River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-03-19
THE LOVE LETTER.

J er jumped nervously at the sound.
AZ never heard anything so ridiculous
in al my life, said Miss Brown deris-
lively. Colbert Mott in love with
/ Georgia Arlington! Why, she's mere
doll. with big blue eyes and pink cheeks
and yellow eurls."
She's very fascinating in her man
ners, Mrs Meeker ventured to remark.
ooh, pshaw!" was Miss Orlnthia's
contemptuous comment. And you re
ally think he's in love with her?"
Yes, I must say that think so. F."
"Ah-h-h" said Orinthia, meaningly.
IF l only dared to tell you ALL"
Dear me-" said Mrs Meeker, eager
ly; what do you mean ?"
Nothing" said Miss Brown, with
nod of her head HE walked home last
night with didn't he?"
Yes, but"
He stayed on my side of the room all
the time we were decorating the fair
rooms with evergreens, didn't hep"
Yes, but that was because"
"And-but never mind, never mind! !"
said Miss Orinthia, mysteriously. Time
VIII show, Georgia Arlington, indeed
why she's nothing but a child-a mere
school girl know better"
"Do tell me, Miss Orinthia," pleaded
Mrs. Meeker as he really engaged to
you?"
Miss Orinthia pursed up her lips,
dropped her eyelids with a manner that
was wonderfully eloquent, but she would
commit herself no further!
Lets go up stairs and finish dressing
those china dolls for the lucky-bag."
said Miss Brown. eve shall get more
money ont of the uclybag than any
thing else, and we must be sure and
have it we'll 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
TRANSPORTING above stairs Mr.. Gilbert
Mott, who had been inveigled into the
stairs of the Ladies Fair, nolens volens,
had come early to help in the last prep
arations, and. walking up to the work
room, had ST vrrised a lovely bluee eyed
lassie in the occupation oftilling sundry
cones of bri ht-hu d paper with sugar
plulns and French bon-bons.
Georgia Arlington shook back her
sunny curls and blushed like a June
rose bud, as sh9 started up.
Don't 60, Miss Arlington, pleased"
pleaded Gilbert himself not embar-
rassed But Georgia muttered some
thing about a roll of ribbon which she
had forgotten, and huttered past him
ere he could demonstrate further.
Gilbert looked after her, with
whimsical expression of despair on his
countenance.
Now, why does she run away from
me like that?' he said to himself
probably because she knows it tanta-
Lies me. But III be even with her yet
ii She won't let me tell her how dear
ly | love her, I'll write to her!"
And needless of the neglected piles
of cedar-oprigs and princess pine, yet
waiting TO he wrought into garlands, he
sat down to the table and Selling pen
and ink began passionate billet doux
after the following fashion:
my own Precious DARLING = Why are you
SO cold and cruel to me? Why will you not
let me tel! NOu i'll words what You must so often
have read in my eves-the story of my hearts
devotions For love YOU and have loved you
and shall love YOU TO the worlds end, and Won
must have seen it 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 9aace of encouragement
lis this right my ruthless queen Of hearts?
But [ am determined that You shall tell me when
we meet again whether l may hope or not!
Until then, sweet one, | am half in despair,
half hopeful,
Yours ever and unalterably, G. M"
He had just scribbled off this I'M
studied effusion when the sound of foot
stems ON the stairs chased away the soft
shadows of his love dream, and he had
Just time to slip the paper under leaf
of Norway spruce twlgs, when Mrs.
Meeker and Miss Orinthla Brown en-.
tered.
AT work so soon!" cried the latter
archly. isn't he industrious, Miss
Mecker?
Yes" said Gilbert, hypocritically.
I'm at work already"
% l6 Was but Hob eAdCtly AoE tHe
fair
He watched nervously for an oppor-
tunity to possess himself of the pre-
cious sheet of paper, without observa-
ton, but Miss Orintria. doubtless promp-
ted thereto by some baleful, evil spirit
lowered around the spruce boughs like
a middle aged turtle-dove, and effectu
ally warded off his designs. And pres
entity he was borne downstairs in the
popular current to open some boxes of
donations. which had just arrived by
parsels delivery.
Il can easily come back and get it
when they are busy cackling over the
new things" he thought.
But fit illustration this, of the fulfill
tv 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!
II believe there has been some su-
perhuman 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-
- Was GANtCNalISAN Lth4tAett- AlV CbilS4
in fact, than mischievous little Billy
Arlington, who come up in search OF |
stray prizes for the famous lucky bag, |
which had been temporarily delivered |
into his hands Cornueopias, pincush |
ions, Rimmel's scent bags, needle books |
lie pounced on alike. and pereeiving a |
sheet OF punk paper. written. he crum- |
pied it into an old envelope, directed |
Miss Orinthia A. Brown which lay be- +
You'd.
What a LARK it would be, thought I
the iEcorrigi' e Billy. Some of the /
girls'll thinl they've got love letter, |
and how ma they'll be when they find /
II amt nothing but one of Rintley's re-
ceipts or crochet patterns.
And away rushed Master Billy little |
rocking of the mischief he was unwit- |
tingly working to the cause of true
love.
The evening of the fair came and /
the pretty rooms, made still prettier |
nv paper roses and evergreen garlands,
were crowded with the brave. the fair.
and some that were neither one nor the /
other. Georgia Arlington, presided at I
one of the tables, lovely enough to I
drive half a dozen men distracted, in /
ead of one, and Miss 0rinthia, in
rustling, slate-colored silk dress, went I