The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-02-25
" Valentine Agnew.,

valentine Agnew."
Veronica started with the pen in her
hand. H
Is that your true name. Mr.. Agnew 7
Some one told me il was Vladimir
No. am Valentine. was called foi
my fathers friend, famous surgeon with
that surname, but preferred to be doc
tor Of law, instead of doctor of medicine. |
study character, you know, not physics !''
The pen dashed off the name. and the
letter was handed to its owner without a
word. Then. as Val Agnew walked away,
Veronica called in hesitating sort of voice
after lin, " Mr.. Agnew, if you hear good
news will You LET me knowf"
with pleasure, Miss Vallery. You
surprise me with your curiosity; can any
news TO me be of any interest whatever
to you p
Possibly. Pm a surprising creature
haven't you found that out yet? Good
night"
And echoing her abrupt "good night"
Val Agnew pat his letter in his vest
pocket, and stroIled on with the crowd.
He didn't think of the little missive
again until he got home up in his room
that night. Taking it then out of his vest,
he examined the penmanship closely. sslt's
a bold, firm hand, denotes strength of char
acter and passionate nature. If she had
written the contents, too, and to me,
wonder what they would have been like I?
AS it is, suppose it's only some girlish
nonsense" ana with these words Val Ag-
new Ope ned the envelope, carefully put it
back again in his pocket, and then unfold
ed the letter.
"What is this ?' he exclaimed. '"The
same handi' and he read
"Go, little verse, to him 1 love, my king, my
cavalier
And like timid, tender dove, Hy TO his heart
sans 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.'
$50 sing your pretty, tender lay it shall pierce
thro' and thro'
His inmost heart and e'er shall stay there strong
steadfast and true.
Then, when he hears it sweet and clear it's i'm
port he'll divine,
And, like faithful cavalier, he'll know his Val
entiIe."
All. why did Val Agnew's face flush and
his heart beat at the simple little lines
Something in the ring of the words sound
ed so like dear voice ne knew and loved,
he dared to hope the valentine" indeed
was meant for him. Mr.. Whyte was Sin
terviewed" very early next morning, and
in that way Val Agnew soon learned who
''did' the poetry for the fair post-office.
Accordingly, a 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
fO 10 4
to report if | got good news. Come in
and let me tell you what my letter told
me-"
Veronica turned a trif1e paler than her
wont. but obediently entered the cosey
little room where the bright warm sun
shine shone down on the pretty tableau
vivant He, tall and dark and strong,
with steadfast courage in his face. She,
slight and fair and weak, with yielding
tenderness in hers.
Veronica, got valentine" said he
looking down into her face.
You got itr'
Ah, the start, the tone. and the empha-
sized verb were all true tell-tales.
"And you meant that L should. did you |
not. Veronica? Were those sweet words |
not written from your heart to mine |
l love you so dearly. Do not trifle with |
me any longer, Versnica. Ihave not dared |
to hope in vain J"
Then Miss Vallery's trembling hands |
held themselves out for support, and Miss |
Vallery's head rested itself on the same
spot in Val Agnew's vest that covered her |
valentine of the evening before.
"And you did write it, every word, to |
me, ,darling? ?' asked Mr.. Agnew, at length. !
- wrote it to him that loved so dear
w." answered Veronica, looking up into |
her lovers eyes as she continued, '''If
among the many letters beneath my |
hands, thought [, when you asked me |
for one, 'the' q Valentine " 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 10 one another And of all the
letters, to think that should be the very one
| selected!"
And you even did not know my
"No, thought you were called Val for
Vladimir. Ibid not know you were my
Valentine!
"And you do care for somebody now?"
'Ah, yes, noto and somebody cares for
me-" somebody answered very emphati-
cally.
Mrs. Whyte says she supposes it " went
by the rule of contraries." Every body |
thought they were just suited for one an
other, and, of course, wouldn't have one
another, and so they "proved the excep-
ton to the rule.''
But Mr.. Agnew says il was her verses
that got her "Veronica's Valentine ~
Hearth and Home.
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