, 1885-07-04

his Peters, particular friend. And TO en-
phasize these casual remarks William S. was
given a FREQ admission to certain fireworks
more d1zzling than pleasant. William, To
his credit be It recorded, used due diligence,
and came of second best, only, after a gem
eral engagement that was much admired.
Tho lovo letter was written in choice
phrase, and garnishei with elegant extracts
from Byron and Shelley. I was rather
proud of my work, and, giving it to Pete,
assured him that IL was simply splendid,
and II II did not fetch the divine Polly there
was no use try ing. When l saw Pete's copy
l was disguised to find that he had not only
interpolatei certain ardent expressions of
his own, but had eliminated my sweet
poetry, substituting soms OF his W selec-
ton, such as
THE roe is red, the violets blue,
Sugar is sweet and so are you"
When l demonstrated Pete said: 'Oh,
look here, Donk, them flights Of yourn are
high pints, and mountainous, but Pop'd
know I didn't come by 'em honestly, and l
don't believe she'd grapple 'em any way
l permitted the letter to go, and a few
days after the divine Pop came into our
vine-clad, maple-shaded office, and requested
a word with me In private. | looked at my
brother student, but he declined taking the
hint, so | invited the fair creature TO a stroll
IN the garden. Seating myself on a rustic
bench | said:
well, Miss Polly, what can / do for
your
She blushed crimson, and in blushing
took on a grace that was perfectly bewitch-
ing. Her silken eye lashes dropped over
her dreamy brown eyes, like fringed mist
over moonbeams, while her pert little nose,
borrowing expression from the coral cleft OF
a mouth seemed to be asserting composure
amid confusion. Suddenly, putting her
hand in her bosom, she brought out Pete's
letter and thrust it at me.
"Hello,r said ], through my mental tele-
phone, has the little rogue discovered our
fraudf7 But no, she Immediately said,
somewhat hurriedly, there's a letter writ
me by Pete. It's frst-rate. Ididn't believe
Pete had 1t in him.
! pretended to read, and having completed
the pretense said that II was the finest thing
Of the sort | had ever seen. Ioffered it to
her.
NO" she said, you keep it,
why should l keep poor Pete's love
letter, Miss Pollyi He'd kill me-
well she said, turning her comedy head
away, 81 want you to answer it for me. 1
don't want Pete to think / can't give as
good as he sends. You help me. you can do
1t, and not try"
but, Miss Polly, he will know my
writing
Not after | copy it. l write a good hand
enough, but l can't compose worth a cent,
AMI then l amt used to such high falutin'
hub-dubs.n
By Jove, l thought, here's business-an-
swerlng my own letter, and a prospect
ahead Of carrying on a voluminous CORE
spondence. I consented, and as a reward
for my proposed services the little rogue
permitted me to girdle-as the country lads
called it-her slender waist and imprint a
kiss on her rosy mouth.
Say, ~ she added, extricating herself from
my rather ardent embrace, while you're at
It, you may as well answer some OF these"
and she put Lawyer Fossett's letters in my
hand.
"Now, Miss. Polly 1 cried, (which Of
these two love-sick SWANS do you favorf'
II don't care n button for them. They
just make me sick with their p~alaver. If
they only knew how to act, like some peo-
pie, who don't seem TO care for me, it would
be better for them, and the little coquette
shot a glance at me from under her eye
lashes, that made my heart jump to one side,
like u colt shying at q red petticoat. For
an innocent, inexperienced country girl to
wing a fellow like that, knocked me dizzy.
made a bolt at her, but she shot under my
arm and disappeared round a clump Of
hlacs, with a musical, ringing, little laugh,
that told OF her keen appreciation OF the
fun, and my dire discontinue.
What volumes OF love letters I wrote. 10
and from myself-on the side of Pete. poor
fellow, who never suspected, and in response
to the passionate Fossett's. All the while
l found myself getting more e~ntanglcd in
the meshes of the web this rustic beauty
wound about me
a about the worlds masters Of diplo-
macy, there Is more subtle art and power in
a girl just out than any ever possessed by
the Talleyrands and Metternichs OF history.
To see through one. and yet remain unseen;
to be cool, collected and shrewd in the hot
test contests, to win through inlmitable tact
the subject dealt with. and make the wisest
man play the fool, give me a woman as she
comes from the hands of nature.
With all tho advantage I possessed of
Polly's confidence, l failed to make any
progress, and was kept at a certain distance
that always seemed to be about closing and
never closed.
My friend Pete seemed satisfied with my
love letters written him through Polly, and
often brought them to me for a better in
depreciation of their meaning, as well as an
swer. did not want the pretty Polly to
marry either. / was in love with her, in a
certain fashion, and feared Fossett moro
than Pete; so trying a little diplomacy In
my part, l threw cold water on Andrew ].
while / encouraged Pete.
The time came for the celebration of the
Fourth, and great was the preparation there
Of. All the farmers far and near agreed to
fetch provisions, which meant an unlimited
supply of chicken flxins,n pies and cakes.
heavy enough to give officiating Indian dig.
gers a dreadful indigestion. An old smooth
bore, said to have seen service In the war Of
~, was borrowed and a gun squad organ,
lied, withthe aged choptank for captain, and
It was much surmised that II the ancient
Choptank, who eft under Perry could To-
main sober until after the salute Of thirteen
guns the salute would be a success. Other
wise it was surmised there would be casual
ties, and some peoples arms and legs would
be sacrificed to the old smooth-bore and the
Fourth. A brass band OF six discordant
pieces from Fountain had volunteered, and
gave assurances they would play the Star
Spangied Banner Hail, Columbia and
Yankee Doodle" so as to distinguish ons
from The othor. A moral Snowman wal
licensed 10 exhibit his natural curiosities.r