the dainty sig.
nature, "Ionr sincere friepd," found him &c
rious and sad.
"It is ali true" he said, in low tone, risin,
ana pacing the floor with a quick yet syel
step. al am wasting All Coos blessings
ssqnv hsaisb uicTediv ss19oilshly; pndermia
in folly, if not in vice. How saruest,v sh
writes and her dear brother, seems from ha
very heart. Who wrote i'll Ha! the san
hand on the enveiope "a inside, and IL wa s Al.
rectsd by Amy Greyson. Amy Grsysoa ! 81
Ways thought her merry light hearted chfid
but this-this Is the letter OF q noble, earnss
christian trourdn How beautifully she writ.s
Yer--ye, how che despises me! How sh
iashss my fsliies and vices! With what bite
sareasm she questions my Counsel yet hoy
earnestly she iTnpleres me TO pause while TIER
IL ut tirne. and think Of " here the path