Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-06-23


casually.
| What, Julius DO you feel that way,
too?' Gretchen cried in astonishment
| And I, who always thought you so fear
fully prosaic and mattcr-of-fact."
HIN! one is young and has "A heart"
he replied with serious air, mastering
his impulse to laugh.
From that moment Grctchcn's thoughts
and wishes conferred in the possibility of
n clandcstinc exchange of love letters
with the as yet unknown hero of her
romance. But the thing was easier to
plan than to carry into effect. First of
all, she must find some one to love her.
julius? Oh, a secret correspondence with
him would have no charm whatever In
stead of mourning the displcasure of her
parents by such conduct, she would be
praised for her good sense; and d little
| fear of discovery was necessary in order
| to give flavor to the thing.
| One day, howcvcr-could she believe
| her cyes?-she received letter bearing
the post-mark of the capital With Il
beating heart she read the following
| lines:
MY Dear Madam
II hardly know how to express that
which | wish to say to you. Ever since,
on trip to your city. l saw your face,
your image has haunted me and will not
out of my mind, 1 dare not yet tell you
my name, but | should be incxprcssbly
happy to receive line from your hand,
telling me that you are not angry with
me for presuming to address you.
| Faithfully yours,
TX. Y. H., General Delivery"
Gretchen fairly trembled with surprise.
She read the letter over and over, nearly
twenty times. So, now she had her wish;
for only one who really loved could have
written thus And here was her chance
for "A clandestine correspondence. Ro-
mantle thoughts ran riot in her brain
linn "A Inc, hn~ doll at IN ia
and post a fragrant little note which
contained only the words, Il am not
angry"
by return mail her correspondent re
ply arrived, and made her beside herself
with ecstacy over another letter from
him who had dared reverentially to kiss
her hand in his thoughts. Would it be
obtrusive, y. Y. H. wished to know, to
inquire whether the unstable February
temperature had a bad influence on Miss
Meters health?
Gretchen had little struggle with her
self before she answered this second let
ter, but finally she yielded to temptation
and this time her note contained two
lines.
In the course of a few weeks the clan
de slime correspondence assumed alarm
ing proportions. y. Y. u. openly acknowl-
edged his passionate love. and Gretchen
spoke unro servedly of her great longing
to see her lover face to face. At last
April came. with warm, sunny days
days during which Gretchen spent hours
in the garden, reading literature of the
"Wcrthcr" style.
one afternoon, when she was thus oc-
cupiod, julius came and sat beside her.
He was, contrary to his habit. very seri-
Gus
Cousin Gretchen" he began at last,
II must have talk with you. l know
your secret
k,a
stammcred.
Yes. You are corresponding without
the knowledge of your parents, with n
man in the capital. Not that YOU need
have any fears. lie is my friend and has
come here to see you and speak with you.
But | don't quite undcrstand-you have
never met my friend?'
No" came piteously from Gretchen :
pale lips.
so ! thought Well, he will be here
in a few minutes, for, in order to do him
a good turn, | have told him to meet me
at this house. He will ask for me. If
when YOU see your y. y. H.. you fee
| that you can never love him, you will get
rid of him by merely saying that hay.
| gone"
With this announcement. julius nodded
Good-by and left poor Gretchen to her
own devices.
She sat there rudcly walked from hci
been lifted from the affair, and Their
was now nothing in it to attract her
lie was coming-ioubtleSs to ask for hci
; hand? Did she love him?
Her whole being cried out in denial
and she wished that Julius had not left
her to face her lover alone.
Steps were heard on the gravel Of the
path, and a man in faultless attire stood
before her. At the sight of him she turn
ed cold as ice and shivercd from head &c