Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1872-08-03
opened it and looked at the signature.

ter of minute. He rubbed his eyes,
cliafed his forehead With bis hand,
took a glass of water, then read the
letter, which was as follows:
q Mr.. MARTIN Sir: Both your LEI
ters reached me. When | read your
tirst one | was almost tempted. to
answer it, because | was SO curious to
know where you had seen me-. and
how you had obtained my address
but the propriety OF so readily -con
senting to open a correspondence
with an entire stranger was not quite
clear 20 inc. Your second letter reach
ed me yesterday, and, confident OF
your sincerity, have. concluded to re-
ply. In the first place, L. can,iot
imagine what you see In me to admire.
Ny friends have not generally pro
nor,nced me beautiful. / fear 1t is an
intatuation on Your part from which
you i,iay awake suddenly. by-and,by.
| am willing you should see me; but,
rot to act with undue haste, l must
stipuiate that you do not call for two
months-if at the end of that time
you ARE still convinced that yOu enter
tam Tor me true, manly regard, am
willing that We should meet. Re-
iiiemoer, however, that haye rot
seen ,ou-do not know how yop will
impress me--and therefore cannot
give YOU the slightest encouragement
to hope for my regard. 1t is only at
ygur earnest request that concede SO
much.'
Tom was delighted. He could not
have hoped for a more favorable re-
sponse. He saw in this letter an
evidence of modesty, good sense, and
"a generous heart that was willing TO
deal fairly with Il man of sincerity and
uprightness. He wrote, and told her
as muck.
| = ,iiimtlsr Sfc5iriils;un:cationa passed
between them, and Tom came TO fancy,
rnni tie Increased fiiendliness and
i col,tiderice visible in her letters, that
she was beginning to like him: II SO,
he might hops. icr great results when
she shoald see I,im-f0r Tom was an
uilcommonly handsome fellow, il he
did know il himself.
j Two r,rii;Dntils relied by, and it was
Tile a kind OF happy dream to Tom.
The anticipation of the JOY that was
to come lightened every hour, and his
heart was unchanged; 40 it. was
mutually agreed that, on q certain
Wednesday evening, his fair CORES
pondent would receive him at No. 800
:, Mark Street.
His heart was betting with unusual
violence when he rang the door-bell.
A servant came to the door, and, on
|, saying that he wished to sea Miss
Wright, ushered him into well-light.
ell parlor.
Telling him to be seated, the ser
want Withdrew, saying she would eali
Miss Wright immediately.
Then Tom found himself alone, and
T he sat three listening to the beating
, of his heart, which, it seemed, could
not stay in there any longer.
At last he heard light footsteps on
the hall stairs; then the rustling ol
female garments in the hall; then the
door Cpened, and a person entered
Tom could not look up a. first, aud
thought he must be fainting.
But he summoned the last atom o
D courage in his nature; then arose, and
confronted the young lady.
{, miss Wright, -
But he started as though he bad
1 stepped on some carpet tacks, and
uttered an exclamation-almost q
g scream@becaa,lse aal:;,. tie being before hin
was not the same he had 6een ant
!. adored at first sight III that kalp,
= street car nor was she so beautiful
; On the contrary, the person before bin
was strikingiy plain, ard her very ag
commanded respect. She was a mus
e eular person, with AN angular Iac'
:, and had she been attired in NAL
:, habilinents, she would have passes
:. for small man of thirty-ive. ~
d "Mr. Martin, 1 believe she sal
n with smile. =
: Tom was fairly stunned, but 6
a ecuIi not delay speaking any lcnge
. Yes; but--biiss Wright ht--l-
). "Exactly. That is my name. B
seated, Mr.. Martin. l have bee
70 quite pleased with your letters"
e "Bnt," said the amazed youn
man, 'syou are not Miss Wright, al
y yonF
IN Ill