My Dear Mrs. Freeman:
I am sure you are too clear-sighted not to have observed the
profound impression which your amiable qualities, intelligence
and personal attractions have made upon my heart, and as you
nave not repelled my attentions nor manifested displeasure
when I ventured to hint at the deep interest I felt in your
welfare and happiness, I cannot help hoping that you will
receive an explicit expression of my attachments, kindly and
favorably. I wish it were in my power to clothe the feelings
I entertain for you in such words as should make my pleadings
irresistible; but, after all, what could I say, more than you
are very dear to me, and that the most earnest desire of my
soul is to have the privilege of calling you my wife? Do
you, can you love me? You will not, I am certain, keep me in
suspense, for you are too good and kind to trifle for a moment
with sincerity like mine. Awaiting your answer,
I remain with respectful affection,
Ever yours,
HENRY MURRAY.
Mrs. Julia Freeman,
Philadelphia.
_18.--From a Lady to an Inconstant Lover._
Dear Harry:
It is with great reluctance that I enter upon a subject which
has given me great pain, and upon which silence has become
impossible if I would preserve my self-respects. You cannot
but be aware that I have just reason for saying that you have
much displeased me. You have apparently forgotten what is due
to me, circumstanced as we are, thus far at least. You cannot
suppose that I can tamely see you disregard my feelings, by
conduct toward other ladies from which I should naturally
have the right to expect you to abstain. I am not so vulgar a
person as to be jealous. When there is cause to infer changed
feelings, or unfaithfulness to promises of constancy, jealousy
is not the remedy. What the remedy is I need not say--we both
of us have it in our hands. I am sure you will agree with me
that we must come to some understanding by which the future
shall be governed. Neither you nor I can bear a divided
allegiance. Believe me that I write more in sorrow than
in anger. You have made me very unhappy, and perhaps
thoughtlessly. But it will take much to reassure me of your
unaltered regard.
Yours truly,
EMMA.
[Illustration: HEALTHFUL OUTDOOR EXERCISE.]
[Illustration: THE HUMAN FACE, LIKE A FLOWER, SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.]
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