The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-12-26
FERNANDA's LOVE LETTERS.
By HELEN FORREST GRAVES.


thing TO amuse ones self p
Marian Gryee looked down grave
ly at the pretty little golden-tressed
creature, who looked so like pic.
ture out of a frame. as she sat in
the cushioned embrasure of the win
dow, her fiossy yellow curIs blown
about by the wind, her round cheeks
dyed Of the softest pink.
She knew that Fernando was in
the wrong, but for the life of her she
could not find it in her heart to
scold the little, dimpled, rosy thing.
"But, Fernie." said she. gravely
what would Frank Appleton say?'
Hell never know. And where's
the harm. after alI?''
do you think it is very digni6-
ed thing, Fernando, for an engaged
young lady to be answering matri-
rimonal advertisements?
Its only for fun,' said Fernando
coloring a little pinker than usual.
Il don't give my real name; and. of
course, nobody means anything by
that sort of thing"
Fernando, let me ask you home
question" and Marian held the soft
little hand in hers so tightly that
there was no escape. Would you
like Frank to do such thing?'
Il shouldn't care a partical," re-
t&rted Fernando. jerking away her
hand. so there! lie may cores
pond with unkuown beauties if
he pleases. And you're always
lecturing me. and I'm seventeen
years old, and engaged to be marri-
ed, and 1 won't stand it-so there -
Aud away ran the spoiled, wilful
little beauty, leaving a half-open
novel aud box of french bonbons
on the window seat
Marian Gryce looked after her
with an expression OF mingled
amusement and annoyance.
She occupied the responsible post
of English governess in the board-
ing-school where Fernando Black
had been placed. to remain until her
father returned from one of the
West India Islands, where he owned
extensive estates; and, moreover,
she was an old friend aud school
mate Of the very Frank Appleton TO
whom Fernando was engayed-a
rising young lawyer in Boston.
"She's only an affectionate, i'm
pulsive child, Marian" the young
lover had said "A child who has
never known mothers care. Will
yon do me a great-an inestimable
favor? Will you watch over her as
if you were her sister,
"Of course Twill do anything that
you wish, Frank, the girl had ans.
wered. with a cordial smile.
But she felt that she had under
taken a herculean task, when she
saw how capricious and undisciplin
ed Fernando Black was.
"She is riddle" said Miss Grycc
to herself; ''and how sober. dignifi
ed Frank Appleton ever came to fail
in love with such brainless little
gypsy. for one am at loss to con
| lecture. But as he has seen fit tG
fall in love with her, she must be
kept ia tolerable order until he
comes to take her away. And after
all. in spite of her freaks, the child
has warm little heart"
But even Miss Gryco's philosophy
was shaken when she found Miss
Fernando Black studying out ans
wers to sundry advertisements in
the "matrimonial column of news
paper which had surreptitiously
found its way into Mrs. Delancey's
well-conducted Establishment for
Young ladies'
Its only for fun" said Fernan-
da.
''But, my DEAR" Miss Gryce had
argued, "in matters like this, one
never knows where the earnest be,
gins and the jest leaves Off"
Aud long after pretty Fernando
had disappeared. Marian Gryce sat
thinking.
"What shall 1 do" she asked her.
! self, ito prove worthy of the charge
which Frank Appleton has laid up
on me? What can do to convince
this little sparkling human butterfly
Of the folly into which she is plung-
ing so recklessly?'
Lock, Marian, said Fernando
Black, triumphantly holding up a
packet of letters. Three All ans
wers back to the letters 1 wrote.
Don't you wish you could see
them?
Thanks. retorted Miss Gryce.
"but | have no desire to share in
that species of correspondence"
''That's because you are such q
terrible old dragon" said Fernando,
saucily. You haven't a spark Of
fun about you.'
81 wonder how vou oet these lot.