The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-02-18

cept copy of his poems in considera-
ton of the beauty of its type and the
vastness Of its margin, % and closes thus:
CT am, dear Miss Campbell, very CRATE
fully, or if you are in good earnest, as I
very much fear you are not, [ am dear
est Ellen, very affectionately yours.
Frrz- GREENE HALLEcK."
Her reply to this is letter of con-
siderable length, in which she thanks
him for the promise of his books, and
stands tip-toe on the misty heights Of
the blue Ohio to hail its approach. She
She closes by saying that, when he is
in fashions crowded hail. or listen
ing to the trump of deathless fame she
would not claim one thought.
But then the busy crowd is gone,
And brightly on the western sky
The changeful sunset hues are thrown
Oh, wilt thou thither turn thy eye
And send one gentle thought to her
Whose spirit ever turns to thine,
Like PerSia'S idOl-wOrShipper,
Or MOSlem to his prophets shrine?
Thecorrespondence continued through
out the year, growing more and more
interesting. The gay badinage ceased,
and was succeeded by earnestness on
both sides, Though still preserving
her incognita, and shielded by her as
sumed name, we find the lady growing
timid as the poet grows ardent in his
protestations Of admiration and esteem.
At one time she says: every step that
have made in your acquaintance has
increased my timidity. With reckless
laugh I flung my first offering on the
current of accident, little thinking it
would bring me back tears and smiles,
anxious thoughts and fevered dreams !"
Toward the end of the year she in
Inmates that the terms of her privilege
will soon expire, and that the CORES
pondence must close. The poet replies
urging its continuance, and speaking Of
the happiness it has afforded him, and
the desire to know her personlly. She
replies: 81 certainly did suppose [ had
written to Mr.. Halleck for the last time;
but you know before I confess it, that I
am too happy to be convinced by your
profound logic that it Is not only my
privilege but my duty to respond. Your
witty assumption of your extensive
privilege has delivered my 'woman's
pride from the bastile of a word, for
whose adamatine bars, perhaps, I have
not shown the proper Difference. !"
After the interchange Of q few more
letters the poet announces his intention
of seeking the home of his fair CORES
pondent, and meeting face to face the
lady whom as ''Ellen Campbell he has
learned to highly esteem. This propo-
sal filed Miss Flanner with dismay.
Remembering that she had commenced
the acquaintance, she reflected that a
tacit agreement to the poets visit would
place her IN the character of a wooer.
An ardent admirer of Halleck's poems,
nothing could have afford ed her more
pleasure than to have met him, but,
under the circumstances, she felt that
she must not encourage his coming.
Her reply was posted at Washington,
whittier she had sent it in care of a
relative, and to that address the poets
subsequent letters were addressed. She
eluded all his efforts to discover her
identity, and remained to linn always
''an Ellen of the m1nd''-'.a being of
the air. They never met; q wealth of
possible happiness was left untouched.
For him the aloe never bloomed. She
married, late in hfe, nan her equal in
station, but her inferior in natural gifts