The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1881-06-03
]. D. BURKE, Editor.
VOL. ".

=
M, cried Kate, standing on tip-toe and
irving to read the address written on the
letter.
"a love letter, did you say?o cried
Matilda.
"Oh. its for me then" said Fanny,
decidedly
For me, You mean, cried Lucy,
who bore the only pretty face Of the
family.
'Isnt it for me?' asked Ann, as she re-
membered that Mr.. Gustayus Thorp had
walked home with her the last time she
was caught in shower
The matter was speedily settled, how.
ever, by Kate, who had contriyed to gain
possession Of the letter, and was reading
Miss Francis Harper" in no gentle
voice.
give it to me directly, and don't tease
me SO, Kate, cried Fanny
''Wait minute till I've found out who
it's from, said Kate, peeping under the
seal. ''Let me Thorn Thomasl
There, do take it,
MY dear reader did you ever write, re-
ceive or read 4 love letter?
s'Not I, thank fortune, growls the
cross old bachelor.
'Nor I, " sighs poor Aunt Nabby.
''That's secret, whispers pretty Ell
len.
Well, then to you who know nothing O
such matters, an explanation or even a
| sight Of Fanny's letter would be unin-
| telligible; and as for You who have al.
ready dozens of your own, you can, Of
course, feel little curiosity respecting
this one. Besides, what right have ! to
read you Fannys secret2
Fanny came down to dinner with NJ
air Of dignity quite unusual to her.
"Do tell us who the letter was from?'
asked Lucy.
''Shall You say yes?" called Sam, from
the end Of the table.
"Of course she will, and We will be
uncles and aunts, +" roared Tom.
Thomas, leave the table, directly,
cried Mrs Harper.
eyes, mamma, said Tom, encouraged
by the bushes and filters Of the foul
sisters; "but is it for saying that Fanny
would say yes, or that we should bt
uncles and aunts?"
''Go away, you naughty boyl" an,
lom was gone.
When dinner was over, Fanny tool
her mother aside and begged her to reac
the letter
J "Well, /" said Mrs. Harper, after 81
lence Of thirty-fve minutes, "avery prett,
letter, | must say-but who is thu
Thomas Somerby?'
"Why, mamma" replied Fanny, a
don't exactly remember ever seeing him
but
"Ah, well, that's Of no consequence
You shall answer this letter directly
lust the situation for you. Let me see
lives in the country during the summe
months. La, we can take the chlldrel
and spend at least four out Of the yea
with you every season.
Dear mamma, you forget that ! an
nt the head o. the Anti-Matrimonial Sc
ciety."
''But that's Of no consequence. Onl
{. think Of your friend Julia sucl
nice house--such elegant furniture
such sweet baby as she has"
Eyes, Julia seems very happy; ane
do you know, mamma, she has reall
urged me Of late to be more charitabl
in my opinions Of gentlemen. After al
have possibly been to severe.
Fanny retired to her own room
mediate upon Mr. Somerby. A tap /
her door aroused her from the rever
into which she had fallen, and Kat
with an air Of great Importance, mao
0 her appearance.
aAnd so, Fanny, you are really goin
!. to take this Mr. What's-his-name? Yc
needn't blush, formamma has told lis o
J about it, and we have planned out abol
the dresses and everything; and aft
! You are married you know shall ha'
! your room, for papa says l may. AL
there's another thing which ! must te
: You. Oh, Fanny, hope shall have
love letter some of these days.
Fanny hardly knew whether TO laue
, or cry. but in spite Of the grave fa
! which she found it expedient to put o
several little smiles twinkled in her eye
| smiles that said: "Kate, you are df
/, ling, but I mustn't let you know 1 TIM
! Sc"
B "Well," continued Kate, ''haye y,
= written the answer? Let me see 1t, d
9 Come now, I shan't tell the girls VIII
/, pretty things you say to him
K Katy" said Fanny, soiemnly y
Q must not talk any more about the maui
| confess that it is very hard to disa
y point you all and to distress him, but
u must be done"
+ Now, if there was anything that 4;
r particularly disliIled it was to see tel
q shed by anybody for any reason; thel
!. fore, as she began to suspect that Fan
! meditated some such act, she lost
:. time in retreating.
y Wien Fanny came to tea she was
: . sailed by host of questions, congra'
i lations, and kisses from papa, MANN
e e her four sisters and three brothers.
! "How dye do, Mrs. Somerby?' ask
one. :,
u Tom
ID "You1l let me be bridesmaid, wo
"a you?" urged Ann.
d, "And if Mr.. s. givesyou a gold wat
ne won't you give me your old one2P ash
'e Matilda.
no -.z..oI sra1sf,a1