The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-07-23
THE DEAD LETTER.
BY HARRY MAPLE.

As memory retrsces the journey oi
those years the time seems very long,
and vet the events of that night could
not be more vivid had they occurred on
yesterday.
Then my bair was brown, my life was
full of hope, my sOul full of trust.
There are threads of silver am ing the
brown tonight, end the intervening
years between that time and this have
brought succession of fdjsenchantments
and sad experiences.
How one changes in decade.
Among my lady aCqTaintances aud
friends none were to me Sc fascinating
and perfect in all that goes tO make up
she sum of female l1veliness as pretty
Jennie Fisk, and shall not conceal the
fact thFt the mention of that name bears
10 me a cruel memory.
One evening upon arriving at nv
lodging | found an invitation from
Jennie to attend a party her father
intended TO give to celebrate her eight
eenth birthday. The Thought of Jen-
MES looming out" caused me a mo-
mentary pang, for | was confident that
her beauty and expectations would soon
surround her with a host of admirers.
The possibility that some one else might
lay siege to her heart and carry off the
prize made me very unhappy, and I
determined to see her as soon as posi-
ble and ask her to be nv wife.
Putting on my best suit, and arrang-
lng my toilet wirh as much care and
precision as a society belle would have
done, [ set out for the Fisk mansion. It
is needless to say that my anxiety about
the result of my visit made me some
what nervous. | ascended the steps,
paused moment to renew my courage,
and then rang the bell.
A servant answered the summons. and
showed me into the parlor.
suppose you wish to see Miss
Jennie, the Young woman remarked
with mlschIevOus twinkle in her eyes.
Yes is she at hOme?"
She is; | will announce you, and I
presume she will soon be down"
That, | thought, was suspicious. At
least the manner as well as the words of
the girl Indicated that my footing with
jennie was favorable. Going to the
long mirror at the end of the room to
satisfy myself again that I was present
able, L heard the patter of footballs on
the stairs and hurried back to nv seat.
Jennie CIme in. I thought l had
never seen such a vision of loveliness.
She was dressed in snowy muslin, that
fell IN tieecy folds about her graceful
form pink rose adorned her hair,
which fell, in golden waves, to her
waist. Another rose of the same color
r'pOsed mt her throat, vieiDg with her
cheeks IN lOveliness of tints.
She welcomed me with a cordial vet
modest greeting, and sat down by her
side. The restraint that feared might
make coward of me, was soon gone,
and | told her the ''old story" which
yet u ever new. of my deep love for her.
Taking her willing hand in mine asked
Jennie to be my wife.
Her answer was not DELAYED. Her
eyes bad already indicated her reply,
and her tongue confirmed the language
OF her heart speaking through them.
Speaking flguratively, l was in the
seventh heaven" of delight Jennie
had promised to be mine; what more
on ear'h was there TO covet? Strange
wOndroHs passion. 1t
comes alike to all the sons and daueh-
teTs of men-the cultur and the
savage, the peasant and the king.
Well, the night of the ball arrived.
IJ was clear and beautiful. The silvery
light of the moon bathed the old Fisk
mansion in & halo os soft radiance, and
the stars cleaned aud glistenei like
gems in Nights corOnet, bright
auRmy of Tennie's happiness (sueh was
my Interpretation of the scene) through |
life.
I was among the first arrivals. Jen-
ME met me with a smile of love and |
trust she laid her little hand again in |
mine, and though no words were spoken, |
each we'll knew the others thoughts.
She was dressed in exquisite taste. |
Every circumstance connected with her |
on that night will never be effaced from |
my recollection. She had never looked |
anything but charming to me, but on |
this occasion she OutshOne herself |
Her dress was OF the whi'est muslin and |
lace, pulled over blue silk. She wore /
a necklace of pearls, and bracelets to |
correspond d eDcircled her shapely arms. |
Her whole toilet WAS faultless. and /
during the evening she was the cynosure
of many eyes, the admiration of the
young men, and the envy of a score or
more of her own sex.
She welcomed her guests with per-
feet ease and grace. The rooms were
soon filed with company, and then she |
chatted merrily with one and another |
for while, and gradually found a place |
near me.
Presently the music sounded its pre- |
parator.y note. Jennie took my arm.
and we took our place at the head OF the |
room.
A young physician, Richard Price by |
name, and his partner, were opposite in |
the quadrille. He paid little attention
to her, and seemed rather distracted |
nnd i'll at ease. 1t is was a mystery to |
me then, this manner of his but sub /
sequently it was explained Several |
times during the evening, when Jennie
and | were together. Price hung upon
our steps, much to Jennie's annoyance.
After while, after she had filled sew
artl engagements with others, claimed
her gam for my partner, and at the
close "f the waltz we sought the refresh
ing AIR OF the summer-hOuse, in the
spacious gardens attached to the man
sion. Here we conversed of the future:
Df our plans and prospects, and oh, how
bright were the promises that tho future
held for us then.
How long we talked l do not know.
But fearing Our prolonged absence
would occasion remark, we returned to
the house.
At length the guests departed, and
then | bade my betrothed good night.
Her manner towards me was all that
lover could expect, and yet at parting
some unexplained and undefnablc feel
Ug oppressed ne. 1t was one of those
strange fOrebodings for which no one
,an satisfactorily account. When |
should have been the happiest of NOR.
ais | was depressed with presentiment
If coming evil. ] tried to shake it of.
put in vain. 1t bound me like some
Iorrid dream, and the feeling did not
cave me for several hours.
The next morning | slept late, and
laving Partaken of light lunch went
o the Postoflice, impelled by know not
Vhat motive, as my letters were usually
at my place of business.
At all events, to the postOffice l bent
nv steps, and there found note from
ennie. She had been suddenly sum-
1oned by telegraph to distant city by
rasou of the severe illness of a near rel
tive-so ran the note-but would soon
eturn. But the strangest part of it was
l,,r che b,paI I uo1ld NOT prita 70 ba-