Year: 1869




While waiting 1 took another sheet, and
began writing my second note. This was
of different sort-written in free and
easy language, such as I deemed suitable
to the party addressed. l must add, in
self-defence, that the turn of this note was
probably considerably influenced by my
condition at the time


1t was but the work of minute or two
to finish the first page of the second note


L then passed it to my companion for
the drying process. and requested him to
return the other. He made careless re-
mark about its being not quite dry, and at
the same time called to the barkeeper, and
we had another drink.


All Of this is not very creditable to me,
but | prefer to tell the whole truth in this
confession.


After another moment he handed me
back the first note, and finished up the
few remaining words required in quick
time. This note I sealed up and ad-
dressed.


Then I completed the other in the
same manner. We then both sailed down
to the postoffice, and 1 duly posted my
letters.


We went that night to the theater, and
from thence to the hotel again, where [
spent the night with my friend.


He returned home the next morning.
l trust his headache was not so bad as my
own.


I passed dull, stupid day, going
through my routine of business in me-
chanical, spiritless way. 1 looked for.
ward also to an uncomfortable evening.


My foreboding was hardly necessary, as
I ultimately discovered


Something occurred toward evening
that not only relieved the day of its in
sipidty, but obviated the necessity of at
tending the party at rs.


The carrier of letters, on his last rounds,
brought me two letters, both with the city
postmark. One was addressed to me in
the delicate and familiar caligraphy of my
fair one. 1t was a dainty little packet !;
and respecting its appearance, I took
my pen knife from my pocket and care
fully cut it open at the end.


will give verbatim the few lines that
met my gaze:


at c. street can dispense in future
with services of c. D.. It is scarce
ly necessary to add that the indivdual-I
not call this evening to fulfill request,



acter."


1t contained no signature, but there was
no mistaking from whom it had come.


I gazed at it in a state of petrifaction,
and slowly re-read it. That something
had occurred to degrade me in the young
lady's esteem was quite evident.


But did not feel guilty of any particu-
lar crime, and under sense of injury I
began to feel indignant.


l believe, however, that curiosity was
just then a stronger feeling than rage in
my bosom.


l tried to imagine what could have eff
fected the wonderful revolution in nv
Mary's feelings towards me. Could it be
that she had learned of my conduct the
night before?


I soon dismissed that thought. had
not been intoxicated, nor did I feel that l
had done anything to deserve to lose the
title of gentleman" This last was what
CALLED me most in the note, by -theb by.


Then of sudden the idea was forced
upon me that had probably misdirected
the notes, and sent to Miss Stubbs the
one intended for my friend johnson. de-
clining to attend his ball. The second
note which I had received still lay upon
my desk unopened, and, with a vague idea
that it might contain some solution of the
mystery, l tore it open.


l will also present it word for word,
merely, emitting the date:


YOU'RE brick, old boy, you are And
can't you hoist out the big words when
you want to? No, guess not. If didn't
know you wouldn't know how to take
your letter But me and Stokes had q
good laugh over it. say, though, we're
badly put out that you can't come to our
shake up, for it'll be gay, you bet. Your
little company amt going to keep up
longer than twelve, and we won't be more
than fairly agoing then. So you come
anyhow, after seeing your gal home. Now
don't fail, for we'll look for you"


1t was, as / expected, a reply to my
other note. believe it impressed but one
factupon me; and that was that the writer
had received my note declining to attend,
consequently the two letters had not been
misdirected.


I started for supper both disheartened
and puzzled could not understand why
Mary Stubbs should resort to such man
ner of discarding me, if such were her in
tention. That | had not given her any
cause for the strong language she had been
L


tried to muster up Indignation against
her. But while fully acknowledging that
had every cause for anger, fear I made
rather forlorn attempt towards it. was
too fond of the girl for any other feeling
than blue" one.


l think that my supper must have given
me courage, for after finishing it, and dress
ing, came to the conclusion that would
cal1 11non NV pharmnr and diamond ~ nv
PLANTATION.


1 did so. The door was shut in my
face.


I went home ard wrote note, in which
challenged her to show cause for her
conduct-asserted that I had done moth
ing to des erve such treatment, and insin-
uated that she must be laboring under
some strange mistake in regard to me.
believe was somewhat inclined to pathos
at the close.


The epistle came back to me unopened


Then | think [ did manage to muster
up little anger, and, with "blue " inter-
walls, existed so as not to attract remark
for a few weeks; kept myself pretty
closely housed, however, for I do not
scruple to acknowledge that the blow was
a severe one on me.


/ suppose month or more had gone by
when, one evening, just before I was about
to leave for home, Tom Johnson dropped
into the Office to see me. He will be re.
membered as the young man to whom the
second note had been sent:


Mr.. johnson ratified on for awhile about
his party, and how much fun had missed
by not attending. Then he changed the
subject trife by talking of my note TO
/ - ~ l. ha1 st1cA n