follows:

"_July_ 23d, 185--.

"DEAR MAJOR--I duly received your note of this morning, and you may
thank womanly curiosity for my knowing from whom the missive (which you
omitted to sign) came. I was accidentally looking out of my window, and
recognized the messenger.

"I have made it an inflexible rule to laugh at declarations of 'love at
first sight,' but when I remembered how long ago it was when first we
met, the steadfastness of your regard, proved to me by a new fancy
(which I pray you not to crush) that your astonishing fondness for East
Patten was partly on my account, forbade my indulging in any lighter
sentiment than that of honest gratitude.

"You may call this evening for your answer, which I suppose you, with
the ready conceit of your sex and profession, will have already
anticipated.

"Yours, very truly, HELEN WITTLEDAY."

The lieutenant groaned.

"It's all up, major! you'll _have_ to marry her. 'Twould be awfully
ungentlemanly to let her know there was any mistake."

"Do you think so, Fred?" asked the major, with a perceptible twitch at
the corners of his mouth.