The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1866-12-22
miscellaneous,
FRANK BURTON;
OR,
The Story Of Paper Collar.
BY " NIK-NAx.."

" Well, declare, if here isn't another empty
collar box 7 said Frank Burton one evening !;
9 believe that chamberrnaid uses them to build
the fire with. Now what am to do don't
believe / shall have time to send for any more,
for it's getting late hut must have some or
can't see my Susie Jane, and | wouldn't miss
seeing her for all the collars in creation So here
goes 7 and the sentence was finished by the jerk
ing of bell, in answer to which tow-headed
urchin made his appearance, and was dispatched
for box of EGray's best, with the incentive of
quarter if he would hurry.
with 6cSasa clerk in commission house,
was as fine generousadh when he chose to be he
low as one would meet in day-sa.xoung fell
rather of romantic turn of mind he was pas
sionately fond of yellow covered literature : and
to lose himself in the mysteries of good story
was his delight; and he had even declared his
intention of writing a stunning story himself
&C when he got time
g Here's yer collars Mister Frank exclaimed
tow-head, suddenly diving into the room
" Here's yer collars-size fourteen" And pock-
citing his quarter, he made his exit as suddenly
as his appearance had been, to reyel in the
dreams of lasses candy which that stamp would
buy.
Frank hastily threw off the lid, seized one,
placed his neck-tie between the folds, and was
about to button it on when something on the
inside caught his eye. Holding it nearer the
light he saw traced on the shining surface in a
delicate female hand f" Miss Maggie Poe, Boston,
Mass
Here was mystery--a ladys name in paper
collar evidently written by herself, and for what
purpose These were the thoughts that flashed
through Franks brain. Perhaps she was in
trouble and captive-some unrequited love
or a cruel father at any rate he determined to
unravel the mystery. But how At length he
doto fnh dnrlarn himself her
champion-her avenger. With this idea firmly
fixed in his mind he took out his memorandum
book and iotted down I" Miss Maggie Poe, Bos-
ton, Mass;" and laying the collar carefully away
| in one corner of his drawer for future eXamlna-
ton, he hurriedly proceeded with his toilet, for
he had made an engagement to take Miss Susie
to the opera that evening and besides, his
chum, Ben Fenton, was to call at his room ana
| go with him to see Susles sister Emma. lie was
| expecting him every moment light footstep
on the stairs and merry voice singing famil-
lar air convinced him that somebody about Ben S
| size was coming, which conviction was further
strengthened by the unceremonious opening OF
the door, and in stalked Ben eXclaiming,-
| "What not ready yet Here, Eve been ready
this hour What slow coach you are, to be
sure But hurry up ~
While Frank was hurrying himself nearly TO
death, Ben very coolly sat down. and picking
up the memorandum-book saw written in 1t ;
| &C Address found in collar /; Miss Maggie Poe,
! Boston, Mass
This set him to thinking Now you must
know Ben was very fond of corresponding with
the Young ladies, and here, thought he is a fine
opportunity for commencing correspondence
| So while Franks back was turned, and without
| SAYING word to him, he very quietly transfer
red the address to piece of paper, put it in his
pocket, and by the time Frank was ready he had
! made up his mind that he would have a cores
pendent in Boston before week.
A few days after if you had examined the
| evening mail from New York to Boston, you
might have seen two letters therein addressed to
| Miss Maggie Poe, though in different handwri-
| tings. They were the mental productions OF our
! friends, Frank and Ben, both claiming to have
| found the address on the collar; one Of them de-
claring himself friend to all in distress, paric-
ularly to handsome young ladies, and desiring to
know if be could be of any service to her, and
signed sHope.n The other desiring correspon-
dence, making all sorts Of promises and protes'
tations, friendship and photographs included in
wer to both were TO be addressed to Station A.,
New York city,
ssSome letters for you at the office, Mr.. Smith,
said the clerk of the Boston Post Office one morn
ing to Bob Smith, the greatest practical joker IN
town and some for that dstantrelativeo OF yours
Miss Poe 81 hope she is well, " he added will
a grin. a.. Go.
livery we'll, assure you, said Bob; lin fact
you may always Judge of her welfare by myself
when am well she is well when I've got thu
smallpox, the mumps or the measles, she is al
fected likewise But must go around and ge
those letters"
To proceed to the Office, get the letters and car
nv them to his room was but the work of q mo
mentj and after reading them and indulging il
hearty laugh, he proceeded to carry on the jok
by sitting down and writing to each gay Lotha
rio assuring Ben of Miss Poes appreciation o
the compliments bestowed, and her willingness
to take part in correspondence and tellini
Frank of her inability to express her gratitud
for her kindness in proffering his sympathy TO
one in distress and went on with such torren
of thanks and expressions of esteem that he wa
perfectly beside himself with joy vowing h
would 90 knee-deep in blood and thunder TO
her !.
For the next few weeks things went swim
mingly, Frank received as many as three letter
a week from the fair unknown, in which she III
formed him she was the daughter of a very veal
thy but now retired merchant, who was very strlC
! with her, and permitted her to mingle in socie
ty but very seldom, and then only under hi
own personal supervision that she had no on
to love, and all that sort Of thing, until
length poor Franks feelings were worked up I
such pitch that be determined to see her If
could get her permission to do SO; and in hi
next letter be begged her to allow him to call
/. her when be came to Boston, which he expecte
to do in short time.