Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1868-05-22
The Old Red steign

After mother had gone to bed I went
up stairs and brought down my writing
desk. There were some sheets of psaDei
and some delicate envelopes, which had
been there for months, stirred within
and a silver pen aud pen handle, which
had been a birthday present in my
school days.
took them out and the ink bottle
also. The ink was thick, for we did
not write much-eithpr OF us-and
BROUGHT the VInegar-cruet from the
closet aud thinned it TO my liking.
Then I sat down and looked at the pa.
per. Then 1 went TO the stairs and lis
tened to see if mother WAS not coming.
Then 1 actually seated myself, squared
my elbows, and began to write. This
is what I wrote:
dear NJ ss Marion 81 am not a cow
ard Not, hope; in one sense, but
certainly as regards you. For a yeaI
I have loved you. Yet, no more would
nave dared to say so Than would had
you been a queen, perhaps because
do not cherish hope that you like me.
Tomorrow you and [ will ride to-
gethtr. Tomorrow ] had made up ul3
mind to try my fate, but know I shall
not dare to speak, so I write. I will
give you this letter to read at home.
If the answer be mo" it Will be east. T
for both OF US. Will you try and think
we'll enough of me to be my wife one
day?
love v0u better than I do my lif-,
and [ win do all man can do to make
life happy for you. With a little hope
I can make my way in the world a.
OIher men do. / am young and strong,
and not utterly Ignorant. II 1 am 10
have that hope, give me some sign-giVe
line, your name only, anything tu
show me what you mean. II I am t..
be miserable-W ell then make me NJ
answer. Silence shall mean "nO."
could not bear TO see you or speak t.
you after that.
This is an awkward love letter, ne
doubt. ! am Tot used to writing letters
of any kind of late. L never wrote OF
said word OF love to any one before.
That must be its excuse. But were il
ever so elegant It could not mean more.
For l offer all the love 1 have ever felt
or shall ever know.
ALMoN CRAIG.
/ sealed this note in the daiutIest en-
velOpe I possessed, and wrote Hepsy
HaTrOw's name on the back, ant
hid Il in the desk from mothers eyes A.;
sharp eyes, that looked BnxiuuslY as
drove away with old D .bUin and tn
little red sleigh the following evening.
She WAS ready Tor me. My mutner's
hint was III my mind, and I looked a.
her dress. Ali discovered was that it
WIS blue Ut her fuTs were good, anu
I csilIlu judge of furs.
''She must marry rich man, or one
on his way veal, b ward, J" l said ''She
shall too, I've more to start with than
Washington had " And 1 had tucked
her into the sleigh and drove OF to the
meeting.
1t was a pleasant drive, and a merry
dance and supper: but as the time Weni
on, I felt glad that 1 had written tn
!, tier. For could not have said wha3
il said for me. 1t Was at the last mo
ment when We were driving homewHrd
that I mustered courage 10 ask her fJT
the little reticule she carried, as the
Oiher girls did, with brush and sOmt
flowers in il, think, for they hal to
touch up he braids and curls after the
windy ride before the dance
"Why do you want it p she asked.
''TO put something in it. which you
mus not look at till you reach home"
I said.
"You arouse my curiosity" she an
swered. ~ shall lock the instant l
have a lamp"
And as she spoke had dropped in
the letter ami snapped the clasp.
Not n word more could I speak. But
at the door l Irird, for the first time To
kiss her. Her lips eluded mine, and /
dared not repeat the attempt.
took The red sleigh home and waited,
wall ed hopefully, as I knew AFTER
wards, for an answer. None came, a
week, a month. Then the hope was
over. had seen her. She had given
me a cold smileless bow. I was reiec-
ted.
Mother" I said, that night, "we
must have some one to work the place.
! am going to some city"
"W by, - she said.
"TO make my fortune" I said.
"For that giIl-the school ma'am ?"
asked my mother bitterly.
NO. said /, ''never for her."
Moth r knelt down beside me as I sat
on a low stool. She put her hands on
my shoulder, and looked IN my face.
"She didn't dare refuse you," she
said. "BOy know you are In trouble.
L'm your mother Tell me-"