The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-03-26

red to be a doctor of law, instead OF
doctor of medicine. 1 study charac
ter, you know, not physics I"
The pen dashed off the name. and
the letter was handed to its owner
without y7ord. Then, as Val Aenew
walked away, Veronica called in a besi.
tating sort of voice after him. "Mr.
Agnew, il you hear good news will Won
let me know" 49, #.|-
With pleasure, Miss Vallery. You
surprise me with your curiosity: can
any news to ma be Of any interest
whatever TO your
Possibly Ina surprising Creature
haven't you found that OUT yet? Good
night" fs
And eohoing her abrupt "good night, -
Val Agnew put his letter" in his vest
pcoket, and strolled on with the crowd.
He didn't think of the little n1issiye
again until he got home tp in his room
that night. Taking it then otit of his
vest, he examined the penmanship
closely. sc It's bold, firm hand. de-
notes strength of character and a pas
sionate nature IF she had written the
contents, too, and to me, wonder what
they would have been like? As it is,
[ suppose it's only some girlish nom
-sense, " and with these words Val Agnew
opened the envelop, carefully put it
back again in his pocket, and then un-
folded the letter.
"What is this ?" he exclaimed.
The same hand T. and he read
Go, little verse, to him L love, my king, my
cavalier
And like timId, tender dove, fly to his heart
s5ns fear
So swift and sure creep in his breast he shall
not feel the broach;
There build your little happy nest of love,
pure, sans reproach.'
Z" So sing your pretty, tender lay it shall pierce
thro' and thro
His inmost heart, and e'er shall stay, strong,
steadfast and true.
Then, when be hears it sweet and clear it 8 i'm
port he'll divine,
And like faithful cavalier, he'll know his
Valentine"
All, why did Val Agnew's face flush
and his heart beat at the simple little
lines Something in the ring of the
words sounded so like dear voice he
knew and loved, he dared to hope the
Valentine" indeed was meant for him.
Mr.. Whyte was interviewed very
early next morning, and in that way
Val Agnew soon learned who did" the
poetry for the fair post Office.
Accordingly, few hours later, when
Miss Vallery's blue morning dress swept
past the little bay window room at the
head of the stairs on her way up from
breakfast, she was interviewed" as
well, for Mr.. Agnew arrested her as she
passed the door with
"I want to speak to you. 1 promised
to report if l got good news. Come in
and let me tell you what my letter told
me-"
Veronica turned trife paler than
her wont, but obediently entered the
cosy little room where the bright warm
sunshine shone down on the pretty tab
lean vivant. He, tall and dark and
strong, with a steadfast courage in his
face. She slight and fair and weak
with yielding tenderness in hers.
Veronica, 1 got a valentine" said
he, looking down into her face.
"You got itp
All, the start, the tone, and the en-
phasized verb were all true tell-tales.
"And you meant that 1 should, did
you not, Veronica Were those sweet
words not written from your heart to
mine? 1 love you so dearly. Do not
trifie with me any longer, Veronica.
have dared not to hope in vain -
Then Miss Vallery's trembling hands
held themselves out for support, and
Miss Vallery's head rested itself on the
same spot in Val Agnews vest that COW
cred her valentine of the evening be-
fore.
''Ard you did write 1t, every word,
to me, darliDg?" asked Mr.. Agnew, at
length.
81 wrote it to 'him that / loved so
dearly" answered Veronica, looking
up into her lovers eyes as she contin-
ued, 60 If among the many letters be-
meath my hands, thought /, when you
asked me foc one, 'the valentine I
have written to him be the one pick
out with my eyes closed, and with no
knowledge whatever of which it is
surely fate shall will it that we belong
to think that should be the very one 1
selected !"
"And you even did not know my
nan ?"
mo, 1 thought you were called Val
for Vladimir. l did not know you were
my Valentine =
"Aud you do care for somebody
nOw?'
"Ah, yes, now; aud somebody cares
for me-" somebody answered very en-
phatically.
Mrs. Whyte says she supposed it
" went by the rule of contraries." "
Everybody thought they were Just
suited for one another, and, of course,
wouldn't have one another, and so they
a. A l. L
But Mr.. Agnew says it was her verses
that got her ''Veronica's Valentine p
Hearth and Home.