The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-07-25
LOVE UNDER A STAMP.
The Ingenious Way John Redmond
Courted His Sweetheart.

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self vigorously with the cover from off
her head.
''Mercyl but it's warm" she ex-
claimed, after tanning for a moment
'How cool you look, Renie, and as sweet
as peach But, there, what are you
blushing SO about? didn't think COM
pliment from your great overgrown sis
ter would have such an effect. If it had
only come from John"
The slender, dark-eyed girl, dressed in
the daintiest of white muslin gowns,
which set off her shapely shoulders and
arms with bewitching grace, had
checked the 4mpetuous speech of her
younger sister by warning motion Of
her finger, which was long and white
and slender and tapering
''You had better not keep mamma
waiting for her letters" said she, ''and
you may just mention to her that you
brought me one from Mr.. John Red
mond, which 1 will leave on the mantel
for her, if she cares to see it.
Evaline looked up in surprise when
she received this message, but she
could read no explanation in her sisters
face The long lashes dropped until
they almost rested upon the cheek, and
there was a demure, self-satisfed some
thing about the expression OF lrenes
countenance.
As soon as her sister had disappeared
with the letters and the message Irene
tripped lightly within, hastened to her
room, dipped the corner of her hand
kerchief in water pitcher on the wash
stand as she passed it, as though she
had need of rubbing some stains from
her dainty finger tips before they
touched the missive inclosed in the
plain white envelope, which was adj
dressed In dashing, lawyer-like hand:
eMiss Irene Middleton, Iredell," and
which bore upon its upper right-hand
corner the postmark: 'Bluntville," OPP
posite the Columbian two-cent stamp.
But If Evaline had supposed there
must be something in this letter which
John Redmond, the handsome young
fellow who had been 80 ardent an adj
mirer of her sister last summer, had
written her, which would make her
heart beat quicker, she ought to have
been there to glance over her sisters
shoulder as she read the commonplace
sentences which barely filed a single
half-sheet of note paper inclosed In the
envelope. 1t ran:
MISS MDDLEToE:-I hope you viii pardon
the liberty taken by one all but stranger to
your family In thus addressing you in an at
tempt to restore to you piece Of lost property
which was identified by the friends at Elm Grove
as yours You will receive by express to-day
parcel containing your parssol, which trust
will reach you unchanged The friends At Elm
Grove join me in wishing you pleasant winter
at Iredell and a sure return next summer to
the circle OF which you formed so delightful
member. May not crave tho honor OF being
remembered 10 your esteemed father and
mother and also express the wish that some
fortunate accident may throw 1t within my
power to become better acquainted with them
Boping you will not mention SO slight thing
as the attention have paid to your property,
remain, yours, JOHN REDMOND
This prosy missive was soon after de-
posted upon the mantel below, accord
ing to the instructions given to Evaline,
with as much Indifference as so matter
of-fact and unsuggestive epistle seemed
to merit.
Irene's mother must have shared
somewhat the feelings of her younger
daughter as she finished reading it for
The third or fourth time, and then laid
It back in its place upon the mantel
with a shade of expression upon her
countenance which could perhaps best
be described as relief mi gled some
what with disappointment.
But, upstairs, Irene sat musing In her
own boudoir, still holding in her left
hand the lace handkerchief with
the subtle scent of white lilac partially
inclosing the envelope, as though that
portion of the letter which is usually
thrown into the waste basket was to
her the part most full of pleasing
thoughts.
.Ol'' she said, springing up from her
reverie, ,"perhaps I'd better take this
envelope downstairs and leave it with
the letter"
As she made a movement to do SO,
she first hastily thrust something into
her pocket.
But Just as she was about to descend
the steps she noticed one thing more
The stamp from the envelope had be-
come detached by the moisture still re-
tanned in the corner of her handker-
chief, and was clinging to the handker-
chief and not to the envelope.
Going to pretty escritoire she deft-
iy gummed it, and reattached 1t to its
former place upon the envelope by the
help of blotter.
AS she did so her eyelashes again
dropped low upon her cheeks, and there
came into her face that demure look,
which seems to say to the beholder:
'See how guileless / am"
$50 John Redmond has been writing
TO Irene?' queried Mr. Middleton of his
wife that evening as they sat together
in the library after he had heard an ac-
count of the days events
81 was afraid of something like that
You know he seemed quite smitten
with her last summer.
"Poohi nothing but penniless law
yer, and likely to be so for good many
years to come. We couldn't think OF
such a thing, you know. She showed
you the letter? Ali that is it.
'sWell, well; Ideclarel Very straight
forward and matter-of-fact A mere
matter of returning a lost parasoL
Still, you can't tell how much hidden
meaning there may be in these things
Did he pay the express chargesS"
Just then their little dialogue was
interrupted by the entrance of one of
the subjects of their remarks.
Papa" Irene said, 'Evaline and
are going out for a little stroll, and
find / haven't any small change. /
shall want to bring package from the
express Office. presume 1t won't be
more than dollar or so; If you please"
Certainly, daughter" and Mr.. Mid
dleton plunged his hand into his pock-
ct After the girls were out Of hearing
his wife looked at him with decided,
'T-told-you-so" glance and nodded.
"You see she has gone for the para
sol, and the charges were not prepaid"
Mamma" suggested Irene day or
two later, NOW that l have got my
parasol back safely suppose l shall be
remiss if do not go to the trouble Of
acknowledging Mr.. Redmond's polite
ness in the mater. Would you or papa
have time to drop him a note of thanks
or shall write to Cousin Mildred?"
''Oh," said Mrs. Middleton, perhaps
you'd better write yourself, dear"
"And," she added, with a little burst
of motherly generosity, just as Irene
was proceeding to her task, since Mr..
Remond has proved himself so polite
and gentlemanly there would be moth
ing out of the way In your saying to
him that we shall be glad to have him
call If he chances to be in town
"Of course he won't take the trouble
to do so or to write again, and that will
end It," she thought to herself.
But he did write again. And Evaline's
eye had a quizzical look In 1t as she
handed this second letter over TO her
sister.
"It is surely beginning to get inter-
| estinn y said this romantic little dream