The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-07-25

longer c0nceal tne--eecfte HUH sAs sch
that loved him. but scarce dared to
hope that my love was returned. One
day a letter was brought to me In q
strange and yet strangely familiar hand,
bearing only our village postmarS- My
heart throb5ed, my color came and
u ent, the more SO as caught Caroline
ewes fixed on me with an EXPIRE sion OF
amusement. felt that Twas betraying
myself, and, with mighty effort, laid
the letter faee downward upon the
table.
go on. Caroline. said; don't
stop like that"
And Schiller was resumed, though it
was as much as | could do to translate
him decently. aLa
The first moment / had l opened the
| letter and read;
DEAR MISS MoRLEY-PIrd IN me If I seem
abiupt, but love you. adore you. fou are
beautiful as an angel, you are lovely as q rose.
| 1 only live for you. l can no. exist any
aa'T GIVE Th9 mt yS Ss sss G9%
| feel some interest in me-that | NAV hy to
| your feet and there pour out my devotion.
Dearest Miss Mor , write 10 h m IN onrns
suspense i'ouf . lpaf CLrrHEaor."
dropped the letter into my lap, and
buried my face in my hands. He loved
me, he wanted me to be mis-. 0 bliss
unspeakable, o 10Y undeserred! Was
it a dream No there lay that precious
letter. Again and again read and
re-read tiny first love-letter.
Twas a little disappointed in the let
ter, for all that; it was too wild, too
sentimental. fancied he would have
written more soberly. more Thought
fully. wished that he had spoken in
stead of written. 1t was so formal to
have to answer him. His proposal was
not quite so nice as some 1 had read OF.
And vet should quarrel with my bliss,
come how it might Oh. no.
1t was with a heart full to overflow
ing that answered him. 1 did so at
J once, for my pupils and l were going
out, and had chance of posting IT.;
moreover, felt that could never send
it to him by hand. So. without waiting
to think, lest should lose my courage,
1 wrote my answer. 1t was not an
easy task: o.. f,
I. how your letter surprised me. L feel so HAT
| tered, so grateful to you for loving me. Ii
| seems Incredible that YOU should ask ne 10
| be your wife. | feel can only answer, tne
loved you for long time: W'.i ."'.
E# .' IN ,R1oS MORLEY
This did not seem at all the kind of
note to send, so wrote another. and
another, all worse, until, in despera-
ton. l aled and directed the first. I
did not allow myself to think further
until saw it safe in the Post Office, and
then for very shame would have gone
| in and asked for il back. felt l had
taken plunge into unknown waters.
| NV thoughts were in state of chaos.
l was joyful, trembling and excited.
fear my four girls thought me very
absent that afternoon. AS we went
out, aroline and Amy, the two eldest,
begged me to goa different way from
that | had chosen; but | said l must
post a letter.
"i.et me run with it TO the post, Miss
| Morley" said Caroline. ut will take
me only minute from the turnpike,
and then we can still go by the high
road"
mo, must post it myself, dear" l
replied, hugging my letter tight.
They pressed me to let them take it,
these tiresome girls; and, like a silly
little thin ,, | turned as red as peony,
whereupon Carrie said:
.You look so red, Miss Morley! Per
haps it is love-letter. l do believe it
is she cried, as stupidity got more
and more crimson. H''
You must not be SO forward; it is
very vulgar to talk about love-letters,
l answered, according to my rule.
is it vulgar to be in love. then. Miss
Morle, ?" she asked. 81 never knew
that. Do you hear. Amy? ats vul-
gar to be in love"
.WeIl, not exactly vulgar, of course,
Carrie" | extenuated; but it's better
that >onng girls like YOU ard Amy
should not talk of such things yet
Miss Morley, I've often heard papa
say that he was in love with mamma
when he was quite boy" said Amy
Was he vulgar"
..Of course not. Amy / replied, ''be
cause because he married your mann
ma. and it was suitable match ii
every way"
"Oh, | see," sad Caroline. But
supposing surprising = Just for IN
stance, you know-that you were il
love with Mr.. [ litheroe; that would b.
vulgar, would it mott"
..How often have told you, Carrie
that it is very rode and vulgar to max,
personal remarks l sail. "We'l
drop the subject, if you please"
L spoke with as much angry dignit,
as my confusion would admit. Tire
some, forward children, do believ
. their sharp eyes had somehow seen tn
!, address on my letter. However, it wa
posted; and the lest of the day am
, night passed in sort of trance. Nj
: uppermost feeling was wonder as t
what would come next.
had 10 endure tormenting suspens
T all the next day. The | ost was m
: first trial longed to, yet dared moi
! look at the letters, and felt almost re
, lieyed thatsthere was not one for me
Then every r.ng at the bell set my heal
. ouiveriny. "A last, in the afternoon
a when / was sleaking to Mrs. Thomso
7 In the garden, MIR. Clitheroe went pas
;. in the road. He only bowed, but SD
n beckoned TO him to come in. He di
= so: and I grew red and pale, and tn
. hand l held Jut to him tremb!ed. h
r looked cor s. ious, too; saw that befol
slipped ;.way. Would he tell Mn
= Thomson, snd would she send for me
4 But no simmons cane; and nigi
closed upon my wonder and excite
b ment.
a The next day brorght my suspen:
}. to an eEd. 1t was Wednesday-ol
/ half holieay. The girls had gone oil