Year: 1874

the rustic IL know who rit that note, and
think you'd better tend to it,"


"N ell, who wrote it?' asked.


"Its u 'spJu~iblc person, who wouldn't
write such Il note for mere sport, | know
that


Glow do you know it was written by
such pc!son?'


IL know the hand writng.n said he.
"Thar'- only one person in the village who
can write like lhat thar


Again telling me that had better heed
the warning given me in that note, the man
got up and left. As soon as he was gone
examined the chirography Of the note. IT
was certainly neat-much like copperplate.
1t was, therefore, a person of some pretcn-
sions to educati IN who stopped so low as to
write an anonymous letter. The more cause
to suspect that the note contained some
truth The man who had Just left seemed
positive, though his thesis was grounded en-
tircly upon the rc>pccability Of the anony-
nous writer He did not pretend to speak
from his own knowledge.


Who then was this important parsonage,
who subscribed himself "Your Friend ?'


was anxious to discover the writer, and
surely, if there was only one person in town
who could write well it ought to be no diff
cult matter to discover him. would ask
the principal men in the village for their
autograph. had an album in which were
already the distinguished names Of John
Quincy Adams, Levi LiHco n. and George
Bancroft | would send it around the vii
age, and in that trap would | catch aS big a
bug as "Yuur FricnA.'


On the next day commenced. sent my
town clerk, all Of whom gave me their au-
tographs readily, and although | did not
thus achieve my object, yet 50 tlattered were
these gentlemen when they saw their names
beside those of Liuc In, Adams, and Ban
croft, that they instantly transferred all
their cnstom to me, and | leit myself abso-
lufelv in danger of becoming a rich man.


Bat in the midst Of all this success there
were not wanting mementoeS o. the fatal
notc-rcmintcrs that the sword of Da mocleS
was continually suspended over my head.
The principal one Of these happened at my
boarding house. Owing to the hot weather
| slept with the lower Ssh Of my window
raised \ light from a house opposite
shonc in at my window and illuminated the
opposite wall My back WAS towards the
window as lay in bed, and | was on the
point of dropping to Sleep. when perceived
that some hing was dark ming the light on
the wall. lay perfectly still, though now
wide awake. and soon brcam: convinced
that blrly human head was slowly rising
above TIE sill of the window, and This head
it was Tat threw its shadow upon the light
spot on the wall and partially ob-cared it.
turned suddenly, cyying at the same time
"W ho ; there! ~


The head Immediately dodgel down, and
a muttered culsc followed, and all was silent.
Jumped out Of bed and ran TO tie window.
| saw a fellow Just turning the corner Of the
house. and regretted that my clothes were
of. Otherwise | would have pursued the
villain til, discovered who he was


After this it did seem to me as if was
rushing ruefully ON my fate hy remaining
at Grecnmount. Yet was pleased With the
place and with the peo..c Of the village,
my business was good and rapidly improving;
but, above all, had fixed my eyes upon Il
lovely young lady who led tie choir Of the
village church. Thus far | had not dis
covered her name. | only knew that | was
charmed with her appearance, with her voice
and manner She appeared to be the most
amiable Of human beings.


Could leave the village under such cir
cumstan:cS?


was anxious to find out the name of the
beautiful singer; but dur>t not make any
inquiries. HID done so the fact would
have been known in every house in the
township before night, and finally the story
would have run that we were engaged to be
married.


At length met the young girl at a party.
She was introduced to me by the name of
Smith and as there was more than one
family of that name in town, still remained
as much in the dark ~ ever, except that she
soon gave me TO perceive that the fancy
which | lad conceived for her was by 10
means rcciprocatcd.


1t was evident that Miss Smith regarded
me with aversion. She looked at me fire.
ouently. Turning my head suddenly, |
would detect her in the act of pcrusing my
features with close attention. She seemed
to regard me with great deal Of curiosity;
but that was all. She avoided me on every
occasion; and this she did in so ingenious
and stealthy manner that it was not cal
culated to attract attention. was, there
fore. noticed by no one but myself.


This conduct on the part Of Miss Cornclia
Smith discouraged me from making any ad-
yances. Although, whenever | looked at
her, she appeared handSomer and more at
tractiye than when saw her last; yet such
was my peculiar nature that the slightest
suspicion of being unwe.come was a sufficient
bar to my intrusion-a fence too high to be
oyerleaped. | could not endure the idea OF
forcing myself upon anybody.


1t will be seen, therefore, that there was
but a slender prospect-morc slender than
Al, ,,,,. o,r.o,o1 oVon nf MnrylnD1