Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 134, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 December 1909 — MAGAZINE COURTSHIP. [ARTICLE]

MAGAZINE COURTSHIP.

“How very declared Jeanie Burden as she opdpsd the pad age which the messupeg boy had given her. . In the package reposed a copy of the “Ingleside Magazine,” and on top of the periodical was the.card of "Mr. FYed Wilson.” Jessie's face turned rosy red as she glanced at the card. “Dear bashful Fred” she-whispered, and, looking hastily around to see that no one was watching her, she kissed the card and placed her hot, flushed cheek 'lovingly against it. After an interval of two days, during which Fred, much to Jessie’s secret regret, failed to call, she received another package from him. This package contained a single copy of the “Ladies’ Companion” magazine. The next day came the “Open Road,” the following day brought her'[the “Victor Magazine,” and the day after that the “Empire Monthly.” Then for another interval of two days nothing appeared. Again on the third day Jessie received the “Young People’s Monthly,” and on the two following days came , respectively “Once a Week” and the . "United States Quarterly.” And during this entire period Fred neither called nor did Jessie receive any word from him.

Puzzled at the curious state of affairs Jessie sought her brother for light on the matter. “Ah!” said her brother v’hen she had told him all. "Aha, I see now. And you don’t see, eh?” Jessie shook her head. '“lt’s dead' easy,” he assured her,. “You know that Fred is pre.ty bashful?” Jessie nodded. “Well, now we’ll go after the matter in this way. First he sent you the ‘lngleside Magazine.” As ‘lngleside’ begins with an ‘l’ we’ll put an ‘l’ down on this piece of paper. Then the next one was the ‘Ladies’ Companion,’ and as that begins with an ‘L’ we’ll put an ‘L’ down on the paper. But as the ‘Ladies’ Companion’ didn’t come for two days after the first magazine we’ll not put the ‘L’ right up close to 'the ‘l,’ but leave a little space between ithem. Now when, we get through all the magazines, following the same plan, do you see what we get?” f

Jessie’s brother extended the paper to her. She turned rosy red when she saw what was written on it, for it said, “I love you.” , Even after this discovery Fred failed to call, nor did he even communicate with her. At last, one evening, Jessie’s brother glanced at his sister with a whimsical smile. “Fred’s coming up this evening,” he said. Jessie turned red, and after enjoying this spectacle her brother went on, “To see me.” When Fred did come Jessie was safely hidden in one of the bay windows. Fred immediately noticed his magazines arranged in a pile, in the order in which he had sent them, on the table. Directly in front of them, five magazines were spread out on the table. Jessie, from her point of vantage, saw him start as he saw these five. “Whose magazines • are those?” questioned Fred, with a little tremble in his voice. • "Why, Jessie’s,” replied her brother, “Why?” Jessie’s brother looked and laughed. “Ditto,’ he read from them. Then Jessie saw him point at the window where she was concealed. “She’s in there,” her brother cried. “Please excuse me now, Fred, old man,” and her brother tore from the room.