The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-06-05

the letters had written, purporting to
come from T. b. V. r., and blushing
look of pleasure came over the girls
face.
Captain Reid has often written of
you, Colonel, and while l fully expected
to find him here to meet me, am glad
that he sent a substitute can feel in
some way acquainted with"
"Did Captain Reid expect you?'
"Why, certainly. l wrote him three
weeks ago that if certain matters did
not change for the better | would come
to join him here, in spite of all the dis
comforts he so wildly pictured. The
matters did happen. was tormented
out of my life by my guardian and his
son. The latter wished me to marry
him, in order to secure the fortune now
due me, that has for ten years been in
his fathers hands. / know, colonel,
that you are aware of my correspond
ence with Captain Reid, and l deter
mined to trust my future with him of
whom 1 knew little rather than tempt
fate with one could not like, of whom
l knew everything, and all to his dis
credit"
! had to have time for thought and
plans.
" Miss Miller-thank you. Well,
Miss Miller, know that the captain
never received your letter. We have
been busy at Mobile and have just ar
rived here, having had no mail for fully
twenty days. Our camp is all in con-
fusion as yet, and there is much to be
arranged. Will you try and content
yourself for an hour or two while go
to camp and notify Captain Reid?"
She consented to wait. The pOstmas-
ter's private Office was given up to her.
1t was pretty but distressed face |
left behind me as l rode off, consider
ably worried about my own part and
penalty in the affair.
| went straight to camp, sent for
Reid, and there was full hours con-
fab, good deal of hard swearing on
his part, power of persuasion on my
own before the matter was settled.
l knew the captain well. He had
money, good heart and no entange-
ments. He was calculated to make a
loving husband for any woman. Iput
the case strongly to him. Here was an
honest but unsophisticated maiden,
with money of her own, ready to be-
/ Il
trouble of courtship, won his bride for
him and had her safely housed and
waiting. What more could he want?
Would he be so ungrateful as to let all
my earnest endeavors on his behalf go
for nothing? Besides, he had always
vowed he was in love with the girl,
though he had seen only her picture.
My eloquence gained him over, even
as my literary skill had secured the
lady. l exhibited all her letters, told
as nearly as | could the contents of
those had written her, and before two
hours l led my gallant comrade to his
happy, willing sweetheart.
That evening they were married by
the chaplain of the - Massachusetts.
Reid at once rendered his resignation,
and was given leave of absence pend
ing its acceptance. The next morning
the young couple took a boat for Gin
cinnati.
Mr.. and Mrs. I. B. Reid Ono V in
the name now are happy, rich and
contented in Wisconsin. | hear from
them often, but neither has ever given
me hint that any explanations have
ever taken place between them regard
ing their wooing by correspondence
So my lark in that line turned out
finely for all parties, but it might have
been terrible matter for everyone
concerned. | have never since been
interested in any courtships but my
own, and in these | learned how serious
such affairs generally are. q. San
derS, in NeC England Homestead.