Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-01-24
a glance Of announcement !!

SiduCc VI CuCOuFdScIHCut.
lis this right, my ruthless queen
of heartsl But / am determined
that You shall tell me when we meet
again whether may hope or not.
Until then, sweet one, am, half in
despair, half hopeful,
" Yours, ever and nnalterablv,
&C. LIZ
He had just scrubbed off this un-
studied effusion, when the sound of
Footsteps on the stairs scared away
the soft shadow OF his love dream,
and he had just time to slip the paper
under leaf of Norway spruce twigs,
when Mrs. Becker and Miss Orinthia
Brown entered.
"At work so soon 70 cried the lat
ter, aichly. .Isn't he industrious,
Mrs. Becker ?"
"Yes," said Gilbert, hypocritical-
~. "Tm at work Already
| So he was-but not exactly for
the fair.
He watched nervously for an op-
portunity to possess himself of the
precious sheet Of paper, without OBJ.
servation, but Miss Orinthia, doubt
less prompted thereto by some bale
full evil spirit, lowered around the
spruce boughs like a middle-aged
turtle-dove, and effectually warded
off his designs. And presently he
was borne down stairs IN the popu-
lar current, to open some boxes of
donations, which had just arrived
by express.
~ can hardly come back to get it
when they are busy cackling over
the new things" he thought.
But-fit illustration this of the
futility of human plans-when he
came rejoicing back, some twenty
minutes or so later, the sheet was
gone.
Gone, leaving no trace or vestige
behind-gone utterly and entirely !!
81 believe that there has been
some superhuman agency at work."
thought our bewildered hero, as he
tumbled over the chaotic contents
of the table in vain.
But MIR. Lott was wrong. The
agency had been exceedingly human
no other in fact than mischievious
little Billy Arlington, came up in
search of stray prizes for the famous
grab bag, which had been temporar-.
lily delivered into his hands. Cornu-
copias, pin-cushions, scent-bags, nee
dle-b books he pounced on alike, and,
|percieving sheet of pink paper,
written on, he crumpled it into an
old envelope, directed "Miss Grin
thia A. Brown" which lay beyond.
"What larks it will be-" thought
the incorrigible Billy. "Some ofthe
girls III think they've got love let
ter, and oh, how mad they'll be,
when they find it amt nothing but
one Of Rlntley's receipts or crochet
patterns.
And away rushed Master Billy,
little rocking Of the mischief he was
unwittingly working to the cause of
true love.
The evening of the fair came
and the pretty rooms, made still
prettier by paper roses and ever
green garlands, were crowded with
the brave, the fair and some that
were neither one nor the other
George Arlington, presiding at one
of the tables, looked lovely enough
to drive half a dozen young men
distracted, instead OF one, and Miss
Orinthia, in a rustling slate-colored
silk dress, went about like an autumn
leaf in high wind. The grab bag
circulated from hand to hand, carry
ing, as is the wont of these institu
tions, little current OF meIriment
and laughter in its wake. Georgia
drew cigar case, Mr.. Lott became
the proprietor of a rag doll and Miss
Orinthia Brown drew-a letter, adj
dressed to herself.
Gilbert Lott, leaning against the
doorway, saw Miss Brown hnrrying
up to Georgia and displaying her
prize with malicious glee; while
Georgia colored and bit her lip, and
looked ready to cry, and feigned a
merry ripple of laughter, all in one
and the same breath.
"Why don't that horrid old maid
keep away from Georgia Arlington p
thought our discontinued hero.
"She looks like dried up bunch OF
raisins beside cluster Of blooming
Isabelle grapes"
And watching his opportunity he
slipped through the crowd and edg-
ed up to the table where Georgia was
selling pin cushions and tape trim
miDgs ut an exorbitant price.
Georgia. he whispered softly.
Georgia
But she turned her head haughtily
away.