The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-05-09

T for poor man. hope when size ma
~ ries it will be a rich one
o Il hope so too,' said I.
h "Eh ?" asked my mother, sharpl,
J. Then she went On with her knitting wit
a puzzled face, There had been
meaning in my words which [ had nc
+ expected her to fathom but [ think sd
did.
r ssAfter mother had gone to bed I wen
; upstairs and brought down my whiting
, desk There were some sheets OF pape
!, and some delicate envelopes, which ha'
7 been there for months stored within
r and silver pen and pen-handle, which
had been a birthday present in my
, schooldays.
I took them out, and the ink-bottlf
+ also. The ink was thick, for we d,
not write much-either of us-and
, brought the vinegar-cruet from the clos
ct and thinned it to my liking. Then
sat down and looked at the paper. Their
| went to the stairs and listened to see
that mother was not coming down. Then
| actually seated myself, squared my el'
bows, and began to write. This is what
| wrote:
DEAR Miss HARROW am coward. Not
| hope, in one sense, but certainly as regards
you. For year have loved you. Yet no
more would have dared to say SO than I would
have dared had you been queen Perhaps
because do not cherish hope that you like
me.
Tomorrow you and I will ride together
Tomorrow had made up my mind to try my
fate, bur know shall not dare to speak
So, write. | will give you this letter to read
at home. If the answer be No." it will be
well enough of me to be my wife some day?
love you better than my life, and will DO
all man can to make life happy for you. With
a little hope can make my way in the world
as other men do. | am young and strong and
not utterly ignorant. If am to have that
hope, give me some sign-give line, your
name only, anything to show me what you
mean. If am to be miserable-w then,
make me no answer Silence shall mean mo"
| could not bear to see you or to speak to you
! after that.
This is an awkward love-letter no doubt.
l am not used to writing letters of any kind of
any one before. That must be its excuse.
But were it ever so elegant it could not mean
more. For offer you all the love of my heart
The only love | have ever felt or shall ever
know. ALMON CRAIG.
sealed this note in the daintiest en-
velope | possessed, and wrote Hepsy
Harrow's name on the back, aud [ hid
it, and the desk from mothers eyes.
Sharp eyes that looked after me anx-
iously as drove away with old Dob
bin and the little red sleigh the follow
ing evening.
She was ready for me. Ny mothers
hint was in my mind, and I looked
at her dress. All l discovered was that
it was blue; but her furs were good. I
could judge Of turs.
"She must marry rich man, or one
on his way wealthward," I said. She
shall, too. I've more to start with than
Washington had. And l tucked her
into the sleigh, and drove off to the
place of meeting.
1t was a pleasant drive, and a merry
dance and supper; but as tbs time went
on [ felt glad that I had written the
letter. For | could not have said what |
il would say for me. It was at the last
moment when we We're driving home
ward that | mustered courage to ask her
for the little reticule she carried, as the |
other girls did, with a brush and some
flowers in it, [ think, for they had
touched up the curls and braids after
the windy ride before the dance.
g Why do you want it," she asked.
-" 70 put something in it which YOU
must not look at till you reach bom4," I
said. -: g.. ....t: -5.-.a, ..g ~a.'s..
i You arouse my curiosity," she ans.
wered. II shall look the instant I have
a lamp ..s Il .-:-.1 +. ''.
And as she spoke I had dropped in
the letter and snapped the clasp. II /
Not a word more could I speak. But
at the door I tried, for the first time, to
kiss her. Her lips eluded mine, and l
dared not repeat the attempt.
/ took the red sleigh home and waited,
waited hopefully as I knew afterwards,
for an answer. None came-a day,
week, a mouth. L hen all hope was
over. I had seen her. She had given
me little cold, smileless bow. / was
rejected. ....: ..~.rr
Mother" said, that night, "we
must have some one to farm the place.
I'm going to some city," i
Why 2" said she.
ITO make my fortune" said. .
For that girl-the school-ma am 2"
'sked my mother bitterly. 49, 1.~ |,
NO" said I; " never for her. l.,
Mother sknelt down besiaauusaarssIl 7
lat on low stool Sidudl = nef hahds
a nets and looked in nv face.
lallg4e didn't dare refuse you2" she
aid. Boy, I know you are in trouble.
I'm your mother. Tell me- ~.
/