Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-02-13
NO. 3S.
Gales ano Skcttl,cs.
A .PEgS0NAL" AND WHAT CAME OF II.
Continued from yesterday. }


fun in this correspondence than in any Of
the others that offered, SO l mildly sug-
gested the impropricty and possible risk OF
epistolary ventures on the part OF mar
ried man. NV fricnl detected the motive.
however. and laughingly remarked that a
man engaged would run more danger
than man married: so he stuck to his
prize, and then and there answered it in
bright and sparkling letter, which over
flowed with fun and vet bore marks Of pru-
dcnce and of respect tor the young lady.
In it he acknowledge the falsity OF that per-
soual. and declared that his object was
gained in securing SO pretty correspond
cnt. vowed that he.would write to none of
the other damscls who had answered to
the matrimonial card, and promised. on
all honor an unknown man could possess.
that he would make no attemptt to discover
the identity of Josie Mason" lie took
precious good pains. the scamp. not TO say
anything about his encumbrances. and
carefully avoided touching upon his per-
sonal affairs.
A voluminious correspondence ensucd
between these two lunatics, to which was
a party. in so lar that viii always read me
the letters from both sides. After some
months of this sort of thing had passed
noticed and remarked the fact to him, that
.Iosie's style had greatly changed since
her first letter she was less fiippiant, and
evidently sirove to appear more womanly.
Ii could also be seen that she regretted her
mention of that young man Of flowers and
canty-boxes Tor several times she limited
that she had invested that youth rs II con-
vincing argument 10 the correspondent
that she was in search of amusement not
n. n.
about this time. showed n very pretty and
rather intellectual face and in return Fow-
Ter enclosed the likeness of n good looking
Eastern friend of his About this time !
again urged upon him the propricty of
stopping a correspondence which could A.
ford him hut little more pleasure. and
which might lead to dsagreeable results:
limiting ut the same time nv belief that
the girl was becoming too much Interested
in him.
He treated this advice cavalicrly, and
spoke in So caustic manner about the
virtue of non-interierencc that | neither
asked to see. nor did he offer to show me.
any more of the letters and although we
remained as good friends rs ever. that
matrimonial card was by tacit consent.
dropped from our list oi conversational
|
of the unknown fair had long since ceased.
Some six weeks after our Josie Ma
son" tiff. viii suddenly said to me:
at was very considcratc Of you, old
fellow not to flare mp when got so huffy
the other day about your advice in that
correspondence matter. The fact is, l
was beginning to feel uncomfortable about
it myself. and didn't feel my temper i'm
prove at recalling your forebodings.
which have been flying around me like
evil omcns ever since began this affair.
II is coming too close home now, how
ever. and | must acknowledge the fear
that you are right, and that have been
wrong since the first"
"What's up ncw?" ] asked.
"Well, nothing in particular. but just a
sort of feeling that I've been making an
ass of myself like that little girl first
rate, but confound il all. she's coming it a
wee Bit too strong. Not that she has
written anything very pointed, you know.
but there's simmerng air of spoons and
danger about her letters Of late. At all
events, I'm resolved to pull out of it. so
have written this letter to her on the sub
Ijcct.''
This letter." proved to be half and
half epstle. full of regrets for what had
been and of regrets for what nnst no long
er be, full of apologies and praises, full
of hopes that they might never meet for
of the possible result, yet limiting at de-
sire to see her. if only for once. In fact.
it was bundle of incollerent nonsense
from beginning TO end, the only sensible
thing in it being the statement that he re
turned her letters by that days mail, and
hoped she would do as much with his.
"Well." said I. after reading this prec-
ious document ''you have probably shown
me this with the idea that will advise
You about it, but all I can say is that it
sounds more like love-letter than any
have yet seen Of yours.
"Yes. know it does but what would
YOU have can't throw her overheard.
like an old handkerchief. II the poor
thing is in love with me. all I can do is
to let her down as easily as possible, and
, to accomplish that must reciprocate her
affection. after n fashion,
Two days later found VIII gloomily
pondering over the answer. lie did not
hand me the letter to read, but said, as he
folded it up:
by Jove feel like thief. Not one
word of recrimination, not an expression
, that is unladylike, and still a mixture OF
cIil-pitdufnS dtu scIni-Soutcmpt tunt
makes me feel like cur. Well, the af-
fair is ended now, thank hcaven!''
80 much the better" replied. ..But
how about you letters ?
"She says she will send them back af-
ter reading them over. BY the way, | for
got to inclose her photograph. and she
didn't mention it, SO I'll keep it as SOU
9 venir."
Saying this, he took the picture from
q his pocket book, and after looking at it
for while in dreamy sort Of q way,
carefully replaced it, and then walked out
Of the room without = word of parting
but the fag end Of . sigh reached me
through the closing door,
VI About week later Fowler came into
my room saying:
" "fIere's nice piece Of business. Just
read that, will you ?'-handihg me a let
ter.
II was this:
Il MILWAUKEE. Sept. 8.
SIR: am brother Of the young Ind.
whom you know - Josie Mason. She ha
VI Continued on F0urth pnea.l