Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1881-12-10
COURTlNG BY LETTER.
An Extraordinary Case Arisen in
Montreal From the Practice---A
Widow and An ImbeclIe CLERGYMAN.


Toronto Globe writes under date of
Oct. 25: A very interesting story is
talked of in some family circles, who
are believed to be what a Yankee would
call "some pumpkins" 1t appears that
four ladies-young ladies, of course
as there are no others-entered into
correspondent recently with a clergy
man in London, England. This family
were daughters Of a gentleman who
once was major in the English army,
and during the regime of the Canadas
was at one time an A. d. G. to the
governor-general. Then the family
moved in the highest circles. The
Clergyman with whom the ladies cor
responded had retired from the pulpit
with a handsome allowance, and had
an income of about eE 900 a year. Be-
sides he was 65, intellectually in6rm,
and might die at any moment. Here
was catch. The correspondence grew
from the stage of friendliness, past the
familiar, and into the tender lines. 1t
had yet to reach the sublime, and anon
the ridiculous. 1t did both, but not
yet. One of the daughters was widow.
Her letters were judged to be the more
pleasing, and the old gentleman in Eng
land liked them best. AT length matters
passed into the blissful sublime. The
aged gentleman became suitor, and
not knowing which of the ladies he
mostly did love, sent to each for
photograph. This was to precede
proposal for marriage. The widow was
tn a acin bn
the tenor Of her letters that she had
obtained good hold upon the affections
of the gentleman. She had gushed to
his hearts content, and he was pleased.
But she was 45-tell it not in London
and how could she hope to have a
true photograph compare with the
bloom of her younger sisters. She hit
upon plan; the Photographic art could
be aided by a good tinter. One of these
took the truthful photograph and
touched up the scraggy neck, relieved
the shadows of the low temples and
high cheek bones, penciled the eyebrows,
and even dimpled the chin. The teeth
were already attended to by the dentist
A bright sparkle was added to the eye-
balls, and the crows feet admirably
drawn down to fill out the other
wrinkles into plump cheeks. Her own
mother would hardly have Known her.
The flutters Of excitement must have
been great in the hearts of the fair
quartet. The photographs were sent,
and in due time the reply was expected
to arrive that was to settle the fate
of at least one fair dame. None
of the other three thought much of the
widows chance Which was it to be
But if the transatlantic suitor was
aged he was by no means tardy. Back
came the letter with almost the return
English mail. There were other let
ters but this was the letter. Horror
of hOrrorsi The widow had been
chosen and was asked to go to England
at once. The rejected were in pouts,
but it was in the family. Soon pfter-
ward came letter that accelerated
the movements of the lady fair and
As. Her suitor and now affianced hus.
band, was i'll, and she must start for
England at once. This she did in
great haste. On arriving in London
she did not have very great distance
to go out of the city to find the resi-
dence of the would-be bridegroom
She found also his sisters and his other
relatives. She introduced herself
What had changed her so much that
they could find no resemblance between
her and the photograph? A long sea
vayage and grief at the illness of hel
intended! But the sisters could moi
be induced to believe that, and the
gentleman most interested also refused