The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-05-07

all the while she had no idea that any
eve was ON her. At last ] took step
a bold one for me. / bought q booA-the
last new one of an authorizes she seemed
Interested inland left it at her door with
this on the ny-ieaf:
Dear Madam-You were so much inter
csted i'm that last book Of Mrs. Edwards
that j venture TO send you another Whl-h
/ hope may prove as interesting. You
will. perhaps. Doe surprised when / tell you
that YOU read the first four chapters OF
that book without stopping; that you
tbo, mark the place with a book-markcr
with a harp ON il. that YOU cried at the
tenth chanter. and kissed the book when
you closed IT, ..,,.,.,,.,
YOUR SPIRIT FRIEND
Through my peeping place l saw the
little woman take in the book; saw her
read the inscription with amazement' put
her hand To her head and ponder. and
then draw one of the white curtains and
look ont. a young man was shaving
himself at a window opposite. J saw that
she an once pitched upon him as the
sender of the book.
Tha next day She put blue shades up.
once. watching her from above. as though
were an angelic being without wings
SOW NNI COME li ilNIl a VAIN WIN "N'T
umu leaves i'm her hand. Afterwards
She ir01cl them and made little wreath
off them. which She hung nap over q little
lookine-rlase. Tno next day bought and
left at the door some dollhouse roses.
"Sirco Won care for autumn leaves, you
viii care for these as usual
This time She laughed softly, and put
them in water. and sat looking AT them
isuc while Then She pceped out Of her
window again. The young man was not
at the opposite easement. Then she shook
her heod. and after q time she took
damask roce from the bunch, and nut
it I'm her hair Tho next time l sent the
flowers ] wrote ON the card:
"I'u wore "a dam9sk rose from the last
bunch 7 sent you. VIII YOU put a yellow
tea rose I'm your hair this time?"
How ! watched ! saw hor look half
pleased. half frightened. At first she only
pat the roses in 2 vase. bat at last she
did take one. and 70 was a tea rose. and
pinned 10 I'm her black braids. ] kissed
my hand 10 her from my elevated situa-
don. but she did not knew IL.
So for az least six months I watched.
end sent her flowers and fruit and books
and litle Sits Of al sorts. But as for
asking our mutual landlord for an intro
duction. ] never thought Of that-it never
occurred to me. ! should not have dared
20 speak 10 her if I had been introduced.
Tie autumn and the winter passed. and
II was often so cold that I was obliged TO
scraue away the frost from my peeping-
place 70 see her. hut 7 did fl. and let me
assure YOU that 7 did It most respectfully
and with the most gentlemanly feelings.
/ PLAYED spy. but it was with the deepest
vouerati0l.
81 ring came. Little green buds were on
the trees: and she opened the window TO
let I'm the mir. and wore pretty. iicht-
colored garments. Now that the window
was ouened. she drew her table further
away from IL and nearer the wall. This
was more convenient 10 me.
one evening she sat down AT her table
10 write a letter and / got my glass and
found that 7 could see the words upon
the paper My hone was that she would
allude TO her unknown friend. IL was
eradded. She did. After some talk of
persons and things l knew nothing Of,
she wrote thus:
'Now. dearest Lizzie, I will tell you
Of the straneest thing that has happened
10 me. 7 have no friends in the city, nor
have / seen any one watching me; but
from some mysterious source. books,
papers. magazines. flowers and fruit are
sent TO me- / have had tickets to matt
nees. At first I was afraid 20 go to them;
but L tried il. and no one spoke or looked
at me. Everything this unknown does
is done delicately. ! really have begun
to be interested in him. Who can IL be-
/ often say % myself why does he hide
himself? II no likes me. why does he not
obtain an iutroduction|
Perhaps he is deformed or disfigdered
I'm some way, but if he were ! should
certainly feel that so fine a soul deserved
Sc moi aaA hon
he marks passages in book / know l
shall like them. In fact to confess you
truth which I would admit to no other
living being / am naif way In love with
him. How foolish Of him 20 keep ms
incoenito. when in so many ways he
makes IL manifest that he loves me-.
I read these words with JOY. and re-
treated 10 my room to think them over.
Having drno so, my resolution was ar
rived at 1 seized a sheet OF paper ana
wrote upon it these words
"Doar Nadam-I am neither deformed
nor disngured in any way. Your Halter
ing oninion Of me is so delightful that
thourh mOdcsty prompts me To contra
dict Won. I can not bring myself 10 H.
Indeed / want you TO think even better
~ me than you do, for while l am wholly
In love with you you are only haif way
I inclosa my photograph Al the same
time / make you an offer Of marriage
and will prove TO you my respectable
position I'm society and my ability 10
support q wife. And how nave learned
so much concerning you l WIN hasten 10
explain If you win send me 70
station - box 20. The line that
desire is an answer 10 my offer. WIZ
Won have me II, on meeting, you are not
disappointed in me2' ,,o
Thanks TO my glass roof | was apie
"a see that dear little woman write yes
or words TO that effect, and ! called upon
her next day, and now no longer dream
that she my wife. She pours out NY
coffee and makes my home parauise
when | told her all l have sold you,
She said: "You ought to be ashameo Oh