The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-02-15
her which brought The color TO bel

her which brought the color to he
cheeks and set her heart throbbiGg.
1t was only q common letter with
PLAN envelope, but Alice recognize
the free, manly writing she mad 80 oftel
seen in prescriptions during her father
illness; and thinking to herself "Ar
Crsnston has sent me the title OF tina
book" she opened it quietly,
But the moment her eyes fell OF
what was within, blush dyed he
pretty face.
No title of q dr. wing hook was sufti
Gent to send the blood in such waves Il
her cheek.
Fortunately she was alone, and hat
no one to notice her confusion. To hel
establishment, the envelope contained
small but very elegant valentine, sno
on the blank page was written, IN the
same we'll known hand:
Many thanks, o gentle lady,
For those gracious words OF thine,
Bidding me in accents kindly
Be thy welcome valentine.
Long and well as have loved thee,
Dear as is thy sweet behest;
No such liberty I'd venture,
Were II not thy own request.
But, emboldened by that man date,
By that look and smile you gave,
Now indeed I'll sue with ardor,
And a greater boon I'll crave.
Long and well I've loved thee, Alice,
Loved thee fervently and true:
When we meet will you not whisper,
Harry, dearest, love you"?
Critics might have thought the rhymes
were lot as finished as they should be,
considering the beauty of the fair girl
who read them; and certainly DR.. Grams
ton would have taken more care with
them if he had known who was to Pc.
ruse them. But Alice saw no defcien-
cies in the verses.
1T is true do love him" she said,
softly, with carressing movement Of
her hand over the messe niger OF such
glad tidings. 81 think / have loved
him." she whispered 20 herself, blushing
again, "almost ever since / first saw
him; but he is so grave and wise |
never thought he would care for me-"
And she, too, kissed the letter.
But how could he know that l wish
ed him to send me valentineW she
said after a while as she thought of her
wish. mo one heard me, and he thanks
me for the permission to send It'll l
shall be inclined to believe in the doc
trine that kindred spirits can meet and
commune. though their earthly tene-
ments may be far distant"
She seemed lost IN thought for mo-
ment Then she said, with her finger
under her chin:
"But what am l to dol Wait until
we meet, l suppose, and then Mosieur
le Docteur," she added, saucily, sit will
depend upon where we meet whether
comply with your request"
Meanwhile the day had been busy
one for DR.. Cranston, and it was even
ing before he opened his letters.
Among them was note from his
little Alice's Oldest sister.
"What could possess you" it said, ito
send an envelope addressed to Alice,
with only the inclosed paper in itf She
thought it her valentine, and was much
DR.. Cranston opened the paper refer
red to. 1t was his note to Miss Stanley
giving the title of the book.
In aD instant he comprehended all,
and knew that his valentine had gone to
Alice Stanley by mistake.
"a pretty piece of business!' he ex.
claimed, jumping from his seat, and
pacing up and down tho room at is
easy enough to send little Alice another
valentine. But how explain to Miss
He stopped, resumed his chair, and
turned the subject over. But he could
arrive ut no conclusion.
Again his bell reused him, and on
opening the door he found Mr.. Stanleys
footmaDV
"Please, sir" said the man, 'come at
once to Mr.. Stanley's. Miss Minnie Ia
unwell."
DIR. Cranston soon arrived at his des-
tination, and was ushered in.
The room was dimly lighted, and the
doctor at first thought 1t vacant, but
slight figure rose from the tireside and
advanced toward him.
Ina moment he recognized Alice, and
was thinking what apology he could
make. when to his bewildermcnt, she put
both her hands into his and said, with
downcast eyes:
al do not quite understand your val
entina, but it has made me very happy
Could he believe his senses? Was he
insane or in dream? But before he
could rally his faculties he was called 70
see his little patient, and had to leave
the room.
But he had another interview with
Alice as soon rs sho lett the sick-room,
where little Minnie was suffering from
nothing worse than slight cold.
Alice was at first shocked when she
found that it was only by mistake that
she had received her precious valentine.
But the artor and earnestness of the
doctor soon reconciled her to it all.
They had hearty laugh over their mu-
tusl explanations, and Alice was even
induced, before her lover left the house,
to repeat correctly the las: line of his
valentine.
TuDEN's Florida case was strong IN
law and il fact, and ought to have pre-