The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-09-18
Jim's Smart Trick:

Miss Margaret Cameron heard the post
mans knock as she sat down Is her solitary
breakfast in her brm little dining room on
the first of April, 1s-; and her little servant
brought the missve into the room as She
poured out her first cup of coffee.
1t was handsome envelope with an ele-
CANT monogram upon it-a monogram Miss
Cameron did not know, and it looked like a
gentleman's Handwriting, she said To herself,
with little wonder, for her correspondents
were all ladies. There was a time when
Miss Cameron had received billet doux "a nd
even yet she ~s5 handsome but in a viii
ldge where single women abound they are
set aside as old maids as soon as the tongues
of their rivals can effect the operation, and
Margaret Cameron had made 10 resistance
She was very well off, living in her own
house on good income, and she was little
afraid of that sort of impecunious man thai
offers itself to every woman with money
until it finds q victim.
She had been in love once, in her teens
with young soldier who died on the battle
field. Two other men had been very much
in love with her. Since then she had offer:
that were rather a trouble than triumph
Heavy, solemn widowers, who wanted house.
keepers; bachelors of the prudent sort. She
regretted no one but the dead soldier, and
even him only mildly after all tho6e years
and, as we began to say letters from gentle:
men were so rare that this one surprised her
She opened it carefully, drawing from its
decorated envlope sheet of paper that was
really elegant, and began to read as follows
CRoss HOUSE, March SOth.
Ny DEAR MADAME Do yot beleye in love
at first sight? / confess do, though IhayC
lived on earth for fifty years WITHOUT e2pe
riencing it until to-day. To-day, my deal
lady, met you. | followed you for long
distance, pardon the liberty which con.
tess), and must say that you inspired me
with the tenderest emotions-emotions,h how
ever, i beg to assure you, as respectful a:
they were ardent. In a word, / desire t.
offer you my addresses. / am bachelor, O
man of good social position and ample means
You can DISCOVER my character by inquiring
of my neighbors, my friends, and our cler,
gyman-tor we attend the same church
May not have the privilege OF calling upon
you? A reply will be esteemed not only 9
favor but condescension. ...,
Yours With unalte!abls esteem, .>.
GORDON Cross.
"Deur me i Mr.. Cross, s,who has just bough
the property on the hill" said Miss Gamer
on. 'What singular thing. ! noticed hin
yesterday,bpt l thought he was merely goinl
my way: had no idea, Goodness me
what could have done that he should dar
take such liberty? l was afraid that new
bonnet OF mine was rather too gay"
And Miss Cameron shook her head, an,
looked prudent and little sad. Here, at al
age when romance seemed to have entirel,
departed from her life, it had returned I
peep in at her windows, and propriety de
manded that shs should drive it away.
was really too bad, Kiss Cameron conlesse
To herself.
Just at this moment, in the handsom
house on the hill, Mr. Gordon Cross, bach
elor of ffy fve,rang his bell for his servan
who answered it with pitcher of warn
water in his hand.
"I'm late this morning, Mills" said Nj
Gross, as the nan arranged his shaving tp
Paraius. "Half an hour late. suppose m,
long walk of yesterday is the cause of M
oversleeping myself"
ayes, sir" ssid Mills. It might have the
effect sir. I've been rather anxious to hav
you get up, sir, I-I-I've got somethin
to communicate, sir" o.. BE-.
"out with it, Mills" said Mr.. Gross.
Eyes, sir" replied Mills. It's about ther
young chaps, sir. They're going to play a
April fool trick on you sir"
"Ha haP' laughed Mr.. Gross. over
good. And you warn me beforehand that
may have the best of themP Very gooc
Hills" ...
eyes, sir" said Mills. "You see, last eve
ming, about nine o'clock, when you was ou
l was sitting in the buffers pantry readin
my bit Of news out of the morning paper
and hears such a laughing and gigglin
from the young gentlemen that oouldn
help a--a-sort of-a-"
Listening" prompted Mr.. Cross.
eyes, sir" replied Mills, "for when ther
two gets together mischief is brewing yo
may depend. Well, they was a writing lei
ters and there was too much fun about
for them to be regular letters, and l heen
your name, sir aud first Of April spoke o
and such. SO when, arler while, they col
ned il of fair on that best new note pape
with your munnygrim onto il, aud tore u
the lnst Writing and chncked II In the Ygnsl