I will try to get
a husband who has some unmarried masculine relatives, so as to keep up
the fun of my own courtship among my particular girl-friends. I intend
to make the most of my life while it lasts, I believe in the world I
am most sure of, so don't trouble me with any of your pious lectures,
they only upset me, and make me feel very gloomy. Give my love to
every one who thinks of asking about me, and write a long, chatty,
gossiping letter, very soon to your sincere ALICE."
Her bright, spicy pages had wooed me away from all my gloomy thoughts
and surroundings. My tired spirit had flown across the broad Atlantic
at sight of her missive, and reveled for a few happy moments, amid
phantom pleasures. Now, with her finished letter lying in my listless
fingers, upon my lap, I was creeping back to my sorrows from this
outward sunshine, that had fallen in a golden flood, upon the dark
shadows of my present miseries. The slow awakening to my actual
condition reminded me of my third, unnoticed letter. I took it up
aimlessly, it was unfamiliar to me, and turned it over in my hand.
"Who is it from?" I muttered in quiet astonishment, tearing the thick
envelope across with a half amused curiosity. The reader will not
wonder that my curiosity became still more deeply aroused as I took
out the neatly folded paper which was enclosed, and read the
following--
"MY DEAR AMEY,--I have learned with profound regret of your dear
father's recent demise, and hasten to offer you my most earnest
condolence.
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