Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-03-14
The Love Letter.

They had been boarding together at
the farm, Jane Heth and Annie Con-
yers; and al that autumn Mr.. Craig
had been fishing and shooting in the
vicinity, and making the farm, which
was renowned for its good fare, his
headquarters. And Mr.. Craig was
handsome and daShing young widOwer,
and Jane Heth had made up her mind
that to be Mrs. Craig was her des-
tiny.
Indeed it might have been, for perse-
verance can accomplish wonders, had
not Annie Conyers brought her trunks,
her crocheting, her sketch book, and
her blue parasol 10 the farm for that
summer.
Annie was not prettier, nor younger,
nor better dressed, nor more accom-
plished than Jane; but a man loves
one woman, and does not love another,
and who can explain why:
Amongst those hills and on that lake
the Colonel gave his heart to little An
ME, and she gave hers to him.
But on the day that called him home,
nothing had been said that could have
been construed into an engagement,
huthe had asked her if he might write
10 her, and she had said ''Yes," and
Jane had heard the request and the
permission.
Jane did not love Mr.. Craig, but her
vanity was piqued, and she had greatly
desired the position which she would
have held as mistress of his handsome
house. Her heart was very bitter as
She turned away, for he had not asked
her to write TO him; and if their ac-
quaintance dropped, as it seemed about
10 do, her hope OF clenching the nail
when they met again in the city the
coming winter, as they would be likely
TO DO, would be quite futile. As she
stood watching the stage drive away,
she felt that the summer had been
wasted, and that there was nothing left
10 do but to pack up and return TO the
city at the end of the week.
Mean while Annie had run away TO
her room. She fancied she knew what
would be in the letter which he would
send her, and she felt what her answer
would be- She waited 10 be alone and
to think over it, and until tea time she
hid herself from Jane, and from hos
pitable Mrs. Wilton herself. When,
however, she came down to tea, she
looked so bright and happy, that Jane
felt like wreaking vengeance upon
her.
Three days had passed since the
Colonel's departure, and one evening
Jane stood leaning over the gate, when
a wagon drove up the road and stopped
beside il moment. From beneath its
covers peepsd. .the white head of an old
farmer.
"Geod evening, Miss" said he. s'I
have been 10 the post office, and they
said there was some letters for Wilton's
folks, and | fetched 'em over. Amt
got my glasses with me, so | don't
know who they're writ to; but you can
see. All welP That's right. Good
evening""
And away he drove, leaving Jane
with two letters in her hand, one for
herself and one for Annie Conyers.
Her own was from her mother. She
knew the writing; the other-well, she
knew the hand that directed that, also.
IL was from Mr.. Craig.
''And am | TO give it to herr" nut
tered Jane, between her teeth-l:'
And then with an impulse which
seemed to her unconquerable, she hur-
ried away towards the woods. hiding
both letters in her pocket.
AT least she could delay her riVais
happiness for while; she would not
carry it to her at once.
Then alone in the green shadow she
took the letter from her pocket, and |
looked long and curiously at the super
>cription.
Yes, it was from Craig, and what |
had he said? Perhaps, after all, he
was not in earnest. Could she but |
read what he bad written, she would |
know.
She took a pin from her dress, and |
drew it along the edge Of the envelope.
1t opened little space, but the rest
chung as closely as before. Impatient
1t this, she forgot all prudence, and
drew the pin across the paper with a
sudden push. 1t cut its way through,
and now the mischief was done, James
heart beat hard and fast with terror, but
She had gone too far to stop.
II shah know the truth, - she said,
''and letters are always being lost in
these country post Offices; I'll read it,
since I've torn it, Then she pulled
away the envelope, spread the sheet of
paper on her knee, and read the follow
ing words:
DEAR Miss CoNYERs: 1t seems odd |
that man of thirty should be afraid to
stand face TO face with girl of twenty, |
and tell her that he loved her; but i
could not summon courage enough to
10 so, nor TO ask the question that fol-
lows such confession. so far from
you, commit my hopes to this paper,
and having in plain words said love
YOU, ask you palmer words still-do yon
love me enough to benny wife? Ifyou
10, write to me at once, L pray, and
make me the happiest man on earth by
telling me so. If you do not, then
pain neither of u. by a refusal; simply
leave my letter unanswered. / can
bear it better so. But | shall pray for
a letter, for. ] love you better than my
life. r g.1rz .g
HARRY CRAIG."r
Jane drew deep breath. $50 it has
gone as far as this" she said. ''What
fools men are! She will be glad enough
TO say ''yes;" but if should destroy
this bit of paper, ,-he would never know
IL nd L. 10, u,