The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1871-01-31

gers letter vcxed Belle bat for amoment,
As her eyes glanced At the suPerscripuon
and handwriting
"Why, Of an things exclaimed the
delighted girl sairlng the letter "why,
Rosa. this i Jennie Marcy's writing, and
addressed to Richard Marcy-hcr only
darling brother-who was in Europe
when we two graduated At Madam Rit-
ter's In Brooklyn
Belle read rapidly till she had reached
the middle Of the letter, when she burst
into a merry laugh.
Hear this, Rosa" she said, and she
read from the letter:
3 Above an things, Dick, dear, don't
fall while In 81, Louis TO see my best
friend and schoolmate, Belle Alden. !
know you viii fall in love with her, for
besides being the best girl ia the world,
she's best girl in the world, she's beauty
and an hciress, and fathers choice above
an Others for his sons wife. He used 10
talk il over al home, and hope Belle
would not marry before you came home
from Europe. She is full as anxious to
know you, aud wears your hair aud mine
in a locket father gave her last year.
Give her lots OF love, and beg Of her to
overlook your many imperfections, for
the sake Of her old sehool-fellow, Jen-
ME" ........ .- ...--.
Then this gentleman is, Of course,
Miss Jennie's BROTHER" said Rosa, aud
what will she say when she hears Of your
having met in this romantic way?"
"a don't intend to tell her of it till go
to New York this fall, said Belle. per
haps her brother will call"
But in this supposition Belle was
wrong. The month passed, and she saw
no more ofthe golden-headed Richard.
And she carefully separated the yellow
lock in the little keepsake from the dark
tress Of Jennie's and put It back into its
place alone, while another locket held a
bit of Jennie's. And someway Belle
looked very often at the wee golden curl,
aud she never did 50 but the rest of the
handsome head sprang up beside the lock
and she would sit and contemplate the
picture her fancy wrought for her, little
dreaming the interest she was allowing to
grow in her bosom for Jennie's brother.
In the fall, Belle and her father went
to New York, and the first day after her
arrival found her sitting with her old
friend, who, after the first ELUSIVE meet
ing was past, sat down to empty her soul.
"Pm so glad you are here this month";
Jennie said, because I'm to be married in
October, and have always been crazy to
have you for bridesmaid, and Dick is to
be Harry's best man"
Belle blushed.. .....-.
"But Dick has fallen hopolessly, madly
in lovew
Belle turned pale. ...... ... ..
eyes, was so dreadfully provoked
when he passed through st. Louis anG
never went near you. But he went wilC
over some lady he met on that fatal trip
ole viii talk to me by hours of hi
Angelica. And when have spoken o
| you he has been positively rude, anC
asked me to have done bothering hin
about my freckled school friends--yor
know your picture shows freckles, bu
bless me, you haven't any now. AnC
your picture don't look any more like yol
any more than it does like me, not bit.
'But tell me-" said Belle, sis you
brother engaged to this ladyT
Engaged! Why, dear heart, he dom
know her name. He just found some o
her old clothes somewhere. He's got he
old slippers under glass case; he's go
her gloves stuffed under another; he's go
| night gown done up in lavender; he's 90
her gold thimble hung on hi
watch chain and | believe he's got hal
brush and some hair-pins next his heart
! Oh, it's folly to interfere. He's beyon,
all hope did think the excitement q
my wedding would wean him from il
! but not bit. He looked at my nel
things as calmly as an oyster, and onl
+ said-it's not kind of me to repeat il
though" broke off Jennie.
"What was it he said2'' inquired Belle
laughing now, heartily. "Don't fear fo
my feelings"
"Why, be said, I'll stand up with you
friend Belle, and see you safely married
and then rm of to winter in Paris. II
done with love on my account, Jennie
It's positively awful"
Aud so Belle thought, as she looked
her old slipper and glove lying beneath
? globe on either side the faithful Richard
=, mantle, .......
"And," said Belle, "since he desirt
only to meet me on the morning of Il
wedding, so II shall be. will be intr
/ duced only as we are leaving the hous
!, and he can do as he pleasss about conti
uing the acquaintance afterward .
Belle was radient with happiness wbt
Ie she returned to her father, and deligh,
1f his fond heart by the change, for Bel
l. had been very quiet Of late
B. Jeunie and Belle shopped and talk
'e and visited together for the next few da
r. and then the eventfui morning arrive
n aud amid beyy Of beautiful girls, Be
E. shown like a queen. Even the bride W
!. ecIpsed, and she delightfully."- acknov
b edged IL.
20, Belief she said, II long to ha
y Old sloical Dick see yoa--harkl der,
his aep. Come into the next room nc