The Penn's Grove record., 1885-04-25

with a mighty effort, L lald tne letter
face downward upon the table.
"Go on, Caroline" l said; don't
stop like that" And Schiller was re-
sumed, though it was as much as could
do to translate him decently.
The first free moment | had | opened
the letter and read
''Dear Miss Morley,-Pardon me If l
seem abrupt, but l love you, ! adore
you. You are beautiful as an angel,
you are lovely as a rose. | only live for
you. l cannot exist any longer without
you; | love you as my own life, Give
me hope; say 'Yes'-that you feel some
interest in me that l may fly to your
feet and there pour out my devotion,
Dearest Miss Morley, write to me, an
swer me-; tell me you will be my BRIDE.
In longing suspense,
"YOuTs for ever,
ARTHUR CLITHEROE."
| dropped the letter into my lap and
buried my face in my bands. He loved
me-he wanted me TO be his! Oh, bliss
unspeakable-oh, joy undeserved! Was
it a dreamp No; there lay that precious
letter. Again and again | read Tiny
first love letter.
L was a little disappointed in the let
ter, for all that-it vas too wild, too
sentimental. | fancied he would have
written more soberly, more thought
fully. | wished that he had spoken in
stead of written-it was so formal to
have to answer him. HIS proposal was
not quite so nice as ONE | had read of.
And vet should | quarrel with my bliss,
come how it might? Oh, no!
1t was with a heart full to overlooking
that | answered him. | did SO at once,
for my pupils and | were going out and
| had a chance of posting it; moreover
l felt that | could never send it to him
by hand. So, without waiting to think,
lest | should lose my courage, | wrote
my answer. 1t was not an easy task.
Dear Mr.. Clltheroe,-I cannot tell
you how your letter surprised me. !
feel so hattered, so grateful to you for
loving me. It seems incredible that you
should ask me to be your wife. | feel
| can only answer the truth, and that
is that love you, and have loved you
for a long time. "Yours,
"MARToN MORLEY"
This did not seem at all the kind of
note to send, so | wrote another and an
other, all worse. until, in desperation,
l sealed and directed the first. | did
not allow myself to think further till /
saw it safe In the pQst-office, and then,
for very shame, | would have gone in
and asked for it back. | felt | had
taken a plunge into unknown waters.
Nv fha1~htS vuara in n Gf1f0 nf nhanS-
l was joyful, trembling, and excited.
l fear my four girls thought me very
absent that afternoon. As we went out,
Caroline and Amy, the two eldest,
begged me to go a different way from
that which L had chosen; but / said
must post q letter.
''Let me run with it to the post, Miss
Morley" SAID Caroline. at will take
me only a minute from the turnpike,
and then we can still go by the high
road"
mo, l must post it myself, DEAR" l
replied, hugging my letter tight.
They pressed nv to let them take it,
those tiresome girls; and, like a silly
little thing, | turned as red as a peony,
%whereupon Carrie said
"You look so red, Miss Morleyi Per-
haps it is a love letter. | do believe it
isI'' she cried, a l stupidity got more
and more crimson.
"You must not be so forward; it is
very vulgar to talk about love-letters,' u
| answered, according to my rule.
sis it vulgar to be in love then, Miss
Morley?n she asked, 81 never knew
that. Do you hear, Amy? It's vulgar
to be in love-"
swell, not exactly vulgar, of course,
Carrie, extenuated; "but It's better
that young girls like you and 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 a boy" said Amy.
"Was he vulgarp"
'Of course not, Amy" l replied
''because - because he married your
mamma, and 1t was a suitable match in
every way"
''Oh, / seeI" said Caroline. ''But,
supposing- sup9osing--iust for instance,
you know-that you were in love with
Mr.. Clitheroe-that would be vulgar,
would it not?"
GLOW often have l told you, Carrie,
that it is very rude and vulgar to make
personal remarks?" | SAID. wen
drop the subject, if you please"
l spoke with as much angry dignity
as my confusion would admit. Tire
some, forward children, l do believe
their sharp eyes had somehow seen the
address on my letter. However, it was
posted; and the rest of the day and night
passed in a sort of trance. My upper
most feeling was wonder as to what
would come next.
l had to endure tormenting suspense
all the next day. The post was my first
trial; l longed to, yet dared not, look at
the letters, and almost felt relieved that
there was not one for me. Then every
ring at the bell set my heart quiyering.
At last, in the afternoon, when l was
speaking to Mrs. Thomson In the gar
den, MI. Clitheroe went past in the
road. He only bowed; but she beck
oned to him to come in. He did SO;
and l grew red and pale, and the hand
l held out to him trembled. He looked
conscious tool saw that before 1
slipped away. Would he tell Mrs.
Thomson, and would she send for mep
But no summons came; and night closed
upon my wonder and excitement,
The next day brought my suspense to
an end. 1t was Wednesday, our half
holiday. The girls had gone out with
their mother, and | was free for a few
hours. l took my book out into the
garden, but l could not read. The click
of the gate startled me. l leaned for
ward to see who it was, and beheld Mr..
Clitheroe. Oh, how my heart beat, and
how l trembled as he approached
"How do you do, Miss Morley" he
said. 81 am glad to be able to speak to
you alone, for ] have something to say
and to explain"
L stole a glance at his face. He looked
flushed and agitated. He sat down, and
there was a minute of silence, which
grew almost insuppOrtable to me. Why
did he not speak or take my handP Oh,
l could have sunk at his feet and hid
den my blushing faeel
"Miss Morley" he continued, Il re-
ceived a letter from you yesterday"
Eyes, yes" l said hurTiedly. sit
was a stupid letter, 1 know, but yours