The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1868-05-30

fate5but know shall not dare speak, SO l
write will give you this letter to read at
hope, If the answor bc;i"No,'' it will be
oasieer for both Of U.S., Will ypu try and think
ehdAgh of mc to be. my wife some day?
Elove you better than | do my, life, and 1
wilfdo all man can to make life happy for you.
With little hopo I can make my way in tho
world as other men do am young and strong,
andsaot utterly ignorant If l am to have that
hope, give me line, your ,nan.o only, anything
to show ME what you mean. IF l, am to be
miserable; well, then make no answer.
Silence shall mean ''no." could not bear to
see you or speak to you after that. ''s'i
This is an awkward love letter, 10 doubt.
! am not used to writing letters of any kind Of
late. never wrote or said word Of lovo to
any one before. That must be its excuse
But twcre it ever SO elegant it could not mean
more. For offer MI the love in my heart
The only love ever felt or shalt ever know.
ALMoN CRAIG
[ sealed this note in the dainticst envelope
I possessed, and wrote Hcpsy Harlow's name
OH the back, and hid it in tho desk from mo-
TIERS eyes; sharp eyes that looked after me
anxiously as l drove away with old Dobbin
and the little red sleigh the, next morning,
She was ready for me. My mothers lint
was in my mind, and looked at h-r dress
All I discovered was that it was blue; but
her fiirs were good; could judge of furs.
"Shc must marry rich man, said.--
'She shall, too. I've more to start with thai,
Washington had" And | tucked her into
the sleigh and drove off to;tlte lHasting.
1t was q pleasant drive, aus6s merry dance
and supper; but as the time SSsssss SSsss on I felt
glad that had written Il letter For I could
not have said what it said for me. 1t was at the
last ,nonlent< when were driving homcwartl
! that | mustered courage to ask her for the
little rcticulc she carried as the other girls did
with y brush and some flowers in it, think
for tllcy had to toucl. up their curls and braids
after tnc windy ride before the dance
s.Nhysdo you want it Z" she asked
'sT:$ rht something III it which you must not
tsops- ! gltfif yud reach home said
"Yo u arouse my curiosity" she answered
II shah look the i,,st:,n; have lamp" l
And as she spoke had dropped in the let
ter and snapped the clasp.
| Nota word more could speak. But at :lit
door tried, for the first time. to kiss her
Her lips cludcd mine. and dared not repeat
| the attempt
| took the rcd sleigh home and waited, wait
ed hopefully, as knew afterwards, for an an
swrr. None came; day, week, a month
Then all the hope was over. ! had seen her
She lax, given me Il little, cold, smilclcsa bow
| was rejected.
Mother" l said that night, 'wc must have
some one to farm the place. I'm going tc
some city"
"Why?" she asked
"'ro make my fortune" said.
''For that girl-tle school ma am q nsle
my mother. bitterly.
No." said, '.ncycr for her"
| Mother knclt down beside me AS l sat OH t.
low stool. She put her hands OH my shoulder
and looked in my face.
! "Shc didn't dare refuse your" she said
"l'oy, know you arc i'll trouble Tin yom
mothm. Tell me-"
"Shc did not accept NO. said I. a.
The naughty mink! said my mother. "I-'
Then she burst into tears.
"And that's to part us p she said.
Not if you'll 90 with me- answered
But she could not leave her homo, and |
went alone. In the frosty morning, as l turn
cd to look back at the littlc village, from tho
top Of !..,c old stage, saw the children filing