Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1878-07-25

tawdry envelope Jacks scrawl,ng hand;
writing. Here was the little line had
coveted ALL these years, aid this Is What
my half blinded eyes made out:
II came home because I was mad to
see you--because all these years, and
your old pertidy, couldn't kill my love
for you. I find you just as expected to
in a space small enough to be filled out
side and inside with, men. You are as
beautiful and fascinating as ever; and as
fond of admiration I heaf that yoH are
abotit to be married to the grocer at yout
elbow, Who 60 ehgrosaes ypaE attention
that you do rot cafe to look ct the pass
ers-by. God help him, and sGod bless
vou! have had my lesson. Now
shall, perhaps be satisfied Good-by."
Five minutes after that was running
home, without my hat, and with his note
crumpled up in my hand. The people at
the festival no doubt thought that NAM
ma was taken suddenly ill. They could
not have fancied I was running after
Jack, because he had been there at the
church for an hour, anu / had been to-
tally unconscious of his presence. Dear
Heaven how could it be, that didn't
know, that something didn't tell me that
didn't feel he was near ft1e2
But t didht. went OH talking to the
grocer abotit remarkable OPERATION for
an ulcer that he had uhderg0le, wien
Jack mist. have been only a few rods
awayl / Rundown tie rosdr pS; hest Il
my throat. Fortunately the village street
was deserted. Every, man, woman. and
child were at the festival, except those
who could not be out at all; so ran on
unchecked, a dim fear gaining weight
with me that Jack had not unpacked his
trunk, and was off to China again within
the hour. But when I reached his house,
which was next door to my own, saw
him sitting oht in the balcony smoking
cigar, with his feet perched Upon the
railing. But his face grew very pale Id
the moohight, and his feet tlattefed
Quickly down: iip9h the! porch; when Ee
saw me run in at the gate. The cigaf
fell from his Ii ps, the ashes tumbling over
his broad white waist-coat.
"Why, thank God," he said, ''this must
be my own dear little girl. Now, see
here, Jenny" he began, Seeding, min
ute aIteT, DuG ut hcpL tlSuC uoiu VI Mc,
and tremblcd fully as much with happi-
ness as I did,
Nothing can persuade him that l am
not desperate hirt, as beautiful as an
angel, and .rresistably fascinating. ]
have not the least doubt that half the
village ate laughing at Jacks ridiculous
devotion and jealousy but the we'll meant
endeavors Of his friends and family tc
convince him that I ath plain, faded:
unattractive and neglected old maid, he
laughs to scorn as conspiracy of envy
or jealousy. And how can ] wonder at
his delusion? Mamma says Jack has ter.
ribly aged during these years of loneli
ness and exile, and looks older and not SO
comedy as our ne1ghbor the grocer; but to
1t1e he Is still the handsome, allttittg, il
every way adorable Jack. He is walking
up and down the little balcSny next door
at this present moment, and, hidden BY
our odorous honeysutkle vine, I am list
ening to him trill out the last words of
his favorite ballad:
$50 girls be true while your lovers away.
For cloudy morning. for cloudy m -o-o rning
Oft proves pleasant day."