Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-05-09

Tom, Il young fellow Just home from
college, entered, and, frightened at his
fathers expression of face, asked and
received an explanation.
Tom was bright young fellow, and
he at once remarked that it was hardly
worth while to take te apoplexy until it
note contained something wrong. He
suspected that it was written by the
mystery, loving Smythe, and he did not
doubt his ability to read it. The note
ran as follows
CRsM PsMx: TBDS XBC sYC sTFsXN
FHTr. osYYHYDUBY NPXULS.
In less than ten minutes Tom had
translated this innocent mystery into
the words Dear Mary, l love you
and always will. Pennington Smythe, :"
and thus banished his fathers doubt
and wretchedness. However, the old
man was angry enough to desire to give
the unfortunate Pennington a lesson
which he might remember. So when
the young man made his usual evening
call he was awaited in the parlor by the
incensed father and his greatly amused
son, and addressed in the following
stern and cruel words
"Mr Smythe, what do you mean by
writing to my innocent daughter in
such Infamous style as this, sir p and
he shook Pennington's letter before his
astonished eyes.
"Sir," replied the youth, "it is not
infamous. 1t is an entirely proper note.
All the world might see it.
''Then why the devil did you write
cl, - ol
the father.
"She is not to blame," hastily urged
Pennington, ju:iciously shirking the
main question. | assure you she never
can read them without my help, and
when she writes them she makes so
many mistakes that often I can't make
head or tail of them.''
"By them | suppose you mean the
letters written in cipher" replied Mr.
Morris. We'll, I won't add to your
trouble. Only let me advise you not to
write any more cipher notes, my boy.
Tom, here, read your note almost as
easy as if it had been written in print.
There, go along now, and don't be silly
agaln-at least any more than you can
help, You know" And the old man,
quite recovered from his anger, went
laughingly away.
Pennington fingered. Is it really
true, Tom, that you could read it
without key" lie doubtfully asked.
"Of course I could. Why, Pen,
there is nothing easier to read than that
sort of cipher. If you will write in
cipher-and l don't see why you
shouldn't if you want to, though you'll
find it beastly tiresome-T can tell you
Of a cipher that no one can possibly
translate.
elf you would be so very kind, MUIR
INJURED Pennington.
Why" continued Tom, "you select
some book. Then ont of the words in
this book you make your cipher. For
instance, you want to write DEAR as +
presume You do, and you find it, say,
on the twelfth page of the book in the
word in the line. You then represent
it by the numbers II, 2, 3. And SO with
the rest OF your note. You see, no hu-
man being could possibly read it unless
they happened to guess what book you
used"
Pennington was overioyed at this de-
lightfu plan, and, thanking Tom warm
ly, hastened to unfold the new cipher
to Mary. He felt a. perfect liberty to
disregard Mr. Morris advice not to
write in cipher, Tor he now decided that
Marys father would be iustifiably re-
garded as a ho4ry- ry-headed tyrant, bent
upon separating two loving hearts, and
and only fit to be circumvented by care
full strategy. So he selected novel, of
which he knew that both Mary and him
self possessed copies; explained the
new cipher with the utmost care, and
after he reached home put it in imme-
date practice by writing brief note and
sending it by post, as he would be I'M
able to see her next evening. This is
what he wrote:
35.9. 5-33. 3. .3-i5. t. t69 5. 9-65. As
81. 15.G-15. l. 1.4-771.1-S5. .9-S3.
4.2-S3. 8. g. 9.5.2-39. 2.6-117.5.5 ID
Tits
Now the book upon which this cipher
was based was printed in double col
umns. Unfortunately Pennington for
got to explain which of the columns he
intended to use. However, he decided
to use the outer column, trusting that
the other heart. which, as he frequently
remarked, was one of the two (which
beat as one, y would instinctively divine
his selection.
Two nights afterward he reached the
Morrises door, full of delightful antici-
pat!ons. He was met by old Mr.. Nor
rls, who, thrusting note into his hand,
explained, with much unnecessary en-
phasis and total disregard of the COM
monest rules Of politeness, that if he
ever ventured to present himself ut that
house again he would be kicked down
the front steps, mixed up in complicat-
cd relations with the family bulldog,
and committed to the final care of the
police.
He went home maddened with this
very un eslrahle mystery, and confident
that old Morris had been attacked with
deltrium tremens and was an exceed
! in8ly unsafe acquaintance. Once in
his room, he sat down to read the
clumpied letter that had been forced
upon him. 1t was his own letter to
Mary. Below the cipher was written
Mary $ Translation of it. The poor girl
had tried to translate it by using the
inner columns Of the book, and with
the following unsatisfactory result:
Z" Iou liar when almost hate her and
farewell you deceitful never agair and
base infamy.'
And still further down on the page
was written in Mary's hand, 81 cal
make out enough of your letter to SEE