The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-10-09
SELECT STORY.
ANNA'S FIRST BEAU.
A STORY TOLD BY HER SECOND SWEET
HEART.

A STORY TOLD BY HER SECOND SWEET
HEART
My Aunt Lane was good woman,
| believe, read her Bible constantly,
did a great deal of plain sewing and
made soup for the poor of the odd
bones lying about the larder, but she
was a match maker, and loved money
besides. | was desirable person in
her eyes, on account of my fortune,
and she resolved to secure me for one
of the girls. We'll, | was innocent and
unsuspectng and | came from the
country. fell into the trap set for
my unwary feet, and l was as much
pleased at my capture as if it were the
most delightful and gratifying thing in
the world to be madly in love with a
woman who did not care two straws
whether l lived or died. Indeed, but
for my being little enough in her way,
l believe Anna would, on the whole,
have preferred the latter alto trnstive:
In spite of the encouragement | re-
ceived, when my visit at Mrs. Lanes
terminated l hired house within a
| few doors of hers, and there took up
my abode. Would time and patience
melt Anna's obduracy
/ knew that Aunt was staunch ally
of mine, for she had once told me con
fidentially that if | took fancy to one
Of the dear girls, and the fancy was
mutual, ! should have her blessing.
Perhaps she had told them the same,
but if so it was quite clear that they
did not value her blessing so much as
| did.
had been about six months in nv
new domicile, and was getting more
accustomed to town ways, when one
morning received little note from
Auna. Her mother was out, and she
wanted to see me particularly. Both
facts were encouraging, it must be
owned, for when lady tells you that
her mother is out she generally means
something by il; and, as may be sup
posed, I obeyed my cousins invitation
with alacrity
"She begins to like me little, after
all" thought l, and entered her pres
ence with smile on my lips.
"Oh, Jerry she cried, 81 wanted
you to do me a great favor"
She had often made use of me be-
fore, but only in the way of buttons
and silks, when she was not in the hu-
NOR TO go out, or it rained very hard.
l expected some such errand on the
present occasion, but what was my sur
prise and dismay when she handed me
a little note on pink paper, delicately
sealed, and so fragrant wilhal that /
seem to smell it even now.
"Je,ry," said she, trembling little
and growing very red. 81 want you
to be the best fellow in the world and
take this letter somewhere for me.
as it too precious to be trusted to the
post ~ inquired, rather gruffly.
"a messenger is safer, she replied
"You don't know all the circumstances
jerry"
"No," thought /, ''and l am very
much mistaken if your mother doe
either
"If you are going to be disagreea
BILE, added my cousin, presently, find
ing my n aace ana manner uhproPllious
why II Z, get some n one else 70 40 III.
rr'ahu; a.er pateS wo"'u dc ue
iiSn'eo ~ wall upon 'ne III any way
ne mas o,'e'' 'oi'' INC so' 'ai sen'
iot Nm -,
II ,,o:.' NO. 'naeeu, you s,,'s'l ro'' c'ieu
ID "iCe nH, 'ile i,e ie''e'' f,''a''
-, En, "e';' !, you mean e 70 . oe anna ami
o'e, mere ~ - H"'u sn'' n", uo'''
,old whera = ~ oo or nrx,h;nar
"I ,honnh, ls,,s,S r,anaraIlv Hod a.
.5dro.s" sa;,l I wi,h Conn.,, .syar;ty
mo Cousin .Ja,ry. don, ast g
$ crunnv" said Anna "Yon ou@ht +
u 6o very much oratified at sncb a nroo
, of coni;dancn On nv mort II ;sr't ey
crv one I wonld ask to undertake suc
delicate mission for me-"
uYou smoke about Waltor Ratos in.
,ow y so;d 7
"}nt that was onite a ioker sal
q Anna 81 wouIdn't trns, him with on
of nv secrets for tbe world An
now iarrv listen. You'u tale that To-
fer TO St Marv's Chnrch and there vo
will wait about until Won see a Ia
vouno man of military apnearanc
. with auburn hair and moustaehe. II
:" will wear blue necktie ana have
s. s red rose in his but,onhole probabl
90 90 he will accost YOU, and if 80 give hi
70 the note as secretly as Won can; ask \
e questions and come away"
SO "And if he asks me ouest,ons
81 said |.
en- .srboro 20 No toor. bo has ton nan,
~ sonsa" sba ron,;od m I ,horahv M I t ;nf i, rrin
- tba, ho S "ossoSind q aan;do5 .dnan,a'
ouar @ M M. in ,h;s roSnec, % "s
w was @ not NJ ' in n hanny framo ri min
~, aotnouloSaa anJ mIppy wSan T 7 not " - T :
.S | hllti W llSli L ROl w ~