The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1889-12-19

you. cir. Get the genilemsn's name. jim
A young man with flushed face snt
bis bat on the back Of his closely cropped
bead, Instantly stood before me With q
notebook 10 bis hand became awsr'
that While supposed myself 20 be nod
ding scross the room 10 friend. bad
been bidding for the miirur ! did mol
intend 10 do So; | did bot need or desirs
the mirror. but appreciated It's value
knes i, was bargain. aud dreaded The
general notice that woulS lie attracted IA
me il denied the iBten,iop, 20 gave him
my name. and that evening found the nil
ror my exclusive property.
Like most old bachelors, was fond OF
adorping my furnished apartment with
things OF my owp. A onrious clock bad
been the object Of my visit to the suction
rooms; and nov ths, bad the mirror, !
wondered that had not really iiered a
bid for it, II Was q mantle mirror, long
and low; With frame obout which Loves
and Grsces were apparently playing AT
tag The glass was fine. and The gliding
was good, but noticed that its back was
little lose 10 its frame, and taking the
caution Of putting in few brads before ]
hung il. dislodged sn article that had
slipped down between the glass and the
frame. 1t was letter. 10 delicate envel.
ope, directed, stamped and still sealed
with drop Of green wax stamped With 0
locus, flower. Evidently il had never been
opened The writing, in that pale ink
which ladies affect, had become almost
unreliable; but / fuslly discovered that
it was addressed to Mr.. Dudl.y Whit.
more.
1t was easy to imagine how it had got
into the place whence l had taken it.
Who ever knew q servant who did not
use q mirror Us letter rack the moment
II was lose enough in its frame? But
whether it was an important letter, which
should be delivered to its owner il posi-.
BILE, or merely some note OF invitation that
had had its day, it was quite impossible to
guess.
In the course OF the next morning
called on the auctioneer who referred me
to the person who had placed the thing
ia his hands for sale. He could only tel
me that they came from an old bote
which was about to be torn down, the site
having been disposed OF for certain car
stables. and that be never heard of Dudley
Whitmore, who had probably been a
transient guest at the hotel | looked in
the directory, there was no such name to
be found there, and the letter was by its
postoiiiee stamp, five years old. l did not
feel that that gave me any right to open
1t; but it was possible that might meet
or hera OF Mr. Dudley Whitmore, and
put it away, in order that, il ever this
happened, / might produce it,
Two years passed, however. and l had
never beard the name; and yet, wbeo
went upon my trip to Europe my first
and naturally most interesting one |
took Mr. Wbitmore's letter with me
Who knew but that / might meet him
abroadp
1t was in the little village OF vilIe-le
Bel. near Paris, that l one day found my
self among the worshipers in the church
Of Saint Didier. upon some day deemed
especially holy.
A great many English visitors were
present, and among them beautiful young
lady, attended by little brown servant
maid in tall white cap and earrings, lis
tened intontly to the music. She was very
graceful, very elegantly dressed, and very
charming and she VAS also very pale, land
as the crowd increased and the air grew
heavier, she grew still paler. until finally
heard the maid utter little cry, and
found that the lady had faibted. She was
very near me. aud, with the assistance OF
the maid, managed to carry her through
the crowd to the fresh air. There she re
covered, and though still very weak, was
able to walk. | Inquired how best could
render assistance. and finding that she
lived only short distance from the church
offered my arm and accompanied her to
the door OF her home.
An old gentleman, sitting under the
trees in bis garden. with q volume OF
Racine in his hand arose and came for
ward to meet us. He sympa,hized with
the young lady. sdmonished the maid to
take her at once 10 her mamma, and
thanked me With many bows and flourish.
es. We exchanged cards. The next day
| called TO inquire for msdemoiselle, and
I was greeted as though / we're an old
friend; in fact, became an intimate OF the
cottage and soon learned the history OF the
inmates. The old gentleman was NJ. Yer
net, the second husband OF the young Ia.
dys mother Both ladies we're country
women. The younger bore the name oi
Lefty Linnet ] should thought il sons
ones no mde plume had not known iit
owner. But she though rather romantic
very delicate, aud not by any means whs,
had hitherto believed TO be ny feminine
IDEAL, and Was 90 lovely, no mysteriousl'
charming. that admired even her name
Ixs. attracted to her as never yet bad
been 10 suy glrl. aud IL was not long be
fore knew this, mus, let her know II
Many q happy tour did 1 spend 10 tb'
/ little arbor uoder the trees. or IN the gar
den rich xi,h roses. or the parlor. wher'
Lefty ssng TO Us to the accompaniment o.
her s,ep-fsiher's guitar. before summon
Cd courage or found opportunity TO speai
10 her; bot q, last The chance came.
There vas $ fue old castle in the neigh
bo,hood With which historical s.socisiion'