Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-04-12

Judl L dlliOh Ahuhib b"h D
brought over from the seminary y
Peter took the missive and
glanced at the back of it. 1t was
directed in delicate hand, and
t he heart Of our hero gave great
thump. Surely it must be from
some of the young ladies, and, as
this was leap year, she being in
love with him had the right to
open a correspondence. Not dar-
ing to read it where his looks might
betray him, he put it in his pocket
till he could peruse it alone after
breakfast.
"And sure Patrick said he should
be round in an hour for the answer
to the same !" said Biddy.
at shall be ready by that time|
replied Peter.
After the repast was over our
hero went to the barn and opened
his letter. The contents were as
follows:
CHENILLE, April 1st, 1860.
My Dear Peter ButtOnwood-
What can you think of a young
and delicate lady who, without en-
cOuragement, thus presumes to de-
clare her love ? Pardon me for
thus exercising the rights and
privileges of my sex, in declaring
my love for you. For a year my
heart has been ali your own, and
ifyOu return my love, don't fail to
meet me at the Leaning Oak in
the meadow tonight at nine pre-
cisely. | shall send this by Patrick,
and IN an hour he will call for an
answer. Come without fail, or you
will break the heart Of your true
love, n. IT,
"Nellie Grsythorn, by the piper
that played before Moses. Ot
course n. G.. can be no other. And
she loves me. Ah, Peter, this will
pay you for waiting Lucky dog,
amt you, Peter She is but eigh-
teen, and has property of the
amount of $4,000 in cash. Gosh
Peter ButtoDwood, your fortune is
made. But l must answer this
Immediately !" and Peter in bis
Joy and fOrgetfulness gave his
horse a peck of meal, instead OF a
quart as usual.
That day, just as Miss Nabby
Grant had finished her dinner, one
of the seminary girls came in and
handed her a letter that she had
lust obtained from the pOstOffice
for her. with the utmost gravity,
the maiden sag gested that perhaps
it was. an offer of marriage, and
then left the spInster's cottage.
"La sakes, who can it he from 2
murmured the spinster, as she
drew from the lowest depth OF her
capacious pocket pair of specta-
cles, which she only sported when
alone. GA mau's hand writing, l
declare y and all of a tremble, she
opened the letter and read as
follows:
CHENILLE, april LIST, 1860.
Nv Dear Nellie Il have long
loved you, above houses and lands,
and all | possess 4; but | feared you
didn't return my love. ] think We
had better be married right OF, as
| am in want of a hOusekeeper. BE
sure to be at Leaning Oak tonight
at nine O'Clock to exchange our
vows. Your true lover,
PETER BUTTONGOOD.
can offer, as sure as am born
and from Peter ButtOnwOOd too
And he has lovOd me all this time,
perhaps for years. What a pity he
had not told me before, we might
have marri ed ten years ago
But better late than never. Miss
Nabby ButtOnwOOd ! lie called mt
Nellie, how romantic he is ! Well
we'll, shan't be an old maid, and
that is a great comfort. Dear
Peter, III be there as sure as The
rivers don't run up hill. See if
don't ~
At Just 8:45 Peter ButtonwoOd
dressed in his Sundsy-g gO-tO- meet
ing clothes, emerged from his resi-
dence and bent his steps towards
the leaning oak, which, by the way
was located in the COW pasture a
the foot of a steep hill.
"What a happy man am !!
mused Peter to himself as h'
plodded on. "Nellie will make
capital wife, to say nothing of thu
$4,000, which added to $1,000 tha
Pve got in the bank will maxi
$1,000! Eureka ~ and our herr
went through divers feats of gym
nastics that were perhaps NOR
practical than elegant; but as III
neared the place of meeting h'
sObered down somewhat.
Meanwhile, beneath the tre'
Nabby Grant was waiting for hin
She would have been frightened
coming that distance alone, haC
not the moon shone bright and TIN
thoughts that the days of he
maidenhOod were numbered. Once
just at her arrival at the tree, sh
wac startled by something tha
sounded like a giggle up amOnI
the branches, and she was sur,
she saw something white in tn
same direction but as she ha
left her spectacles at home sh
could not determine, and as sh
heard no more sounds she dismIsse