Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-03-23
THE LOVE LETTER.

I
teacup with an emphasis that made all
the china rattle. And little Mrs.
Meeker jumped nervously at the
| sound.
Il never heard anything so ridicu-
lous in all my life," said Miss Brown,
derisively. '.Gilbert Mott in love with
Georgia Arlington! Why, she's mere
doll, with big blue eyes and pink cheeks
and yellow curls."
"She's very fascinating in her man.
ners," Mrs. Meeker ventured to re-
mark.
"Oh, pshaw!' was Miss Orinthia's 8
contemptuous comment "And you
really think he's in love with her?"
''Yes, must say that think So"
"Ah-h-h'' said Orinthia, meaningly.
'.If l only dared to tell you alr'
"Dear mer' said Mrs. Meeker, eag-
erly; "what do you mean?"
"Nothing," said Miss Brown. with a
nod of her head. HE walked home
from church last nightwith me-didn't
hep"
"Yes, but"
HE stayed on my side of the room
| all the time We were decorating the
fair rooms with evergreens, didn't
he?"
"Yes, but that was because
''And-but never mind, never mindr'
said Miss Orinthia. mysteriously.
Time will show! Georgia Arlington,
indeed-why she's nothing but 4 child
"a mere schoolgirl! l know better!"
| '.Do tell me. Miss Orinthia," plead
Z ed Mrs. Meeker. 'Is he really engaged
to you?'
Miss Orinthia pursed up her lips,
| dropped her eyelids with manner
that was wonderfully eloquent, but she
would commit herself no further!
Lets 60 upstairs and finish dress
ing those china dolls for the lucky
bag" said Miss Brown. 1--WE shall
get more money out of the lucky-bag
than anything else. and we must be
sure and have it well furnished!'
While the tea-drinking ceremonial
had been going on in the lower part of
the mansion of Mrs. Meeker. quite a
different chain of circumstances was
| transpiring above stairs. MIR. Gilbert
Mott, who had been inveigled into the
snares of the Ladies' Fair, ,Rolens uolens,
had come early to help in the last prep
arations, and. walking up to the work
room, had surprised lovely blue-eyed
lassie in the occupation of filling sundry
cones of bright-hued paper with sugar
| plums and French bon-bons.
Georgia Arlington shook back her
sunny curls and blushed like June
rosebud, as she started up.
Don't go, Miss Arlington, please!'
pleaded Gilbert, himself not unembar-
rassed. But Georgia muttered some
thing about a roll OF ribbon which she
had forgotten, and fluttered past him
| ere he could demonstrate further.
Gilbert looked after her, with whim-
steal expression of despair on his coun-
tenauce.
Now, why does she run away from
me like that?' he said to himself.
Probably because she knows it tanta-
lises me! But I'll be even with her vet
If she won't let me tell her how dear
ly love her, I'll write it to her!''
And needless of the neglected piles of
cedar-sprigs and princess-pine, yet
waiting to be wrought into garlands,
he sat down to the table and seizing
pen and ink began a passionate billet
douI after the following fashion:
'MY Own PRECIOUS DARIING:-Why
are you so cold and cruel TO me? Why will
you not let me tell you in words what you
must so often have read in my eyes-the
story OF my hearts devotion? For love
you, and have loved you, and shall love yOu
to the worlds end, and you must have seen
1t for yourself during the last few days that
we have been working together for the
church fair! Yet you will not give me a
word or glance of encouragement!
rs this right, my ruthless queen of
hearts? But | am determined that you
shall tell me when we meet again whether
| may hope or not! Until then. sweet one
l am, half in despair, half hopeful,
Yours, ever and unalterably,
He had Just scribbled off this unstud-
led effusion when the sound of foot
steps on the stairs chased away the
soft shadows of his love dream, and he
had just time to slip the paper under a
leaf of Norway spruce twigs, when
Mrs. Meeker and Miss Orinthia Brown
entered.
.At work so soon!" cried the latter,
archly. 'Isn't he industrious, Mrs.
Meeker?"
YES" said Gilbert. hyprocritically.
I'm at work alreadyi"
So he was, but not exactly for the
fair.
He watched nervously for an oppor-
tunity to possess himself of the precious
sheet of paper. without observation, but
Miss Orinthia, doubtless prompted
thereto by some baleful evil spirit, hov-
cred around the spruce boughs like
middle-aged turtle-dove, and effectual-
ly warded off his designs. And pres
emily he was borne downstairs in the
popular current to open some boxes of
donations, which had just arrived by
parcels delivery.
Il can easily come back to get it
when they are busy cackling over the
new things" he thought.
But-fit illustration this of the fulfill
ty of all human plans-when he came
rejoicing back some twenty minutes or
so later, the sheet was gone.
Gone, leaving no trace or vestige be-
hind-gone, utterly and entirely!
Il believe there has been some super
human agency at work. thought our
bewildered hero, as he tumbled over
the chaotic contents on the table in
vain.
But Mr.. Mott was wrong. The agen-
cy had been exceedingly human-no
other, in fact, than mischievous little
Billy Arlington. come up in search of
stray prizes for the famous lucky-bag
which had been temporarily delivered
into his hands. Cornucopias. pin-cush-
ions, Rimmel's scent-bags, needle
books he pounced on alike, and per-
ceiving sheet of pink paper. written
on, he crumpled it into an old enve-
lope, directed "Miss Orinthia A.
Brown, which lay beyond.
''What larks it will be-" thought the