Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-04-21


Nellie's head trembled as she took the
packet. She stands pale and agitated, lik,
the ghost of her pretty self wondering at it;
for it is his writing-Stephen Bartelot's
and her heart is beating like the wings of a
huttering bird. .M
In her OWL room Nellie breaks the seal OF
the packet and 10 ! It's only valentiae-
a little common valentine. bought at the
village shop!
Stay here are some words in pencil =
"Oaly time for one word, Miss Norton, be-
fore the train starts You chose me for
your valentine this morning, and in honor
Of the custom, l send you one-tbe best
the village could boast. Will you call NE
silly ? Well then, L~eonfess to Stiffness. I
am veritable fool to-day. So now fool
me to the top Of my BENT and grant me
request. TIL, valentine send you is love-
/ ly in design great heart, you see, ready
to be stuffed it is stuffed With Cupids, but
have sealed it down, and my silly request
is. that You will leave the seal unbroken, and
keep the valentine till we meet again.
"What FOLLY you will say But when
friend is gone even foolish requests grow
sacred at least, hope they do, and i'll
that hope trust. The train comes. Good
bye. Nellie Poor Valentine departs p
This was ali, aud Nellie laid the paper
on her knees, and wept Then she laug he'd
ana cried and laughed again bitterly that
/ last time.
II she broke the seal, she must throw
/ away the valentine ; if he Gept il, she
| mrst keen il intact a. 1t was
So she kept it !; she tied it neatly in
little packet with blue ribbon, and laid il
! in her desk,
!: x X K 4; K
/ At the end Of two years hope Was gone
yet Nelly kept the valentlne. Ii was a
superstition, If you will, but size kept it,
never tonding it uow, as in the first few
months never wondering at it. and smil-
ing at It's mystery ;th sudden beating Of
the heart and kldiing cheek. No; simply
keeping it putting it ont of sight, as we
luU our dead aud raulem bering it as we re-
member them. silently
Suddenly there came new folk to Thorn
combe It so happened in this wise. The
vicar being grievously sick, went to some
healing waters in the south, put a curate 10
his place. and let the vlcarage. A lawyer
took 1.-THE hardest, busiest man tearing
to aud fro in fast night trains, wearing flesh
and bone to mummy dryness, and using his
brain as machine to coin money out Of
nothing more He bad mother woman
! of lron and a sister, sickly and pale-it
was for her they came to Thorncombe and
| all three fell in love with Nellie.
| IL. .bo t1o
pleased 1t was such a condescenson on
their part, they being SO sharp and full OF
knowledge, she so simple and unworldly.-
But somehow she shrank 8 little. 1t is not
every mind that loves the brightness, and
glitter, apd 6rmness Of steel. So when
Robert Upnor was peculiarly civil, Nellie
shivered and Stepped out Of his way. But
she was very kind to Annie-siekly Annie
and all attentions to her, Robert took as
if bestowed upon himself.
Anne, being at Sunnichayes one day,
asked for sealing wax, and Nellie said =
you'll find it liz my desk Anne, love"
Anne searched and found the packet
II en- she held it up, aud said, lauahingly :
whats this tied up prettily, Nell p 1t
looks suspicionsly like a love. letter.
Nellie turned, saw her valentine, and
blushed fiery red.
Robert noted this. and, with eyes fixed
upou her face, he said carelessly "L"ve
tokens at Thoraville Would any Of the
clodhoppers here attempt such impudence p
Then what is it ?" cried Anne. ''Come,
Nelsc-tell."
Put i. back. please, Anne, said Nellie
cit is only valentine
+, ''Only valentine And put away SO
carefully as this Let US see it j"
''Ah, by all means, l. us see it " echoed
Robert What admiring swain Of yours
is it, Nellie, who h&s spent his loose cash ii
: charior of roses aud dove9?'
Robert rose, and took the packet FROM
Anne's hand When she saw aim twirlins
it in his fingers, smiling contemptuously o.
it, Nellie, fired with sudden anger, arc
snatched it from hiul.
She felt a shudder, as # pain. while bel
hand stayed upon his palm; and even now
that she felt it in her own, she trernbled
Il assure you it is not worth looking at,
she said. Ell is only little common thing
but it was given 70 me by friend, so
keep it."
81 A gray, cold smile came ovar Roberts
face, and, looking up. ha caught Anbe
eye. Ii was an angry eye, having frowl
upon the brew ior Nellie.
"a will .ge romance !" said Anne. in
! cynical voice lis it tRe curate, my dear !?
Fancy "a curate sending valentines =
and Robert Aangued-a loud laugh, rathe
q forced
!, ga curate of Thornecombe might re
. torted Anpe.
4 ''My dear sister, even here, people dom
- quite live in the milky way, or exist Oh wa
ter crosses AS for ne, think I've ha
!, green food enough grow a little sick o
r It," ~
" Nellie knew this was meant at her, bu
r SIC was silent She had locked her DIES
:. now, and felt happier. Then Anne, ut
wishing to quarrel, said more gently =
, Haven't we been rather cross, Nellie dear
nbout nothing? Cone, what's your myst'
: ry2' (,
-. And Anne's kiss fell upon the girl
brow Poor, sickly Anne Nellie's heal
opened to her at once, and she gave bac
"a the kiss tenderly.
J. Thus the quarrel was brushed away b
! tween her aud Anne, but a shadow stoo
- between her and Robert, and the hand sh
:. put in his when they said good night wa
cold as ice. From her window, throug
$. the silvery moonlight, she watched br"th'
"a and sister going home together-watohe
II them dreamily, with her thoughts far ava,
And that night she took the little pack
ID and fondled it again; opened it, gazed at /
wondered at the sealed heart, and, slghlnt
,s said Robert was good man--very good
~ but-but he should never touch her DIES
,e again. t.........
~ s.Short words are BEST" said Robert
=. Anne, as they walked ''The girl does n