Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-12-08
COUNTING BY LETTER.
An Extraordinary Case Arisen from
tho Practice.

lieyed to be what yankee would
call "some pumpkin" 1t appears
that four ladies-young ladies, OF
course, as there are no others enter
cd into correspondence recently
with clergyman in London, Eng
land. This family were daughters of
gentleman who once was a Major in
the English army, and during the re-
giMe OF the Canadas was one time an
A. d. G. to the Governor General.
Then the family moved in the high
est circles.
The clergyman with whom the Ia
dies coyresponded had retired from
the pulpit with "A handsome allowance
and had an income of about I5,000 a
year. Besides he was sixty five, in
tcllectually in6rm, and might die at
any moment. Here was a catch. The
correspondence grew from the stage of
friendliness, past the familiar, and into
the tender lines. II had yet to reach
the sublime, and anon the ridiculous.
II did both, but not yet. One of the
daughters was widow. Her letters
were Judged to be the more pleasing,
aud the old gentleman in England
likes them best.
At length matters passed into the
blssful sublime. The aged gentleman
became suitor, and not knowing
which of the ladies he mostly did love,
sent toeach for photograph. This
was to precede a proposal for mar
rage. The widow was equal to the
occasion. She judged from the tenor
of her letter that she had obtained q
good hold upon the affections of the
gentleman. She had gushed to his
hearts content, and he was pleased.
But she was forty-tive--tell it not in
London and could she hope to have
a true photograph compare with the
bloom Of her young sister A.? She hit
upon a plan; the Photographic art
could be aided by good tinter. One
of these took the truthful photograph
and touched up the scraggy neck, re-
leved the shadow of the low temples
and high cheek bone, penciled the
eyebrows, and even dimpled the chin.
The teeth were already attended to 10y
the dentist. A bright sparkle wasadd-
ed TO the eye balls, and the crows
feet admirably drawn down tofill out
the other wrinkles into plump cheeks
Her own mother would hardly have
known her. The futter 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 ofat least one fair dame,
None of the other three thought much
of the widows chance. Which was
it to be? But if the trans Atlantic
suitor was aged he was by no means
tardy. Back came the letter with al
most the return English mail. There
were other letters, but this was the
letter. Horror OF horrors! The
widow had been chosen, and was
asked to 60 to England at once. The
rejected were in pouts, but it was in
the family. Soon atterward came Q
letter that accelerated the movements
of the lady fair and forty-fve. Hel
sutton and now affianced husband
was i'll, She must start ior England al
once. This she did in great haste.
On arriving in London she did not
have very great distance to 60 on
of the city to find the residence OF the
wonld- be- bridegroom. She found alst
his sisters and his either relatives
She introduced herself. What ha(
changed her so much that they coul(
find no resemblance between her an(
the photograph? A long sea voyage
and grief at the illness of her intend
ed But the sisters could not be IN
dueed to believe that, and the gentle
man most interested also refused tt
believe it. His illness grew more
alarming, end the widows suit for ;
speedy marriage grew more importu
nate. She wanted to be married a
once. The relatives refused her ad
mittance to the bedside, and, mean
i