Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1883-06-07


ness, and threw spilled salt over my
shoulder, went down on hands and
knees-being rather near-sighted-to
search for four-leayed clovers, care
fully avoided passing under ladder
turned back if met a crow, and all
the rest of it. Well, fell in love with
her; but, much to my chagrin, she
didn't fall in love with me. She liked
me in a sisterly sort Of way-that !
could plainly see; but she never
thought of me as lover-that could
also plainly see. She walked with me
Tim, the embryo farmer, generally
accompanying us !; listened to my read
ings from my favorite authors let me
help her feed the chickens; taught me
how to make butter and pot-cheese
but not step further had I got when
the last day of August arrived, and
my vacation came to an end.
"You will come to see us?" said
Mrs. Dayton, when was taking my
leave.
"Yes, indeed, if you would like to
have me" | replied.
"Come as often as you can the
oftener, the better we will be pleased.
But Philippa said never a word
though a friendly interest shene in her
beautiful hazel eyes. However, remem-
bering the old proverb, Faint heart
never won fair lady" did not allow
her non-invitation to keep me from
fulfilling my promise to her mother,
and 1 fulfilled it so well that l went
to Nutwood every Saturday afternoon,
and remained until Monday, for three
months longer. Then, winter setting
in in earnest, was obliged to bid the
farmhouse good-by, without having
received from Philippa the slightest
encouragement to tell the story that
was always trembling on my lips.
December and part of January
passed away, and had heard nothing
from Mouse's only sister, when, one
day, looking up from my desk, I saw
him standing beside me.
"I've got note for you, sir" he
said, "from Phil" My heart began
to beat wildly. "It came in one she
sent me, and she told me to put it into
your own hands,
I could scarcely thank the little
fellow, I was so surprised, and taking
the note from him, l opened it quickly
and read as follows:
"DEAR Mr.. LovEJoY-I send you a lock of
my hair" (my heart fairly galloped), "and
l would be ever SO much obliged to you if
you would take it to Signor Rialto, and ask
him to burn it and tell my fortune from the
ashes. I also inclose a card with date of my
birth, etc. He told Melinda Wells in that
way, and it's come true, and she is to marry
the very one he described, on the 1st of
March. You are to be asked to the wedding.
She is the girl that went blackberrying with
us once, and you said looked like an Esqui-
mau. wouldn't trouble you, but Roderick
is too young to trust with such an errand,
and you are the only gentleman friend Ihave
in New York. And the reason don't send
directly to him by mail is that it will be SO
much more wonderful if he reads anything
true from the lock of hair not knowing from
whence or from whom it comes.
"Yours truly PHILIPPA DAYTON"
"P. S.-Be sure to come to the wedding"
"What nonsensep' said I to myself
(my heart having gone back to its
usual trot J, as soon as l had finished
reading it, and for an instant 1 felt
like throwing the whole thing out of
the window. But only for an in
stant. Then 1 opened the en-
velope, took out the long shining au-
burn tress, looked at it with admiring
eyes, came near kissing it, folded it up
again, and put it carefully away in my
vest pocket. And while putting it
carefully away in my vest pocket an
idea came to me like flash, which,
justifying myself with the thought
that calls fair in love and war;"
began to carry out as soon as Lon came
sauntering in from his lunch, "Lon,"
said I, "do you think yourself capable
Of writing out full and true descrip-
tion Of the undersigned?"
"What the deuce do you mean ?" was
his rather irrelevant reply.
"Just what SAY" said 1. "Alonzo
Fordyce, can you, and will you, write
out, nothing extenuate, nor set down
aught in malice, a full and true descrip-
tion Of your unworthy friend Tom Love
joy?"
Certainly, if you are in earnest, and
| begin tosee you are. And it isn't to
be at all flattered? ?"
NOu dU oil. LCdH d llIOlt w lutICy
side, of course, but do the work so that
your conscience can never reproach you
for it."
"Well, he1e goes" and seizing pen
and paper, Lon began.
"That won't do" said I, looking over
his shoulder.
"What won't do?" asked he.
"Why, tom Lovejoy.' No name
must be mentioned. Begin thus: He
is about five-and-twenty."
"All serene" said Lon, taking an
other sheet of paper, and alternately
scribbling and looking at me for about
fop r,oinr1far Of fha o,1d IF xub;ah t;,.,o