Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-06-03

of the two girls, who were evidently
watching him. Taking up the little
note Anna had laid down, he read it
through, turned it over, glanced at the
envelop and read it again.
"Why, what does this meant" be
asked himself: s'Some one has pro-
posed to the girl and she has made a
mistake. No, here is my name, out
side and in! By heaven, I don't
understand! What can it mean?"
+ He looked carefully at the note
again and caught the date, "April l."
docs she mean to play a joke on
met" he thought. ono; that pretty,
modest little girl could not do so bold
and unlady-like thing. Besides, this
is an answer to some other letter. BY
heavens, l see it now! Some one has
played. a cruel joke on her and sent
her letter from me, and she has
answered it in good faith What a
cruel thing! Who on earth could
have done it? And how am / to ex-
plain 1t to her?"
Mr.. Hunter glanced up again and
keenly around the store. Lucy and
Hetty he saw were still observing him
closely, and as the words he had over
| heard came back to his mind, sus'
picion came too, and without seeming
to do so, he watched them a little
while.
There was certainly some understand
ing between them, and they were en-
joying it hugely.
"Ah I'm satisfied now" said Fred
to himself. "I'd give the world to see
the letter Anna Grigg received, and l
did not write, but guess at the
authors. And now what am to do
Tell that poor, little Tutoring thing
she has been "April- fooled?" No;
can't violate lady's feelings so! Who
knows but this is the hand of Fate
leading me to wise choice. Why
not take it I'm lonely, too, and I
should like the "happy home this dear
little girl speaks of. I'm sure she is
worth loving, and I wonder 1>did not
love her before. And it seems She
loves me !"
Fred felt his heart warm and glow
beneath this thought, for somehow it
seemed very happy one; and the
more he thought of it the better be
liked it. He pondered the whole
thing deeply till near noon, and then
Mr.. Fred wrote a few words on a
slip of paper. And he wrote just
this:
My DARLING ANNA You have
made me very happy, and to night l
am coming up to your home to tell
you so.
And then folding the paper he called
one Of the little cash boys, and as
Hetty Morris came up to his desk he
said quite loud enough for her to
hear:
"Take this upstairs to Miss Grigg,
and say Mr.. Hunter sent it.
Hetty very soon made an errand up
stars for herself, to enjoy Anna's dis
comiture, but she came down mysti-
fed, for Annals face was beaming with
happy light, instead of clouded with
notification and disappointment, and
the plotters began to fear their joke
had failed.
Fred went to see Anna Grigg that
night, and he saw the letter she had
received, telling her he wanted to see
what nonsence be did write, for he had
been SO anxious he really couldn't tell
what he said. -@5
With Anna's brown head nestled on
his broad shoulder, he read it, and rec
ognized it as an imitation of his OWL
hand. 1t only verified his suspicious
for he knew already that copying hand
writing was little art Miss Hetty
Morris was pretty clever at, and he
did not doubt this was her work.
But he never undeceived Anna, fol-
to him it was proving a happy joke
And when he kissed her goodnight
as he had right to do, he felt like
blessing the first of April forever.
The next morning as Mr.. Hunter
walked down the store to his desk
Miss Morris and Miss Clark were in
deep consultation together. Mr.. Hunt
er paused and dropped card between
them, on which they read in his own
genuine hand:
To MISSES MORRIS AND CLARK:
Ladies Allow me to thank you
for the Kindness with which yesterday,
you assisted me to win my betrothed
wife, Miss Grigg. The wedding will
take place very soon, and we will not
forget to send you cards of invitation,
Gratefully,
r. H.
But Hetty and Lucy, even though
they receive the cards, will hardly at
tend the wedding SO soon to be cele-