The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-07-18

and suffering from that period of ego
tism which comes to young men of his
kind, remained during the entire even
ing, to show his contenlptfor the young,
the fair, the frivolous. A few old mar.
ried friends, whose wives were sick or
away, lowered about the grocery count
er, SO that it really did happen that /
was surrounded by men. The evening
was passing pleasantly enough. My
dark corner was well patr0nized, and
every woman who has to do with church
entertainments will understand my
Igratification and relief when found it
was nearly ten o'clock and all was well.
At this time letter wss put into my
hand by one of the little Postoffice mes
sengers-we always made q feature of
the Postoffice at our festivals, where
pink and parti-colOred missives, with
doves and other doting designs upon
the envelopes, were distributed ut ex-
travagant rates of postage. had just
been favored with q liberal offer from
customer, and, elated with my bargain,
proceeded to put up my bundles, not
giving much heed to the lOve-letter
from the neighboring booth. Truth to
say, felt little tingling of the blood
at the idea of the mOckery that might
be concealed therein by one of those
witty village youths, and the letter lay
there for full half-hour, when some
body said, in the most commonplace
way: ,, , .
China"
In moment everything was black
before me. dropped my hands and
my eyes to the counter, and when this
sudden dizziness was gone, saw upon
the little tawdry envelope Jacks
scrawling handwriting. Here was the
little line had coveted all these years,
and this is what my half-blinded eyes
made out:
81 came home because was mad to
see yOu-because all these years and
your old perfidy, couldn't kill my love
for you. find you just as expected
to, in u space small enough to be filled
outside and inside with-men. You
are as beautiful and fascinating as
ever, and as fond of admiration. l
hear that you are about to be married
to the grocer at your elbow. who SO
engrosses your attention that you do
not care to look at the passers-by. God
help him, and God bless you! have
had my lesson. Now shall, perhaps,
be satisfied. Good-by."
Five minutes after that was rum
ming home, without my hat, and with
his note crumpled up in my hand. The
people at the festival no doubt thought
that mamma was taken suddenly i'll.
They could not have fancied was run
ming after Jack, because he had been
there at the church for an hour, and 1
had been totally 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 mep
But l didn't. | went on talking to
the grocer about remarkable opera
ton for an ulcer that he had under
gone, when Jack must have been only
a few rods away! ran down the road,
my heart in 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 l 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 reached his house, which
was next door to my own, saw him
sitting out on the balcony smoking Il
cigar, with his feet perched upon the
railing. But his face grew very pale
in the moonlight, and his feet clattered
quickly down upon the porch when he
saw me run in at the gate. The cigar
fell from his lips, the ashes tumbling
over his broad white waistcoat.
"Why, thank God" he said, ''this
must be my own dear little girl. Now,
see here, Jenny" he began, scolding,
q minute after; but he kept tight hold
of me, and trembled fully as much with
happiness as did.
not desperate flirt, as beautiful as an
angel, and irresistibly fascinating. 1
have not the least doubt that half the
village are laughing at Jacks ridicu-
lous devotion and jealousy; but the
well-meant endeavors of his friends
and family to convince him that l am
plain, faded, unattractive and neg
lected old maid he laughs to scorn as
a conspiracy of envy or jealousy. And
how can wonder at his delusiOn?
Mamma says Jack has terribly aged
during these years of loneliness and
exile, and looks older and not SO comedy
as our neighbor the grocer; but to me he
is still the handsome, alluring, in ev-
cry way adorable Jack. He is walking
up down the little balcony next door
at this present moment, and, hidden by
our odOrous honeysuckle-vine, am lis
tening to him trill out the last words of
his favorite ballad:
~ 80 girls be true while your lovers away,
For a cloudy morning. for a cloudy m-O-Orn-
ing
Oft proves pleasant day."