and
mind. It is love--pure, devoted love, and I feel confident that your
knowledge of my character will lead you to ascribe my motives to their true
source.

May I then implore you to consult your own heart, and should this avowal of
my fervent and honorable passion for you be crowned with your acceptance
and approval, to grant me permission to refer the matter to your parents.
Anxiously awaiting your answer,

I am, dearest Etta,
Your sincere and faithful lover,
GEO. COURTRIGHT.

To Miss Etta Jay,
Malden, Ill.

{47}

_17.--From a Gentleman to a Widow._

Philadelphia, May 10th, 1894.

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 have 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-respect. 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.