The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1867-01-17

ters and carry them TO his room was but
the work OF IA moment; and after read
ing them and induIging in a hearty
laugh, lie proceeded to carry on the
joke by sitting down and writing to
each gay Lothario ; assuring Ben OF Miss
Poc's appreciation Of the compliments
bestowed, and her willingness to take
part in correspondence and telling
Frank Of his inability TO eEprcsa her
gratitude for her kindness in proGering
ne" sympathy for onc in distress, and
went on with such Il torrent OF thanks
aud expressions OF esteem that he was
perfectly beside himself with joy, VOW
ing he would 20 kuee-decp, il blood
and thunder for her.
For the next few weeks things went
s|immiugly, Frank received as many
as three letters week from the fair un-
known, in which she informed him she
was the daughter Of a very wealthy but
not retired merchant, who was very
strict with her, and permitted her to
mingle in society but very seldom, aud
then only under his own personal super
vision that she had no one to love, and
all that sort OF fbino, until ot lenctb
moor Franks fceliDos we're worked nm to
such q rilch that he determined to So,
her !, he could rel her nermiss,on to do
so aud in his next letter he begged her
to allow him to cal! on her when he
came TO Boston. which he cznected 70
do in = short time.
This she consented to do. only On the
same terms she was corresponding with
him, and that was the most profound
secrecy, she having both friends and re.
lations in New York and if they once
got an iukling OF what was going on they
would expose her to her father, and then
his wrath would be terrible.
To these terms he readily consented
and kept his promise too, for he was Il
true gentleman, though so romantic
He informed her that he shoul1 be in
Boston week from that date, and OF
course as her father would not be willing
iot him to see her at his residence, the
only course to pursue would be for her
to indicate where and at what time he
could see her. In reply she named a
place for him to 90, and the hour. stat
ing that he would find Il trustworthy
servant waiting there to conduct him 70
her, and he would know She servant by
a white ribbon, which he would wear in
his coat, and desiring Frank to wear Il
bit Of rcd ribbon, that the servant might
recognize him.
Meanwhile Ben was maxine fair
progress with his corresnopdnrrc md
aIthouoh he often hintaa to Fr,nL
about n youpo lodv in Ro.tor st;n bo
had also nromised si;onco aud 6,~nd
NOT tell him the c;rcnmst,ncos Uo
had proposed IN annointmonf 10 his f,;r
bnt unknown cbormo, and sbo IN ro,,r,,
told him She won|a he most borng =, -
SEQ him but iustor.bot tiwo j. v.,l rL'; ;,,
possible for her to comply with his re
quest, but that she would appoint a
place of meeting in q few DAYS aud
sure enough the very next letter inform.
ed him that if he would be at certain
place at Il certain hour, (naming the
identical time and snot she did TO Frank
he would see a servant wearing a red
ribbon, who would guide him to her
presence, and that the servant mich,
recognize him, she requested him to
wear a white ribbon in his buttonhole.
On the evening before the day an,
pointed for the meeting Frank, iavirg
informed his employers that nc was
about to visit Boston that evening, and
placing the collar that was now so pre-
cious in his sight, in one corner OF his
valise, left New York in the evening
train, arrived IN Boston the next morn
Ing and proceeded at once to ono oFthc
nrincip"l hotels, engaged room aud
went 10 Ded IN order to be. in good trim
i9r me meeting tAaS was TO take pIac-
tha1 afternoon.
But sleep was entirely out Of the