The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1879-09-10
ON THE MORNING MAIL.

On the morning mail from London to
Punch, the Graphic and the Times
had devoured in cold blOOd-and now
what worlds more remained to be con-
quered?
l became sensible of Il tendency to
drowsiness. The trains monotonous
culver soothed me. | courted slumber,
but the thought of Uncle MelancthOn's
terrible words abrogated all treaties
'twixt my weary soul and Morpheus.
Truly, | was embarked on a curious en-
terprise. Uncle MelancthOn, my guar
dian, wealthy old bachelor, whose
money had put me through Oxford, and
from whom | had great expectations,
had very lately figured in the role of
matchmaker, giving me to understand
that henccforth | should devote the bulk
of my affections to n certain specified
young lady-altogether unknown to me
as yet-or, failing to do so, leave his
house and cease to hope for future favors
at his hands. -
At first, | absolutely declined to fall in
with my peremptory old uncle's plans
for my welfare, whereupon my allow
ance, II generous one, was stopped, and |
was soon brought down into the deepest
depths of despair. The matter ended by
a compromise, the main proyiso of
itch was that I should visit Duns
cCmbe Hall, where lived my fate, and
try my best to fail in love. And it was
on this errand that | was now bound.
Now, Tom" Uncle Melancthon had
remarked a few days previous to my
departure from London, here is a pic
ure OF Gwendoline Dunscombe, your
future wife. The dear girl sent it at my
request in return for yours. My sight is
very dim, but / can see it is handsome,
you know ..-z.r - .
Which quality, rs / studied the photo
graph whilejourneying toward the origi-
nal, failed to perceive. The face pre-
sented was that as | had protested to
my uncle-of a plain spinster of forty,
with three teeth to Il jaw.
AS the train slowed up preparatory to
n stoppage | collapsed into shapeless
mass Of comfort, hoping to WOO and win
slumber in the quiet existing between a
stoppage and start.
1 had well-nigh crossed the boundary
separating reality land from the land of
Nod, when l was rudely restored to my
senses by hearing the guard sing out, as
he opened the carriage door:
First-class ticket, num- Wexed
that | can't accommodate yer with
vacant carriage; this ere is the best |
can do. Only young gent in ERE
P'raps ye won't mind i'm; 'e's hinno-
cent-looklng chap"
With the above introduction opened
my eyes in time to see a young lady enter
She WAS very beautiful-dark-
with raven hair, and possessed a charm
ing proportion of deiciously-molded
ee'''bonpot@. A travelling dress fitted her
lovely, graceful figure to perfection.
took in all these charms at glance,
and instantly inaugurated a laborious
cherishing of my whiskers.
AS i recall the situation now. after a
lapse of many years. / remember being
vain youth that l was--a good deal as
tonished that my fair visitant seemed in
no appreciable measure impressed with
my dignity of department or nv profu-
sion OF whiskers
On the contrary she appeared to be
cool and collected, bearing ill-concealed
evidence OF amusement upon,her express
sively angelic countenance; and, truth
to tell, | could not help thinking that the
insolent speech OF The guard in connec-
ton with my humb, self had something
to do with her amusement.
/ looked, | am afraid, n little slleepish.
and was angry with myself for so APP
pearing. Hang the girln' l thought,
gazing sulkily at her; whereat, to my
establishment, she stuffed her handker-
chief into her mouth, and gave vent to
little scream of laughter, saying:
oh, dear! dido excuse me. But you
do look so h innocent, YOU know, So
SO very much like your Photographic
To say, the very least, this remark
completely mystifed me.
And pray" said 1, " Miss
= Jones will do" suggested the young
lady, or Smith; suit yourself. Either
will suit me
Then, Miss-a-J ones, if I may ask
the question without impertinence where
have you ever had the pleasure of see
z my photograph"
AS | spoke l scanned my fair COM