The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1883-08-09

long enough to attend to that business;
oHt the selection and wooing of a wife,
being matter of minor inpbrtan6c; you
would fain delegate to d debutS:
Ihcre arc any number Of worthy
ladies to whom, under proper conditions,
would gladly Introduce you, and have
no doubt you might find ali attractive
companion, But amy lady who is fit to
enter int6 tile marriages relation has an
intultive perception of the delicate con
Sldcrntion and gallantry due - Acr Sex,
which would lead her to repel with scorn,
II not absolute abhorrence, the sugpcs-
ton of going oiit to meet d stftlngef, to
he lhokGu at and inspected like bale of
goods sent on approbation, and returned
If not deemed satisfactory. 1 do not
know any lady whose feelings would
insult by d proposition of that sort
Sinte that sGbfhs to be the extent of your
: appreciation III the necessary and indis-
pcnsablc prelminaries of marriage, /
would suggest that you remain n bachc-
( lor, and continue to cultivate the ac-
quaintnnce Of the class by whom you are
surrounded.
81 would bo pleased to hear from you
III regard to any matter of business or
friendship; but you will olligc inc bv
never again alluding to the subject of the
letter now before me.
"Yours truly,
A. +. BRYANT, per NJ"
While tho indgc is reading this causic
epistle, we will throw in few explana-
! tory remarks concerning the parties here
! introduced.
Edgar Fahnestock had been for many
,, years fried of Judge bryant, who
knew and esteemed his father. He was
! fine-looking man, had been well edu-
Gated, and, for time studied law; but,
on the death of his father and second
marriage of his mother, he had taken
his little patrimony and struck off to the
West, where ho had been very success
full. Absorbed in his efforts to accumu-
late fortune, and isolated from the
advantages of metropolitan life, he had
seemed, for time, to forget or lose
sight of some of the social amenities and
requirements of life in its more refined
and cultured phases.
Mildred Allen had been employed for
several years by Judge Bryant rs III
amanuensis, having fitted herself fol
that position bysacquiring thorough
knowledge of photography, after leaving
school. She was now about TWENTY
three years of age, of q resolute. indc
pendent disposition, and yet gay and iull
Of life, and with n keen sense of humor.
Being an orphan, she resided in the
Judges family, and, having found her
thoroughly reliable, he had intrustcd her
with opening his letters. and in some
cases even answering them on her own
responsibility.
The letter in question had been thus
opened and read by Millrcd and, in a
moment of womanly piY"" at the lack OF
sentiment displayed III the proposition,
further stimulated by the impulse of
deep, lurking mischief, inherent and
hereditary in the mind of every woman,
she had felt like giving the writer what
she had termed II lesson i'll love making,
Supposing that it would cflcctually end
the mater.
But the effect produced WAS exactly
opposite to the one she had expected.
Mr. Fahncstock had replied Mt once,
his resentment, however, being chiefly
due to the fact that the reply to letter
which he had intended to be strictly con-
tidential had been sent through an
amanuensis, who must, therefore have
known It's contents.
The receipt of that letter was the first
lntlmaton Judge Bryant had of the
sending of the former one; for Mildred
had felt too deeply chagrincd at her
thoughtless and imprudent act to refer
to 1t, more especially as she did not
suppose it would ever be necessary to do
so.
Having finished the letters, the iudg'
touched bell on his desk, and in few
minutes Mildred entered, trying to con.
troll the tcrpidation that possessed her.
"Wcll, Mildred, have read both let
tcrs," said the Judge, trying to look
grave, but with much less success this
time, for his own sense Of humor had
been kccnly touched.
"And what is my sentence, sir?" asked
the culprit. 'Do you wish my services
no longer?"
Not such services as you have now
been rendering" was the slightly sar-
castle reply. But, as this is your first
otl'cnsc, am disposed to he lenicnt
Some explanation must, however, L.
offered to Mr.. Fahncstock, and the
truth is always the best apology"
ooh, Judge Bryant!" exclaimed Mil
drcd, with increasing trcpidntion. "You
VII not expose my identity in this m-
fortunate affair! What do you expect
| iD'' 10 ItO w IuI GILL L 40
II will not ask you to reveal your
iamc," said the judge. 'But, as you
have written good many letters under
my dictntion, yon may now take down "
very short one.
"E. FAuNEsrocK. ESQ: Sir-,Judg'
| Bryant has shown me your letter to him,
/ answer to one received from him, rs
OF supposed, but which was written by
r,' in his absence, and without his
L: nwlrdGc. ! am simply his amauu-
Isis, and acted on my own responsibility,
tor which I now feel owe you an apol-
oHy."
"And what am to sign? ?" asked Mil
drrd, looking up with increasing con-
fusion.
Simply sign 'Amanucnsis, said the
IN !gc. "As your handwriting is rather
i.,rgc and bold for a lady, he will be apt
." think the writer is gentleman"
"And ] ann afraid yon ought to add
nat my conduct was bold for lady,
Hurmurcd Mildred.
ooh, we'll, said the judge, eve will
anu, ,ny Y,orn On, that bpnl inst now