The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1883-08-09
\ LESSON IN LOVE-MAKING.

"I must eak you, Miss Mildred, fol
an explanation of this strange affair,
said Judge Bryant. "The letter here
referred to was probably received an6
answered during my temporary absence
from homo three montls ago. Yott gave
mo an accurate report of all other letters
Received and answered; but with regard
to the one from Mr.. Fahnestock, anG
which must have been of very singular
character, nothing was said to me. Why
are you silent ?" he continued, with some
severity, as the girl sat with her eyes
bent upon the floor, and her cheeks suf
fused with painful flush. "Havo you
to take for granted that you have be.
trayed trust in which you have hith.
erto been so faithful and have placed
me in this awkward and embarrassino
| position 2"
81 have, Judge Bryant, committed
what now seems to inc very serious
mistake" said Mildred, in tremulous
tone. "I never before imagined that it
was possible for me to do anything SO
utterly foolish ond impfildcnt. / would
have given years salary to have got
! the letter out of the post office an hour
after It was sent there. / did not con-
suit Mrs. Bryant, but wrote and dis
patched the letter on the impulse of the
moment Some spirit of mischief seemed
70 take possession Of me, and would not
let me go Until the unwisc act wns COM
mittcd"
"Did you preserve Mr.. Fahnestock's
letter ?" asked the Judge.
eyes, sir. I have it among my pri-
vate papers.
and copy OF the answer you sent
lim in my name?" continued the Judge,
tcrnly. "And which, from the way he
refers to it, you must have known l
would on no accottnt have written ?"
81 have the photographic notes of nv
reply" said Mildred, again dropping her
eyes to the floor, and looking as If she
would be glad to sink through it.
"Wen, well, said the Judge, smiling.
There is something Of the little
ha:chet' principle about you after all,
| Will you show me the letter, and then
| read your answer?"
''If I must" said Mildred. 'But it
will be relief to me if you will allow
, mo to copy my notes. and excuse my
presence while you are reading them" !"
"Very WE'LL" said the Judge, gazing
rather more leniently at the pretty cul-
prit
Mildred bowed and withdrew from
the room, and half an hour later re-
turned, placing i'll the Judges hands two
papers, the first of which he opened and
read as follows:
"BEAvER DAM, Colo.
| "MY DEAR JUDGE BRYANTi-I have
beerDhere about ten years, aa you will
rcmemb ber, during which time / have
never found leisure or opportunity to
return to the States. The few hundred
| dollars / brought with me enabled me 10
locate and retain some valuable tracts of
land, the titles TO which are now con.
| tirmed i'll me. l have now about seven
thousand acres, grazing and wheat lands.
A surveyed railroad, which will soon be
III process of construction, crosses part
of my property, making a valuable addi-
tlon to. 1T, L have about twenty emf
grant families on my place, and have
been sending large numbers of cattle to
Topeka; altogether, my affairs are in a
very prosperous condition. / have a
nice little house, well built, and COM
fortably furnished.
"a very agreeable picture, you may
say; and yet, after all, my life is not q
happy one. This, my dear Judge, is nv
thirty-fifth birthday, and I am celobrat-
ing it by writing this letter to you. But
what I have already told you is of much
less importance to me than what am
about to mention; and, as an old and
true friend, you will know how to appre-
ciate my feelings. The plain truth is, ]
want n wife. My life here is lonely and
lesolate. To-he-surc. there are any
number of men and women around me
in the capacity of tenants and employees
but there is not one among them whom
| can look upon as companion anC
'rlcnd L am crampcd in here. to leave
and go East, even for short trip, seem
scarcely possible; and if I should do SO
where am to look for wife? My oil,
[ friendships are all broken up, and [ hav,
Kept up no correspondence with an,
Ia y since [ came here. But you ant
your wife have an extensive circle O
ncqumntances. Can you not direct mt
TO some one who would forcgo conven
uohnl formalities, and consent to com,
ouC ana meet me ut the nearest railroaC
station, where we would be married if
uEchlGu her q suitable person? Other
WiSG L would pay her expenses back. !
VIII VIII DC pleasant trip, nd her object il
| iiNN' bS hIlo"n 10 mono DuT our
selves. Please let me know if Won On,
tmnk i, OF any desirable young lady VIII,
would consent to an arrangement Of thi
sort, and will send You chcquo sufli
cient to cover any incidental expcnsc
she may incur in coming.
every truly yours,
"EDGAR FAHNEsTooK.
Ihcre was a humorous twinkle in tn
judges eye as he laid down the letter
and then took up the copy of Mildred
reply:
"MR: FAHNEsTooK:-I have yours 0
the 10th instant, and can only saw tho
1t lIlu"tratcs to an extraordinary degrc
the dcmoralizing effects of long and OK
elusive association with the lower order
of humanity. I am glad to hear of Won
prosperity, but regret to see that yo,
have forgotten or outgro VII the roo,
sense and refinement of earlier veors
and do not appear to have the sligbfos
appreciation of what is due to the lad,
whom you would desire to mako Won