The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-02-02
seleef Story.
LILLA'S TWO VALENTINES.
By MISS JULIA A. KNIGHT.


severe one, and even now, on the NOR
ming of st. Valentines day, King Frost
still held sway with undiIninished rigor
The ponds were frozen over, the ground
was iron bound, and none of the early
spring tiowers-crocusses, snowdrop or
primroses-hady yet made their appear
ance.
In the cheerful parlor of comforta-
BILE house in the town of Dover, a party
of four sat at breakfast. These were
DIR. Marchant-ac country medical prac
titioner of some emineDce-his wife,
his daughter Lilla-a pretty two and
twenty year old blond-and Frank
Drake, the Dr's ward and assistant, a
pleasant faced dark eyed young fellow
about three years Lilla's senior. That
there was a good understanding be
tween the youthful couple was pretty
evident from the gIances that every
now and then passed between them,
and the complacency with which the
elders looked on.
II shant get much work out of the
girls today, suspect" said Mrs Mar
chant rather pettishIy, as she handed
her husband a cup of tea. ''Such stuff
and nonsense, I've no patience with it.
Even our cook, tsolders who is fat and
at least fifty, evidently expects one.
It's ridiculous. | might as we'll expect
one myself.
''Well, my dear" said the incorrigi-
5le doctor, II should see nothing so
strange in that, either"
but 1 should" retorted his wife,
land if any one dared"
Rat tatl tattat
There's the postman." cried Lila,
rising and going to the window with a
heightened color and look of expect
ancy on her face.
1t was evieent whatever might be her
mothers opinion on the subject, Lilla's
valentine days were by no means yet
over.
Frank Drake looked on his plate,
with . covert smile lnrkiug about the
corners of his mouth; but he said no
thing.
A neat little maid servant entered
the room carrying a small salver, on
which were several letters, which she
took direct to her master.
The doctor took them in his hand.
Three for me; three for you, Frank
two for you, Lila; and one for you,
my dear"
And there was a.comical twinkle iu
his eye as he threw the letter across the
table to his wife,
81 think mine is from my old school
fellow, Bessie Wrench. She's married
your old chum, Parkinson. you know
now, Doctor" said Mrs. Marchont, a;
after turning her letter over and exam
lining the address minutely, and in shor
doing everything but break the seal, a
is the absurd practice of people wher
they are in doubt about a correspond
mt, she at last proceeded to open it.
But who shall paint the good lady
wrath and indignation when she fount
that her letter was neither more or les
than a valentine.
The doctor burst into roar of laugl
ter.
Every pretty, indeed, / declare,
said he, taking the valentine from th
hands of his wife. ''Hearts and darts
and cupids. and a church spire in th
distance. All quite the orthodox styl
of thing"
'Doctori" exclaimed his wife in ter
rible voice
But tie doctor laughed the more.
Meanwhile Lila had been examinin
her own two yalens;nes. One was i
an unknown hand. and to that she tirs
directed her attention, reserving h
second, which she observed at glanc
: was in Franks hand writing, for
: bonne bouche.
E Her mother looked over her shou
der.
"Well, now; ! call that beautiful
Lila Depend upon it. it's from Lie,
q tenant Tregennis. He's a great adm
S rer of yours, you know"
Frank frowned.
2 "Ahl" said the doctor, perhaps wisl
ing like his wife to tease Frank a littl
!. and winking at Mrs. Marchant as
I spoke. I've no doubt its from Tr
gennis. You've made a conquest the
I Lii"
But Lila made no answer. She be
Z BY this time opened her. second vale
Z tine, and - die glanced at It anexpre
: sion Of extreme astonishment, stole /,
/; er her face, which was Immediate
Y succeeded By one of intense wrath,
q with flashing eyes she turned for an i
. slant toward Frank, who appeared a
sorbed In his own letters.