The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1866-08-04

sir, that she sent the money. ] would
stake my life on her honor"
ooh, very well, sir, excuse mono
offence intended, Pm sure. But, you
know, | have not the pleasure of the
lady'5 acquaintance. BY the way, how
long have you known hcr-a long time,
presume.
The young gcntleman's cmbarrass-
ment was Vistbly increased as he replied,
"About six months"
"Mct her in Pennsylvania, I sup
pose"
Yes, that is, mo- can't say I did"
Where did you meet her?"
Why, ] can't say exactly don't
know as | have met her at all, to tell
the truth"
TELLING the truth seems to be a work
of time with you" remarked the agent
dryly. "Now, if you will be good
enough to give me light about what you
know of this young lady whom you
propose to marry, and upon whose hon
or yolt are willing to stake your life.
perhaps there may be some prospect of
getting at the facts of this mysterious
robbery, otherwise you need waste no
more time in this neighborhood"
"Wcll, if you must have it, here it
is: You see, about six months ago, |
Just for fun, you know advertised for
Il wife, and this young lady happened
to advertise for husband about the
same time, and we answered each others
advertisements. But then She was earn
cst-all on the square. Oh, yes" con-
tinucd he, observing perhaps an incred-
ulous smile on the countenance of the
agent, "shc was all right-wanted Il
husband-Wanted one bad. She was
situated in this way: she hadn't got no
father or mother, and was under the
charge of Il guardian, an old fellow
about fifty, and she's worth about
twenty thousand dollars there his eyes
glistcned covctouslyl, in her own right (;
this guardian he takes and puts her into
a boarding-school, and intends to force
her into marrying him. Shed rather
have some young fellow, of course
natural, isn't it? and so she takes and
adVCrtiSCs for husband. SO, aS | was
saying, answered her advertisement,
and she replied to my letter, and 50 We
gotup correspondence. Now, thCreain't
no humbug about her; | can tell when
II girl is in earnest; | know she's all
right the way she writes. SO about tive
: weeks ago she says in a postscript tc
| one of her letters, | wish you would
go to Stewards and get me five yard,
of broadcIOth, and send it to me by cX-
press. | want it for a cloak, and | will
send you the money just as soon as it
comes, and don't fail to let me know
just how much it is, for | do not wish
: you to be at any expense for me- SO
went to Stewards and got the cloth, and
! sent it by express, and wrote to hcrand
told her it was twenty-siN dollars, and
then she put the money into this letter,
and some darned thief in Il post-otlcC
has gone and stole it; that's all there is
about it."
"Oh, that's all :" said the agent, with
difficulty restraining the laughter which
this pitilul tale of love was calculated
to provoke. "Wcll, sir, there's no
doubt that you are very much abused
individual, and if you will call again in
about Il fortnight, | think | will be able
to give you some definite information
in regard to the matter"
"Thanll you, sir; only put that post
Office thief in state prison, and I'll he
satisfied, | don't care about the money
that is, | don't care so much about it ;
but if could get it back"
81 shall do everything possible, sir {;
good morning"
"GoOd morning, sir"
Punctual at the expiration of the fort
night, the victim Of the hcartless post
Office robbery presented himself to
hear the result Of the investigation,
The agent by writing one or two letters,
and availing himself of certain other
means ut his command, had in the
meantime entirely satisfied himself is
to the author of the outrage" and was
quite prepared for the visit.
"Good morning. Have you found
out who stole my money
"Yes, sir, think | have"
81 am glad TO hear it; did you get
any of it back?"
"Not cent"
"Well, suppose he's to State prison
by this timc?"
"Not0s | know of; but it is not inn
possible that he may reach that institu'
ton one of these days. Here's letter
which will perhaps explain the matter
better than | can. ! received il II few
days since from Pennsylvania.
The young man rocognized at once
his Emily's handwriting, and haatcned
10 read the following:
-, PENNsYLvANGA, January 10, 1856.
MIR. -, PoST-OFFGCE AGENT: Dodr Sir,--l lin,
you have been making some inquiries about tina
twrnty-slX dollars | sent lin hornl to George y
Well you may tell him for me that that broad
cloth is invested in trSt-cltsS shanghai over
coat. You may also tell him that don't gu t.
hoariing-schonl as much a'I dil; also that don.
ibnlou. any more to the spd sex" though thinl
he does. You might mention, while you ar
about it, that when | get that twenty thousnnD
dollars, / will send him half Of tin the sun
way rs l sent the other. Also tell him " Ever O
Thcc,' Yours truly,
EMILY MELVILLE or any other mani,
There was II deep silence during th'
reading of this cpistle in thc Office of th'
agent who had Con-iderately turned
his back while the unhappy victim wa
I1..,,,,i,.r Of lii nru-tnl =, If;.ati,n M,