The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-03-30

lolSIER MINE. klU TeduJ ours Oh
the 18th came to hand, and have meant
to answer it before. The fact is, am
deep in love with young lady-Clarice
Wilmer, of whom you've heard me
speak, and am afraid she don't return it.
You know that 1 am so confounded
bashful 1 daren't speak a word to her
about it, and neither can write. Some
times 1 think I've got the necessary
courage, but when meet her it vanishes
like dew before the sun, and I'm big
ger fool than ever. know she thinks
that I'm fool, but 1 can't help it'd
rather face battery of mitrailleuses, or
any other engine of destruction, than a
pretty woman, any time, and Clarice is
the fairest, sweetest, and most beautiful
young lady ever saw
Here followed three whole pages of
lovers rhapsody, interspersed with wall
ings of despair, and then the letter
wound up thus:
"I've asked her to the opera to-mor-
row night, and if she goes, It's possible
that may learn my fate"
"Three o'clock-can it be possible Z"
cried Charley, glanclng at the clock, and
stufiing his letters into two envelopes,
which he backed in awful haste. The
mail goes out in half an hour. 1 shall
be late, as sure as fate"
And paying no heed to the rhyme,
and little to the letters, he grasped his
hat and started for the post-office.
Clarice smiled her brightest when
Charley called for her next night, but
he fancied there was mischief in her
eyes, which perhaps was not quite all q
fancy. At the opera she talked and
laughed between the scenes in such a
way that he was quite bewildered. He
did not learn his fate, and after he got
home felt worse than ever.
Next day he got letter from his
sister.
81 am very sorry" wrote she, Z" but /
could not well come on two hundred
miles, simply to attend an opera. L
suppose, however, the invitation was in
tended for another person, and it"
go Jove, l am undone" said Charley,
dropping the missive to the floor, and
breaking out in cold perspiration. 81
sent the letters wrong, and now 1 have
done it brown. What will Clarice think
of me? 2"
Driven to desperation at last, he
plucked up courage and hurried to
Clarice's residence.
"Is Miss Wilmer in Z" he asked the
servant who answered the bell.
"Yes :" and he speedily found himself
in the parlor, and face to face with his
inamorata.
"I-I-did you receive-a note from
me the other day, Miss Clarice z" he
stammered, wishing the floor would give
way and precipitate him into the cellar.
"Ah Yes-I ask your pardon, Miss
Wilmer, for the inadvertency. 1 meant
"Oh, you need not apologize, Mr..
Winter. rather like it, assure you.
You did not try your fate at the opera,
though. Why didn't you?"
How mischievous her eyes were spark
ling! A faint crimson dyed her cheek,
and, altogether, Charley looking at her
slyly, thought he never saw her look so
pretty.
"But the annoyance"
"It wasn't an annoyance. l was
pleased"
Charley's heart thrilled suddenly with
hope. He took one step forward.
You say that it was no annoyance.
Dare l believe you care for me:"
The faint glow deepened suddenly.
"You may" she said.
If Charley's friend, Tom Ridgely, had
dropped in five minutes later, he would
have thought Charley's bashfulness was
all a sham. 1t never troubled him again.