River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-07-27
LOVE UNDER A STAMP.
The Ingenious Way John Redmond
Courted His Sweetheart.

Here they are; two for papa. three
for mamma and one for YOU. Renie. .
and the plump, good-natured schoolgirl
figure of fourteen threw herself upon
the porch settee and began tanning her
self vigorously with the cover from off
her head.
Mercy. but it's warm" she ex-
claimed, after tanning for moment.
''IIOw cool You look. Eenie. and a. sweet
a. peach. But. there. what are you
bluShing 30 about9 didn't think com
plimeut from your great overgrown sis
ter would have such an effect If Il had
only come from John
The slender. darl-eyed girl. dressed in
the daintiest Of white muslin gowns.
which set off her shapcly shoulders and
arms with hewitching grace, had
checked the imDetuous 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 NAV Just mention 10 Der that YOU
brought me one from Mr.. John Red
mond, which 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-satisfied some
thing about the expression Of lrene's
cOunteuance-
As soon a. her sister had disappeared
with he letters and the message Irene
tripped lightly within. FASTENED To her
room. dipped the corner uf her hand
kerchief in water pitcher ON the wash
stand a. she passed It. a. though; she
had need of rubbing some STAINS from
her dainty finger tins before they
touched the misSive inclnsed in the
plain white envelope. which was adj
dressed in 4 daShing. lawyer-libe hand:
Miss irene Middleton. irettell.'' and
which bore upon its upper right-hand
corner the postnsrl5; -'Bluntville. OPP
pOsite the Columbian two-cent stamp
But II Evaline had supposed there
must b. something in this letter which
John Redmond. the handsome young
fellow who had been - ardent an adj
mirer of her sister last summer. had
written her, which would make her
heart beat quicker. she ought 10 have
been there To glance over her sisters
shoulder as she read the commonplace
sentences which barely filed single
half-sheet of note paper inelOSed in the
envelope II ran:
MISS MIDDLETON.-I hope vou will pardon
she liberty taken by one all but stranger 20
your family in thus addressing you in an at
rsmpt 10 restore 70 You piece 81 lost property
which vas identified by the friends at Fin rove
yours You vii receive by express to-E..-y
parcel ctbJaiuinE your p1rasol. which I trust
viii reach you uudamlCed- The friends al Elm
Grove iOil me Ca wishing YOU pheasant winter
~ Iredel faud sure return next summer 10
the circle ~ which you formed 20 delightful q
member. Nav not crave thc honor OF being
remembered 10 your esteemed father and
vnotNer. and also express thu wish that some
rt-mate aeeidcHt may throw It within my
power 20 heeoInc better acquainted with them
HoninC "a viii not mention 81 slight a thing
as The attention have paid t. your property,
remain. yours. JoHN REDMOND
J his pruSy miSSive ~ soon after de
posted upon the mantel below. accord
ins To the instructions given 10 Evaline
with a. much indifference as 50 matter
of-fact and unsuggestive epistle seemed
90 merit
Irenc's mother must have shared
somewhat the feelings Of her younger
daughter A. She finished reading it for
.he third or fourth time, and then laid
it back in it, place upon the mantel
with a shade Of expression upOn her
countcnancc which could perhaps best
be described a relief mingled some
what with disappointment
But upstairs, Irene sat musing in her
own boudoir. sill holding in her left
hand the lace handkerchief with
the subtle scent Of white lilac partially
inclosiug the envelope. a. though that
portion IF the letter which is usually
thrown into the waste basket was to
her the part most full of pleasing
thoughts.
,'O.'' She said. Springiug up from her
revcrie. ..'perhap, I'd better take this
envelope downstairs and leave it with
the letter.
~ 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 mad be
come detached 10y the moisture stilI re-
tanned in the corner of her handlSer-
chief. ard was clinging To the han il1er-
CHIEF ard not 70 the envelope
tioIng to pretty e>critoire She deft-
IL Cummed IT, and reattachcd il To its
former place upon the envelope by the
help of blotter.
~ she did 81 her evelashes again
dropped low upon her checks. and there
came into her face that demure look
which seems to say To the bcholdcr
s-sSce how CuiIelcss ! am
80 John Redmond has hseu writing
TO Irene?~ queried Mr. Middleton Of hi>
wife that evening a they sat together
in the library after he had heard an ac-
count Of the DAYS events
Il was afraid Of something like that.
You know ne seemed quite smitten
with her last summer.
Pooh, nothing but pennileSS law
yer. and likely 10 be - for good many
years 70 come. We couldn't think Of
such thing, You know She showed
You the letter. Al. that l. il.
well. well; declare. Very straight
forward ami matter-of-fact. 4 mere
matter IF returning a lost parsiSol.
Still. You cant tell how much hidden
meaning there may he in these things
DID he pay the express charges
Just then their little dialogue was
interrupted by the entrance of one of
the subjects OF their remarks
Papa. Irene said. ~Evalinc and
ara going out for little stroll, and
ind I haven't any small change l
shall want Ia bring package from the
express office. ! presume Il won't be
more than dollar or -: II You please. "
Certainly. daughter. and Mr.. Mid
dleton plunged his hand into his peck
ct After the girls were cut of hearing
his y Re loOlSei al him with decidedly
''l-told-yOu-so" glance aud nodded
You see She mas gone for the para
Dol. and the charges were not prepaid
Mamma suggested Irene a day or
two later. Now THAI have got my
parasol back safely suppose shall De
remiss II ! 10 not ~ 20 the trouble Of
acknowledging NJ. Redmoud'S polite
ness in the mater, Wonld you or papa
have time 10 drop aim a note Of thanks
Or SHALL write ie @oasin Miglred9''