Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-02-10
NAY SMITHS VALENTINE.


day weather, unfortunately, especially in
FEBRUARY. brought knitting and sewing,
so ! shall manage very well till yoa ne
turn"
II won't be hons before six o'clock, but
you will go 70 dinner with Mrs Clarke
~ will wait for yoa. and dine late"
avery we'll, Adieu, them
An ailcctiorate kiss, and Mr.. Smith left
his little daughter TO rainy day in New
York hotel, while he went cut upon busi-
ness.
There was nothing very romantic or
uncommon in the situation. Papa bad
come from Utica upon business for week
in New York, and papa's only daughter
had begged for holiday and come also.
This was the first rainy day, SO Mary
Smith opened her trunk and dshed Up
from lot Of clothing most dainty little
work-box. A few minutes were given 70
a crochet collar, and them
There I'll write 10 mamma! She
won't expect a letter, but il is Just the
day 10 write one. I'll tell her about our
meeting Meta Clark ON the trim. ard how
nice il i 10 have lady friend here, and
can ask her about my new silks, too. I'll
writcn
Pen, ink, and paper being produced by
waiter the young lady went TO work.
LET me see. what day Of the month IS
it2 The fourteenth. Why. it is St,
Valentines Day! wonder il any Valen-
tines caae for mera
Two minutes more Of writing. and then
a short, sharp rap on the door interrupted
the letter.
sCome inr'
Only be,l-boy, with a snowy envelope
in has hand.
"Miss Mary Smith y he inquired. show
ing that address in bold masculine hand
on his letter.
aYes.
sLetter for you,h and of he went to
deliver the remainder Of Postman's pack
age.
Now who IS that from n speculated
the young lady {" It's not Johns hand,
nor HArry's Ii is stiff, TOO; feels ike
card AMI sealed Who can seal letter
Dor-a-days9 Two doves kissing. Oh. it
is Valentine CAN'T be for me Miss
Mary Smith, Metropolitan Hotel, New
York Th,ts all right. III open il N
Not letter, not q fancirnl picture, or
copy az sentimental verses only photo
graph. A photograph Of a gentleman, young,
good-leoking, with mass Of curling hair,
pleasant eyes, and good features. Under
the portrait, one line Of pencillei writing:
a. Can You guess who am m
Miss Mary Smith gazed and wondered.
Mentally she passed every masculine face
she remembered in review. from her cousin
AdOlph's d d5Wn TO the milkman's. but the
one before her did not answer the call Of
memory.
Can you guess who / am n she read
after vainly endeavoring TO identify the
features "No, Mr.. Impudeace, can't,
but I'll find you out some time and pay
you for your saucy Valentine. believe !
won't write home after all. but finish my
coll4r. Oh, il is going to clear up Fll
70 and see il Meta Clark win goto walk if
the sun comes out, and we can decide upon
the silk
Meta Clark and the sunshine both being
propitious, the bright little brunette was
soon equipped and the shopping under
taken.
"You know papa has given me carte
Hq1acle for a new evening silk to figure at
brother Johns welding
Are you bridesmaid 9'
No, indeed Three times a brides
maid, never bride, and was bridesmaid
for Henry's wife ard for cousin Hattie, SO
this time declined with thanks"
q You supentitions little goose. | was
bridesmaid six times before figured as
bride"
~Iwon't peril my chances in that way,n
was the gay rcjoinder. "Why, there be
isr'
"Who7 Don't stare at that young in
that way, May. Who is he ~
al don't know Il certainly is him p
was the old answer. /" | don't believe he
knew me-"
He did not look as if he did. What
possessed you to stare so 2 There, be has
vanished. Who is he, May r.
Il don't know. certainly never saw
him before in all my lilc," was the en-
phatic reply, but mentally Miss May
added. That is certainly the original OF
my Valentine. He didn't know me, I am
certsin. What did he send me his picture
forE5
Evening silks and the relative merits Of
corn color, orange and pink for brunette
complexion and hair, soon drove the Valcn-
tine from Mays mind, and the recollection
Of Nays old conduct from that Of her
young friend.
You are coming home fer the wedding.
Meta n said May, after the important
choice was made
81 am goine home on Wednesday. I
only came TO keep Charley company. He
hates coming to New York alone, and de-
clar5s he won't do il now be has wife"
GOh, you turtle dUve,H laughed Mary.
;, Wait till next year.
Pm sure we've been married nearly
year now," was the halfpouting reply.
" BY the way, III delicately suggest TO
Charlie that want new dress fer the
wedding John, you know disappointed
me awfully. was sure he was my devoted
he.y engaged TO Louise"
How long had you been engaged r.
"You horrid girl, was not engaged till
a month later. What was to do2 Desert
cd by John, accepted Charlier
"I'tttcll him So T.- ~ + sss 5-
aYon wretched little mischief-maker
/ have told him so forty times already
sand he believes il %
"Certainly. So if | faint at the we'd
ding, he is quite prepared to catch me.
BY the way, May, when are you going to
have a wedding ~
ANever! Henry married, John soon to
be so; I shall stay at home TO comfort papa
for bis sons desertionn
aNonsense! Henry lives at home, and
John won't be far Off" sa
Daughtcr-in-lawi are not daughters
said May, decidedly. !. Papa relies upon
me-"
@-0f course he does. Poor papar'
"Where are you going next summer, or
don't you form plans SO far ahead ?"
30 May, how odd you should ask. We
are gong to new place. have friend
here, Mrs. Williams, who went last sum
mer TO delightful place, a farm i'm West |
ern New York. She is forming party
already for next year, her idea being to
secure all the rooms for her own friends,
and 80 guard against unpleasant strangers.
Won't YOU got Charlie has given me per
mission to engage room for two months,