The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-04-16
with your mother you promulgated d til.

when you twice accorded me the divine
favor Of clasping your slender waist,
have lost my reason. and have NO peace
either day or night"
Aunt Julie turned the page.
The writing, up " this point correct
and regular, now became confusing, run
ming In ascending lines and capriciously
showing that the writer OF this anony-
nous eDistle had abandoned himself to
improvisation.
Aunt Julie rubbed her spectacles. "Ah,
my poor eyes, my poor eyes, she ex.
claimed as she drew the letter nearer to
her nose.
'Ah, my dear Mile. Julie, how many
hours have | consumed in writing to
You of the trouble into which you have
thrown my mind and my heart! But
when | have read them over have not
been satisfied with the letters and have
destroyed them. You are so beautiful
that to write to you in BETTING man
nrr | should have the genius of Lamar
tine. But even then should be- frightcn-
ed at my audaciiy, and ! should hardly
know how to get this letter to you. But
l have found IA way, and | pray you to
reveal to you at least the secret which
depresscs me. l know that tomorrow
evening you will go to the presidents
ball. l have also an invitation, and |
shall have the pleasure of seeing your
cheeks of lily rose your neck OF alabas.
ter, your lips of coral, and doubtless l
shall again have the exquisite happiness
Of clasping your slender waist. But l
shall find your opera cloak of rose colorcd
satin. TO it | shall conGdc my avowal,
and you will find it on returning home.
You see how love renders one Ingenious
since it has inspired me with this clever
idea"
"A clever ilca!' said Aunt Julie, shak-
to conceal letter in n pocket that |
never used instead Of putting it in the
post"'
She resumed her reading. The writing
beeume more and more confusing, and
the ink was very pale. Aunt Julie was
reduced to the necessity of spelling out
the words. This she did in thin. half
voice, whose A'onng sounds mingled
with the sllriIling of the loc,lsta. Thus
ran the words she deciphcred:
"Do not be too severe on me, and think
of the torrents endure. | ought 10 ad-
dress myself to your father or your moth
er, but as yet | dare not Your fathers
aspect is SO grave, and your mother is so
imposing. And then have noticed that
parents prefer TO marry their daughters
to 4 man of maturity, who has brilliant
position. AS for me, am still young, on
the threshold of my career and | fear
that my little fortune would appear i'll
sufficient TO one so rich as your gespccta.
bic father"
Aunt Julie paused again.
$50 rich as my fathcr?' she murmured
She laid the letter on her knees. looked
into vacancy, and then suddenly was
seized with a severe chill, which, howcv-
or. soon passed of, leaving her oppressed
with confusion OF visions.
80 rich as my fatler.' she repeated.
Eyes, all the world then believed that
lie"
Aunt Julie. sinking into her armchair.
before her embroidery frame. again saw
herself, at Is years, in the midst of balls,
dinners, receptions, encircled with luxury
and without u care, leading the triumph
Of youth in II happy, golden existence.
Then with the unexpectedness OF thun-
dcrbolt came the sudden death Of her fa-
Their, the revelation Of ruin adding itself
to the sohs Of mourning, the humiliatng
decay which invited HE duns of creditors,
the ahjcct decay which turned everything
save II few souvenirs into money and
which called forth hypOcritcal compass
sion and injurious scorn and led to the
painful detection Of friends. Then fol-
lowed the hard struggle against wretch
cdness, which knocks at the door and i'll
Sists on entering, the concealed and hope
less struggle, in which among all her
acquaintanccs Julie was known as 'the
girl without dowry." Then, at last.
came this reposc, well meritcd but in no.
wise due to her, which in her old days
she enjoyed under the hospitable roof Of
her younger brother.
But if this man, this unknown CORE
spondcnt. had not heard Of her fathers
apocryphal fortune, or il she at the time
had discovered this letter
Aunt Julie blew her nose poisily and
again read, but with more difficulty than
before, for moisture blurred her glasses
"But ! love YOU dear Mile. Julie, and
If | know that am sustained by your
lhec,ioh UT W on'S p,o'.i'I' 1n ,
oe aple 10 nn"Ne sooo "nat - '"'"'nS
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