St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-06-03
THE LOVE LETTER,

nearly frightened his bright-eyed daughter
out of her senses.
mo, father" said she. ''Oh, how can
you ask me. father, when you know [ don't
love him and never CAM"
~ GU mean it, do you?" said the squire,
In slow and measured tones Now. LET
me tell you what 1t isn't that you don't
like Hawkins Jessup, but that you've been
goose enough to go and fall in love with
that young IDIOT George Lake,
May turned very red.
"Papaw
"There's no use mincng matters" said
tne rate squire. IAN artdt indeed!
Why doesn't he go into white@eshine and
calcimining and earn decent KING
''But, papa"
Needn't attempt to argue with me.
miss" said Squire Bergamot. sternIy. .PIl
nave none OF it, and so L tell you! If
George Lake comes to my house he'll be
put out OF it pretty quick. And so you NAV
tell him."
So saying, the squire strobe out of his
house.
Mary drew from her pocket note writ
ten III strong masculine hand:
My Dearest Mary: love you. Will you
promise to be my wife, spite of all opposi-
ton? viii you tell me so with your own Iips?
ANOL SOuIS, 1diluIul 10 Q6aIl, GEORGE.
How her eyes glittered as she read and
re-read the short and simple lines. pressing
them finally to her red lips.
Il do love him! will be his wifer' she
murmured. ''And l will tell him so the
very first opportunity get. Only-papar'
A momentary cloud stole over her serene
brow at this, but it was transient.
Il don't believe in elopements.n said
Mary Bergamot; but if papa still persists
IN opposing our marriage [ will leave nv
home and go out into the world hand in
hand with George"
just as this revolutionary thought passed
through her mind the door creaked ON its
hinges. A heavy, well-knoWn footstep
sounded on the threshold.
Its papa!" cried Mary.
In her CONSERVATION our poor little hero
inc could not find the entrance to her pocket
in the multitudinous folds of her dress. For
second she was in imminent danger of de-
lection; then she hurriedly thrust the incen-.
diary document into the yawning mouth of
paper bag Of choice seed corn. which hung
by the kitchen window. At the next instant
Squire Bergamot was in the room.
Mary" said he, Ego up stairs to the
left-hand corner of my middle bureau
drawer and get me a clean pocket handker-
chief"
And Mary went out with dubious glance
at the nail on which the bag of ..early
sugar corn" hung.
When she reTRrned the room was empty
and Squire Bergamot was just climbing up
into his lumber-boX wagon in front of the
picket fence.
Bring it out here" said the squire ''Tm
going over to Miss Polly Peppers to get my
empty cider caSk. She might a had the
sense to return it herself
He slowed the Observation-Disclosures away
in his pocket and was just taking up the
relns when Mary rushed out again, crimson
to the very roots of her hair.
Father, that bag of seed corn!'
'Oh, it's all right-it's all right" said
the squire, placidly. Il promised a little
to Miss Polly Pepper, and this is already
shelled."
But father" gasped poor Mary. 'let
me tie it up first"
''Nonsensem said the squire. ST Jest
folded over the top and it'll go as snug as
thief III mill. right atop OF my bags of
meal"
Miss Polly Pepper, gaunt spinster of
very uncertain age and a very certain in
trinity of temper, opened the bag of seed
corn as the squire drove off.
might a-brought 1t before" said she.
promised it to us last fall. do despise
these folks that are always putting off
things. Mercy upon us! What's this?" as
she drew out the note. ''Some receipts
that that shiftless Mary tucked away here
to get it out of the way? No it amt. It's
love letter!-and to me!-sMy dearest
Maryland signed George George
Washington Bergamot. that's his
name. Well, l do declare! Amt
he far gone? All opposition
s'pose he means Mary and my two brothers.
in-law that thinks a woman over forty
hain't no business to marry? But I'll see
'em furder afore I'll let 'em overturn my
matrimonial prospects-see if I don't?
Tell him with my own lips Of course /
will! I'll GO right over there at once. De-
lays is dangerous! And if he really is in
such a hurry"
Miss Polly's fingers trembled as she took
her little eorkscrew curls out of their papers
and pinned on fresh collar tied by blue
ribbon.
Blues the color of love-" she said to
herself with shipper; land it was so TO
mantle of my dear George to think of pro-
posing in bag of seed corn"
The squire was at his supper when Miss
Pepper walked in, flushed with her long
expedition on foot.
set down and have bite, won't you?"
said the squire. MARY, fetch clean
plate"
Miss Pepper took advantage of the mo-
mentary absence of her daughter-in-law-
elect to proceed directly to business.
George, cried she almost Historically,
81 am yours"
''Eh?" said the squire
Forever and ever" said Miss Peppes.
fiinging herself upon the collar of his coat
Are you crazy?" said the squire Jump
ing up.
You asked me to be your wife," said
Miss Polly, meltingly.
Il didn't said the squire.
Then what does this letter mean? Ehe''
demanded Miss Polly. Its as clar dec
laratlon as ever was writ. And good
ground to sue on"
The squire stared at the sheet of paper N
Miss Pepper waved it triumphantly over hes
head.
Just at this moment Mary, entering with
fresh tea and clean plate, caught sight
OF the letter.
Its mine," she cried, with sudden
dyeng of the cheek and glitter of the eyes:
my letter. How dared you read it, Miss
Pepper"
Il got it out of the bag of seed corn.s
protested the spinster.
And put it there for safe keeping"
blushingly acknowled Mary Bergamot.
WHO wrote it?" sternly demanded tho
squire.
And Mary confessed.
George Lake, papa"
Miss Pepper went home crying bitterly
with mortified pride and disappointed ex-
pectations. And the squire came to the
conclusion that true love would have its
way In spite OF all dissenting parents.
.tPana y said AIaru s.nan,r i h.