Year: 1865

time with you,' remarked the agent dirty
Now, If you'll be good enough to give me ~
little light about what you I do, know Of this
young lady, whom you have never met, but
whom you propose to fttarry, and on whose
honor you are willing to- stake your life, per-
haps there may be some prospect. Of getting
at the facts of Mi
erWlse, YOU need waste no more time in this
neighborhood.'


We'll, if you must have it, here it is: You
see, about six months ago, Gust for fun, you
know | advertised for wife, and this young
lady happened to advertise for husband
about the same time, and we answered each
others advertisements. But then she was i'll
earnest all on the square. Oh, yes, con-
tnued he, observing, perhaps, an ihcredulous
smile on the countenance of the agent, she
was all right-wantcd husband in earnest
wanted one bad She was situated in this
way: she hadn't got no father nor mother, and
was under the charge of guardecn--an old
fellow about ifty-and as she's worth about
twenty thousand dollars here his eyes glis-
tened covetously) in her own right, this guar
deem, he takes and puts her into a boarding
school, and intends to force her into marry
ing him. Shed rather have some younger
fellow, of Course-hatural, isn't it?-so she
takes and advertises for husband. So, as l
was saying, I answered her advertisement,
and she replied to my letter, and so we got
up a correspondence. Now there amt no
humbug about her-I can tell when gals in
earnest-and know she's all right by the
way she writes So about two weeks ago she
says in postscript to one of her lettcrs-I
wish YOU would 20 to Stewards and get me
five yards of black broadcloth and send it to
me by express l want it for cloak, and I'll
send you the money just as soon as it comes,
and don't fail to let me know just how much
it is, for don't want you to be at any expense
for me- So went to Stewards and got the
cloth and sent it by express, and wrote to her
and told her it was twenty six dollars, and
then she put the money in this letter and some
darned thief in postoflice has gone and stole
it out-thats all there is about it.


ooh, that's all, is it, said the agent, with
difficulty restraining the laughter which this
pitiful tale of true love was calculated 20 pro-
woke. We'll, sir, there's no doubt that you're
very much abused individual, and if you will
call again in about fortnight ! think | will
then be able to give you some definite inform
alton in regard to the matter


'Thank you, sir--only put that postofce
fellow in the State prison, and I'll be satisfied.
don't care about the money-that is, | don't
care so much about it-but if you could get
it back


4 shall do everything possible, sir--good
morning


Good morning, sir.


Punctualy at the expiration of the fortnight
the victim of this hcartless 'postofficc robbery
presented himself to hear the result of the in
vestigation. The agent, by writing one or
two letters, and availng himself of certain
other means at his command, had in the mean
time entirely satisfied himself as to the author
of the outrage, and was quite prepared for
the visit


Good morning, sir Have you found out
yet who stole my money!


Yes, sir, | think have


I'm glad to hear it--did you get any of it
back?


Not cent


We'll, suppose he's in the State prison by
this timcY


Not that know of, but it is snot impossible
that he may reach that institution one OF these
days. Here $ letter which will perhaps cx-
plain the matter better than can. | received
it few days since from Pennsylvania. The
anxious young gentleman recognized at once
his 'Emily's handwriting, and fastened to
read the following:


- Penn Jan. 10, 1856.


Mr.. -, p. 0. Agent:


Dear Sir find you have been making
some inquiries about that twenty-six dollars
sent lin horny to Mr.. George X. Well, you
may tell him for me that that broadcloth is
invested in first class shanghai overcoat.
You may also tell him don't go to boarding
school so much as dd-also that don't be-
long any more to the soft sex, though think
he does. You might mention, while you are
about it, that when get that $4,000 | will
send him half of tin the same way | sent
the other. Also tell him, Ever of thee.


Yours truly, EMILY MELVILLE,


... Cor any other man.


There was deep silence during the read
ing of this epistle in the office of the Agent
who had considerably turned his back while
the unhappy victim was learning of his wasted
affections and cash The silence continued
so long that the Agent turned TO offer what
little consolation was i'll his power. But he
was spared the task The haplessy young man
had noselessly departed--possiblyt to take the
first train for Pennsylvania, possibly to med
tate in solitude over the comparative love al
first sight. Wherever he went he has not re
turned.