Little Falls transcript., 1885-04-24
THE LOVE LETTER,

AOuuS msenr Wy IL!
THE LOVE LETTER,
Miss Orintlia Brown set down he1
teacup with an emphasis that made al
the china rattle. And little Mrs. Meek
er jumped nervously at the sound
II never heard anything so ridiculous
IN all my iife:" said Miss Brown deris-
lively. Colbert Mott in love with
Georgia ArlingtonI Why, she's rnere
doll. with big blue eyes and pink cheeks
and yellow curls."
"She's very fascinating in her man
ners, Mrs Meeker ventured to remark.
"Oh, pshaw" was Miss Orinthia's
contemptuous comment. And you re-
ally think he's in love with her?"
Yes, must say that think So"
@Ah-h-h" said Orinthia,. meaningly.
IF I only dared to tell YOU ALL"
'eDear mel" said Mrs. Meeker,, eager
ly; 'twhat do you mean?"
Nothing" said Miss Brown, with a
nod OF her head. "He walked home last
night with me-didn't he?''
Eyes, but--'
"He stayed on my side of the room ell
the time We were decorating the fair
rooms with evergreens, didn't hep"
eyes, but that was because"
@And-but never mind, never mind r.
said Miss Orinthia, mysteriously. "Time
will show! Georgia Arlington, indeed
why she's nothing but child-a mere
school girl! ] know better!'
edo tell me, Miss Orinthia," pleaded
Mrs. Meeker. "Is be really engaged to
you?"
Miss Orinthia pursed UP her lips,
dropped her eyelids with g manner that
was wonderfully eloquent, but she would
commit herself no further!
"Let's go up stairs and finish dressing
those china dolls for the lucky bag,
said Miss Brown. ave shall get more
money out of the lucky bag than any
thing else, and we must be sure and
have it we'll furnisheal"
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. 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 surprised lovely blue eyed
lassie in the occupation of filling sundry
cones of bright-hucd paper with sugar
plums and French bon-bons.
" Georgia Arlington shook back her
sunny curls and blushed like q June
rosebud, as she started up.
"Don't go, Miss Arlington, please" !"
pleaded Gilbert himself not embar-
rassed. But Georgia muttered some
thing about roll of ribbon which she
had forgotten, and futtered past him
ere he could demonstrate further.
Gilbert looked after her, with a
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-
lizes me! But I'll be even with her yet
If she won't let me tell her how dear
ly I love her, I'll write 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 tho table and seizing pen
and ink began q passionate billet doux
after the following fashion:
'sMY Own PRECIOUS DARLING ~ Why are you
50 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 stoly of my hearts
devotion? For 1love you, and have loved You,
and shall love you to the worlds end, and you
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 NE
word or glance of encouragement!
''Is this right, my ruthless queen OF hearts
But am determined that you shall toll me wher
we meet again whether may hope or not
Until then, sweet one, Z am half in despair
half hopeful,
He had just scribbled off this un.
studied efusion 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 leaf
Of Norway spruce twlgs, when Mrs
Meeker and Miss Orinthia Brown On,
tered.
At work SO soon!" cried the latte,
archly. Isn't he industrious, Miss
Meeker2 Is3 q, q sks
YES" said Gilbert, hypocritically.
Tn as work already !"
So he Was but not exactly for thu
fair. 2,s' .5 5sg5 f
He watched nervously for an oppor
tunity topossess himself of the pre-
cious sheet Of paper, without observa
Ation, but Miss Orintria. don nbtless promp
ted thereto By some baleful, evil spirit
lhoyered around the spruce boughs lik,
Ia midd aged tnrtl e-dove, and effectu
ally werded of his designs. And pres
I#entlY he was borne downstairs IN tn
popular current to open some boxes o
donations. which hid just arrived b.
parsels delivery
can easily come back and get j