The Hickman courier., 1878-05-03

read.
At that mement the door opened, an,
one of PAtterson's colleagues at tn
theater came in.
Good morning, Jobert," said Patter
son, as soon as he saw who his visito
was.
Good morning, Peter. ! came t
tell you that the rehearshal of the balle
begins at six instead of seven o'clock"
sm much obliged to you" replie,
Peter, searching his pockets very ener
getically.
"What are you looking for?" askec
Jobert.
'A1y spectacles, which l have mislalc
somewhere. By the way, Jobert, cal
you read without glasses ?"
.. It's very certain that I can't reaC
with them.
" Be kind enough to read this note 70
NE, " said Peter, handing him the lette
which sent him on such a wild-gOos'
chase
Jobert took the letter, read it through
to himself, and smiled
It's wretched writing" said he.
" You can't read it, then ?"
Don't be in such a hurry; give ms
time to make it out. Ny dear SIR"
Letters always commence in thai
way" said Peter, interrupting him.
"' My dear sir continued Jobert
''' have the honor" and then looking
off the letter he said to Peter: 1t seems
from this that you are in debt"
8. Yes, acknowledge l am somewhat
in debt; but what has that letter TO dc
with it {"
q" You shall hear. My dear sir
" You have read that twice before"
| have the honor TO inform you that
l shall draw upon you, on the 18th INST
| Tor the sum of fity-two dollars. which
/ you have owed me Tor very long time
/ past. Yours respectfully.
Z" What is the name p asked Peter, II
/ a voice OF astonishment.
- can't make it out very we'll" Ie
/ piled Jobert, "it is so badly written.
johnson no, it isrot that Sampson.
no, don't think that's tit looks like
Fielding"
q You have already given three names
not at all resembling each other"
Well see for yourself" " said Jobert,
handing him the letter.
Peter took the letter and turned it
upsiGe down and endeavored to make it
out, or rather pretended to do so.
" No / can't decipher it if | only had
my spc ctacles-'
-" Have you no creditor by that name 90
asked Jobert.
"Of what name--Johnson, Sampson
o Fielding?'
Any one of them"
L" Not that | know of, but have a very
short memory" returned Peter. By
the way, tomorrow is the 18th, is 1t
nOtF'
" Yes"
The deuce take it, aud have not a
cent"
Il would offer you my purse" said
Jobert, d" but unfortunately it is empty"
d" 1 take the will for the deed" re-
turned Peter, shaking his friend by the
hand.
We'll, good morning, Peter; don't
forget six o'clock
" Goodbye; shall see you this even
ing
Jobert left the dancing master to his
own reflections. Peter threw himself
into a chair utterly bewildered.
% received this note this morning"
said Patterson TO himself. 90 asked one
Of my friends to read it, and he told me
it came from a Mrs. Seymour, who re-
quested me to call at her residence to
consult with her about giving her daugh-
ter lessons in dancing. / could not find
the lady. And now JObert reads the
letter and says it comes from some
creditor of the name of johnson, Sampson
or Fielding. Evidently if the letter
comes from q creditor, it could not come
from Mrs. Seymour, and if it comes from
Mrs. Seymour it could not from the
creditor. The person who first read this
letter to me must have been mistaken,
or \ l,n hanhaA l.oat- Of HE
own letters instead of mine; yes, he
must have done Sc
He was here interrupted in his specu-
lstions by the entrance of his house.
keeper. Eliza Griswold.
Mr.. Patterson" said the house
keeper, {" L want to speak to you on
serious matter"
20, yes" said Peter, 70 I know all
about it. Wen get married by-and-
" When ?''
"In two or three years time"
go, you shameful man - said Eiizl
throwing herself into chair and sobbing
violently.
Pshaw nonsense be calmw
"Be calm It's all well, your saying
be calm. l understand why you are so
cold to re. You have another lady
love. l am sure that letter you hold IN
your hand comes from her. insist ON
reading st."
Read it by all MEANS" said Peter,
handing it to her, and q CLEAN of Joy
fitting across his face. % In the first
place, tell me to whom it is addressed"
Why, to you, Mr.. Peter Patterson,
professor of dancing aud department ="
This is really very astonishing, upon
my word" murmuTed Peter. Elizl be-
gan to read.
Deceitful man !"
What do you say p cried Peter.
The letter begins Deceitful mani
OF course that means you. 1t is evident
ly written by some one who knows your
character"
"This is entirely different from what
Jobert read >" muttered Peter to himself
G' Deceitful man. continued Eliza,
9" while was the only one con-
l asked nothing of the unworthy
husband who forsook me so shameful. |
" ~
What do you mean ?'
"' preferred rather TO earn my bread |
by the work of hands ~
" What in the name of fortune are you |
reading? That is not the letter / gave |
you TO read, that contained notice that |
,ome one would draw upon me for some |
" Whose letter should it be if not
yours? So you are married, O, Peter %
& 1, married! !'' cried Peter, feeling in
Ill his pockets, )" must be postoffice,
out no, have only that one letter"
60 understand now why you will not
marry me. You are afraid of being ar
ested for bigsmy."
"Bigamyl bachelor commit bigamy?
That would be very strange" said Peter;
hen he added to himself This letter
must belong to Jobert; he must have
-iven it to me by mistake-but then it
; addressed to me-" he added, strokiDg
lis forehead. 81 must be going crazy"
Hear the rest of il" said Eliza.
But now that am the mother of two
rail creatures
"Twol"
1.-TWO frail creatures, continued Eliza,