The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-02-25
YERONICA's VALENTINE.

fEhONItA'S NALENlINEs
AFTER considerable debate upon tn
subject in boudoirs and parIors. as weiI a
at Sewing Society and other tables. tn
ladies of st. Philips ~ finally decided {,
hold their fair for the friendless orphans O
that parish some time after the holidays
Christmas and New Years follow s.
soon after Thanksgiving one wants tn
few weeks that come in between to attent
10 ones own orphans" laughingly sait
Mrs. Whyte. at the last meeting cOrncern
ing that event. upon which piece of "goot
doctrine" il was finally agreed that tn
second week in February would be abou
the time best suited 10 all in which to holt
their long talked of fair.
at don't concern me much when i
comes of, said Veronica Vallery to he
aunt, as she buttoned up her sealskil
jacket and pinned up her veil. " haven
any orphans of my own 10 attend TO, ant
no father nor mother to attend to me-
care for nobody and nobody cares for me.
Good day. Mr.. A9new."
The gentleman thus addressed had Join
ed the ladies as they left the church door
and begging permission to walk on hom,
with them, looked down at the indepen
dent speakeFas he said laughingly:
| caught your last sentence, Miss Val
lery, and doubt it,"
(which part do you doubt?" askeC
Veronica, looking up defiantly.
& 1t would be rude to answer the las
half to one upon whom every one seem
to look kindly. and it would perhaps b,
presuming, upon so short an acquaintance
to say the first half so will merely re
peat, in general sort of way, : / doub
the truth of your remark"
"Auntie, Mr.. Agnew is playing sphinx
He speaks in riddles. | don't understand
him: and I'm pery sure he don't under
stand me 4" and Veronica walked on ;
trife faster.
81 beg pardon. Miss Vallery; it is nC
riddle-merely a knowledge | imagine
possess of your character; better perhaps
than you have of yourself"
"Pray confine your studies of charac
tor TO the limits of your profession, Mr.
Agnew. Lawyers, believe, have every
opportunity for studying human nature
in the police dock and such places. Until
Miss Vallery occupies so public a position
she objects TO being studied"
"Oh, Veronica what are you tqlking
about?r cried Mrs. Whyte quickly, fearful
that her two proteges would quarrel in
dead earnest now.
Some natures when they draw near to
one another seem like summer storm
clouds, TO be charged one with the posi-
tive, the other with the negative electrici-
ty, and in the meeting of such opposite
forces there is always a sharp report i'm
minent; and Veronica Vallery and Val
Agnew never were half an hour together
that there was not some little flash snd
play of lightning in their words that
Threatened danger. And vet, somehow,
like the summer storm-charged clouds,
they always seemed to seek one another,
tool
The three walked on in silence now,
until they reached the steps of their board
ing-house then with some pleasant, kind
remark, Mr.. Agnew, left the ladies in
the hall and went on up the long
wide stairs to his room. The ladies
stopped few minutes in the parlor.
"Veronica Vallery," began her aunt, In
a tone Ofreproof.
Exactly. auntie-Veronica Vallery
only add spinster. and well calculated to
take care Of herself. and you will have my
name and nature complete, and no words
about il. if yOu please"
81 cannot understand what makes Yer
onica so rude TO Val Agnew," said Mrs.
Whyte that evening after she had repeat
ed the passage of arms that had taken
place between them that afternoon; land
to me, too, for that matter, when | take
her TO task about il. | never saw Val so
interested in any girl before. He wants
10 talk about her every time he comes into
nv room, and asks all sorts of questions
while she appears to be governed entirely
by his opinions and tastes, says he is the
most gentlemanly gentleman she ever
knew, quotes Bayard's motto, Sans peltr
ct sans reDToche,' when speaking of him,
4 Il. l..N, f,,1 Ia Eor nv
thing. don't understand it
"Well, | do" answered Mr.. Whyte
from the depths of the long German pipe
he was smoking.
"You?-ridiculous =" and Mrs Whyte's
tone expressed absolute incredulitv.
"Yes, do. They're in love with one
another" and the volume of smoke that
followed the assertion seemed appropriate
10 the cannon-like effect the words had
upon his hearers.
Jumping up from the rocking-chair as
though she had been shot, Mrs. Whyte
exclaimed:
"Why, James Whyte, | never thought
of that and it's the very thing, too" she
went on volubly. "Val will make the
very sort of husband Veronica needs
some one to control her as well as her for
tune.o
Dul. TcIU6tilDST. uOD' shy IL VIII Gnu
in their being husband and wife. Love
does not always bring about than consum-
nation so devoutly TO be wished. They
are precious pair of cOntraries, and be-
cause it is a good match for both they
very likely will turn just oppositely, and
10Th make poor ones. l shan'tput q straw
III their way, for nor against. Let them
manage il themselves"
But this little CLEAN of light on the SUBJ
iect of Veronica's behavior Illuminated all
Mrs. WHITES dreams brilliantly, and she
saw in her minds eve her beloved but
troublesome niece and protege the wife of
good man and eminent lawyer.
The fair was announced for the l4th,
and the ladies of the committee decided
they would have, as one of the attractions
for the evening, the old dme-honored
''postoffice."
Sand, girls" said Mrs. Whyte, who
was one OF the prime ministers, "you
must all set your wits to work and write
the brightest kind of notes. Veronica,
you used to be apt at verse-making. You
shall do the poetry"
The evening of the l4th arrived, and the
pretty little hall in which it was held wss
q scene of brilliant gayety. Val Agnew
lounged in late, and not seeing Miss VAL
lery amongst the bevy of pretty girls at
the tables, he inquired for her.
"Oh, she's postmistress," answered a
pretty little brunette at his elbow land,
by the bye, L think there's aletter for you.
Go see."
Mr.. Agnew obeyed the eommsnd, and
presenting himself at the narrow little
window of the Office. gravely asked for a
letter.
Veronica blushed little as she answer.
ed. 81 think there is one here for you.
Then turning round she periSormea S as queer @St
lv She nut her hand on the pile of undi-
rected letters that Law beside her, selecting