The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1873-04-03

ping in my note, l sealed and address
sed it.
Now, who shall post them 2 in.
CURED Belle,
We vii! go together and each
post her own, answered Bella.
And to this we agreed, and sailed
forth.
Scarcely had we deposited our mis-
sives in the letter.box, when Belle
, exclaimed
There, now, girls. havn't we emade
muss of il How have we better
ed the matter? They are all signed
Belle Conway, and If Mr.. Clarendon
does not know Of our respective
modes of orthography, how will he
be able to distinguish between us,
any more than before ?
A week passed, and Belle declared
her belief that Mr.. Clarendon had
been so entirely overcome by finding
that he had offered himself TO and
been accepted by three girls, that he
had either quilted the country or
committed suicide.
That evenings mail, however,
brought the anxiously looked for
epistle. As before, Belle got it, and
as before we were in my room.
1t Is addressed to Miss B. Conway
this time! Worse and worse Who
shall open it !? she cried, as she way
cd it above her head.
l dnrst not move or speak, lest
they should see how l trembled, Tor
within this week l had grown to re:
alize more and more how bitter
would be my disappointment if |
found either of my cousins the favor
ed one.
Bella half rose, as il to take letter,
then suddenly changing her mind
sank back Into her char while the
color mounted in rich waves TO her
brow.
what, no demands Then LII
read it myself-to myself l have
great mind to add, since no one else
seems to care to claim it,
And she laughingly broke the seal
and drew out the note.
why, what's this?' she exclaimed
in astonishment, as something else
teli from the envelope to the floor.
"A photograph-his own, suppose,
STOPPING to pick it up. Not is a
laly's. Why, it is yours, Bluebell
Conway. How came he by this 2
she cried, flying up to me. You are
a shy little thing, Bel. Did you give
him this, and know all the Time that
it was you he mcant?'
Aud she shook mo playtul,y as she
spoke.
Indeed, knew nothing Of the
sort, l began, conscious that lay
face was covered with teil.tala blush.
es. But Bella interrupted me with
cold, sharp
please read the note, Belle, or
hand it to me-
I'll read it myself, thank you,' an
swered Belle, sauoily, and opening
the sheet began AT once.
DEAR MISSES CONWAY
oh, Dear he is actually going to
court the whole three of u.s. she
commented.
Be quiet, Belle, and 60 on com,
mandsd Bella.
How can do both ? inquired she
resuming:
i have just received your notes,
having been absent from the city for
some days. | thank you all for your
kind treatment OF my blunder, and
am grateful tor the three photographs
The one | enclose is the likeness of
the Miss Conway to whom | intended
to address my former letter. May l
hope for an answer from her !?
Most truly and respectfully,
EDWARD CLARENDON
Three photographs. What does
he mean? Who sent him photo.
graphs2 did not, for one. Belle
Conway. what have you been doing?
she cried, sizing my hands away from
my face.
Twas trying to realize the truth
that it was I who loved the chosen
one. And at first l hardly compre-
hended wat Belle asked.
well, l SAID, Which did you
mean? and signed Bel Conway.
Wasn't that short and sweet enough?
Now tell yours
oh, I thanked him for the honor,
but thought / was not quite ready to
emigrate t. Utah, which you know
he would be Obliged to 60 with three
wives
For shame, Belle how could you?
said Bella, speaking for the first time.
'Oh, dare say you did just as bad
CONFESS now, what you wrote, cried
Bella, gaily.
we were not to tell each other,
answered Bella, coldly, and an EN-.
barassing silence seemed gathering
around us, which we were all
glad to have broken by the entrance
OF Bridget, our good natured Irish
girl, whe had not been q great while
with us.
Sure, Miss, there's a strange jim.
tleman down stairs asking for ye.'
| 'For me-? l asked, wondering how
it could be.
! Miss Bell Conway was what be
said, replied Bridget.
That means any or all Of us, said
Belle. Come on, girls! Let's all 6
down together, or no. we will go II
Indian file, each assuming on her en-
trance that she is the individual in