Tempest and Sunshine

"A few moments private fiddlestick," answered Mr. Middleton. "What the

devil--whose little boy are you? Ain't you Miss Dunn's little boy? You'd

better scratch gravel for home, and if I catch you here again dickerin'

after Fanny, I'll pull every corn-colored hair out of your head!"

This rebuff somewhat cooled the ardor of Joseph's attachment, and as he

felt sure that Fanny had told her father of his coming, he from that time

disliked her as much as he had before admired her. Not long after the sad

finale of his affaire de coeur, he left his home in the country, and going

to Frankfort became a clerk in the post office. Julia well knew the old

grudge which he had toward Fanny, and as he did not possess the best

principles in the world, she had strong hopes of procuring his services

for the accomplishment of her purpose. Accordingly, at about half past

five she bent her steps in the direction of the post office, hoping to see

him in the street, for she knew that he usually went to his supper at that

hour. She had not gone far beyond the post office when he overtook her.

She greeted him with her blandest smile, and as she seemed inclined to be

very sociable, he slackened his pace for the sake of walking with her.

They had not proceeded far when she said, "Mr. Dunn, if you are not in a

particular hurry, I should like to have you walk on with me, as I have

something to communicate to you."

Joseph was delighted, and yet he knew not what to think. The haughty Julia

had formerly treated him with disdain; but within a week or two her

conduct toward him had changed, and she seemed to seek his society, and

now she had even asked him to walk with her. What could it mean? He was

not long kept in ignorance, for in a few words Julia explained her wishes.

"You know, Mr. Dunn," said she, "that I have money and I am willing to pay

you almost any amount, and then it is such a rare opportunity for being

revenged upon Fanny, who did abuse you shamefully, and even now makes all

manner of fun of you. It will not be much trouble for you," she continued,

"for you can watch our box, and whenever a letter arrives from Dr. Lacey,

you can lay it aside until you have an opportunity of giving it to me, and

you can do the same with Fanny's letters!"