The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-07-24
THE DEAD LETTER.
BY HARRY MAPLE.

and yet the events of that night coult
not be more vivid had they occurred OF
yesterday.
Then my hair was brown, my life wa
full of hope, my soul full of trust
There are threads of silver among tn,
brown tonight, and the intervening
years between that time and this hav'
brought Q succession of disenchantmentl
and sad experiences.
How one changes IN decade.
Among my lady acquaintances ani
friends none were to me SO fascinating
and perfect in all that goes to make uI
the sum of female loveiness as pretty
Jennie Fisk. and / shall not conceal the
to me q cruel memory.
One evening upon arriving at my
lodging 1 found an invitation from
Jennie to attend a party her father
intended to give to celebrate her eight
zenith birthday. The Thought of Jen
MES looming out" caused me a mo-
mentary pang, for I was confident that
her beauty and expectations would soon
surround her with 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 ]
determined to see her as soon as posi-
bic and ask her to be my wife.
Putting on my best suit, and arrang-
ing my toilet with as much care and
precision a. Q society belle would have
done, set out for the Fisk mansion. 1t
is needless to say that my anxiety about
the result of my visit made me some
what nervous. I assembled the steps,
paused Q moment to renew my courage,
cd 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
yith a miscellaneous twinkle in her eyes.
i" Yes is she at homer"
"She is; will announce you, and
presume she will soon be down"
That, thought, was suspicious. At
least the manner SIS well as the words of
girl indicated that my footing with
y plie was favorable. Going to the
Sg piEnnr 1t the end of the room to
agsin that was present
be patter of footballs on
prried back to my seat.
(A1ll1y 4o In. I Thought I had
yer seen such a-visien of loneliness.
She was dressed in snowy muslin, that
fell in feecy folds about her graceful
form /; q pink rose adorned her hair,
which fell, in golden waves, to her
waist. Another rose OF the same color
r, posed at her throat, vieing with her
cheeks in loneliness of tints.
She welcomed me with a cordial vet
modest greeting, and sat down by her
side. The restraint that feared might
make q coward of me, was soon gone,
and told her the ''old story" which
yet is 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 had already indicated her reply,
and her tongue confirmed the language
of her heart speaking through them.
Seventh heaven" of de:iRht. Jennie
had promised to be mine; what more
on earth was there to covet ? Strange
infatuation wondrous passion. It
comes alike to all the SONS and dauRh-
tiers of men-the cultur. d and the
savage, the peasant and the king.
Well, the night Of the ball arrived.
It was clear and beautiful. The silvery
Light of the moon bathed the old Fisk
mansion in halo of soft radiance, and
the stars cleaned and glistened like
gems in Nights coronet, a bright
augury of Jennie's happiness (such was
NV Interpretation of the scene) through
life.
[ was among the first arrivals. Jen-
ME met me with smile of love and
trust she laid her little hand again in
mine, and though no words were spoken,
each well 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 whitest muslin and
lace, pulled over blue silk. She wore
necklace OF pearls, and bracelets to
eorrespord encircled her shapely arms.
Her whole toilet was faultlees. and
during the evening she wss the cynosure
of many eyes, the admiration of the
young men, and the envy of 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 q place
near ma
Presently the music sounded its pre-
paratorS note. Jennie took my arm.
and We took our place at the head Of the
room.ss
A young physician, Richard Price by
name, and his partner, were opposite in
the quadrille. He paid little attention
to her, and seemed rather abstracted
and i'll at ease. 1t is was q 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 filed sew
eral engagements with others, claimed
her again for my partner, and at the
close OF 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;
OF our plans and prospects, and oh, how
bright were the promises that the future
held for us then.
How long we talked 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 undesirable feel
ing oppressed me. It was one of those
strange forebodings for which no one
can satisfactorily account. When 1
should have been the bappiest of NOR.
tails was depressed with presentiment
of coming evil. 1 tried to shake it off,
n1uuinju vain. 1t bound me like some
and the feeling did not
peveral hours.
neening 1 slept late, and
light lunch 1 went
led by know not
>ers were usually
business.
ice bent
ote from
ny sum-
city by
n rel