Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-03-01


much care, containing few love verses
of the approved order, surrounded with a
gorgeous design, and perfumed. He
argued with himself pro and con, after the
manner of the judicial mind, as he drove
along, whether he should address the
envelope himself in his own proper hand
writing, or whether he should disguise his
style, or get some one else to assist him.
This highly important question has agi-
tated the hearts of valentine senders ever
since the graceful old custom began.
Clearly, if directed in his own hand
writing, Marie, who knew it well, would
recognize the sender Immediately; of
mystery there would be none, and the fun
would be lost.
II the address was written by stranger
it was ten chances to one that she would
never fix upon him, in which case the valen-
tine might as well be thrown into the fire
at once. What was to be done? A
Frenchman would say that the answer to
this apparently trifiing question decided
his destiny. 1t was still open when he
reached the offices of the great firm, in
which his part was really merely nominal.
In these vast businesses each partner has
one department to himself, and perhaps
scarcely ever hears the name of the clients
OF the others; this young man, pert and
fashionable in his ways, thought no more
of his profession than was absolutely
forced upon him. They were working
| very late that night, his father was sitting
still, getting up a matter for parliament
airy committee-the telegram he had for
| gott en- referred to this.
"Ah, JONES' said he to a confidential
clerk, who had room to himself, kind
of antechamber to the great MANS, g just
put this letter in a large envelope, one
with the firms initials on-onlY the
| initials, mind-and direct it with the type
writer to Miss Ddasele. -. :, May
| fair. Have it ready for me.'' 0s.r.
In this way he thought, he had con-
quered the difficulty. The writing-ma-
chine really prints exactly like type; but
the initials would leave clue to guess by.
| Clever young man!
| Jones, as soon as his back was turned,
smiled and smelt the letter. "Aha!"
thought he, Cpl have look; it's a val
| entine; [ can smell the Perfume
The envelope was but just stuck; he
loosened it and pulled out the valentine,
laying it on long letter he had just fin
ished with the machine. Hardly had he
taken peep, when the door opened
| again, and Marshe stood in the opening
! still, however, with his back turned
talking to the principal. In an awful
fright, Jones upset all his papers,
,rammed the valentine and the long let
ter hastily into envelopes, and wrote the
directions like lightning.
"That will do-capitalr' said Marshe,
taking the valentine. "It's rather an
awkward looking parcel, though. Give
me that other letter; III send them both
to post by the boy as | go down stairs
He dashed back rapidly to Marie, VINO,
as soon as he arrived, became as merry
as ever, and raised his hopes exceeding
high. When the evening closed, Marshe
come round. I'll strike while the iron is
hot, and put the question tomorrow
night. By the by, that ill-natured Thurs
tan, l hear, is off to Hong Kong Glad
OF it; always had a lurking suspicion
there was something between them"
Who, in all great London, should have
been so happy as Marie that night Rich,
feted, with crowds Of admirers, and sure
to have hundred valentines next morn
ing.
! Would any one have believed that she
never slept all night, but passed the weary
hours, thinking, thinking, thinking, and
| frequently shedding tears. Till Thurstan
was about to leave her., in all human
probability forever, she had never known
how much she loved him. Indeed, she
had hardly ever felt that she had heart
life had been one long round of Joyous
frlvOlity. Now she knew the utter noth-
ingness of all the knick- knacks of wealth
OF what use were dozens of admirers il
he was not there? She remembered Capt
Williams blunt declaration that the best
and truest woman was the one who
married for love. Poor Thurstan had not
a penny. Some of these men who courted
her had shown such bad taste as to de.
scribe the shifts he was sometimes put to
instinctively they felt he was dang erous
rival, and thought to hold him up to con-
tempt.
c 1 know he loves me,'' she said to her
self; " why has he never said so? 1t is
this money; he is too proud to have me
think he woos me for my money. To.
morrow | shall lose him forever"
From sheer exhaustion she fell asleep
at last, and was awakened by her maid
who brought salver to her bedside, per-
fectly heaped up with letters. Here were
the hundred yalentinesl
Scarcely twenty hours before she had
looked forward to this moment with de-
light; now she pushed the heap away as
vanity and veXation of spirit.
perhaps Thurstan has sent. one," she
thought presently, and turned them over,
seeking the well-remembered handwrit-
ing. No, not even valentine; very
likely he IS too poor to bay one that he
thinks good enough for me- What is this
thick letter? What curious writing! It's
printing, l think" IL
Curiosity impelled her to open it. She
read and read, and color rose in her
cheeks.
6 Is it possible % she cried, and spran q
up. ''I'll do it! will! l don't care p
Hurrledly she wrote note and dis
patched it to Thurstan's chambers A
bold thing, doubtless; but refect-they
| had been playmates. 1t ran thus:
6 Miss Delaselle and Mr.. Delaselle
would like to see Mr.. Baynard early in
the day, that they may wish him fare
we'll. They will feel much hurt if he
does not Gomez
Good heavensr' she thought, {" if it
should not reach him; if he should not
come!'' s ~.
Thurstan, indeed, did hesitate, feeling
that to see her again would be a severe
trial. But love, allpowerful love, would
not be denied. He went. She had so
arranged that he found her alone in her
boudoir. -..ss~ rr1
y It's extremely rude OF you, sir, to
force me to write 10 you Now he was
there, she could not resist the temptation
to play with the mouse she had caught
Why did you not tell me before that
you were going?" sgs 1891
Thurstan, unhappy and downhearted,
could not meet her light tone with an
swering raillery. He stammered some
excuse.
:" And why are you going, sir %
| must obtain living somewhere. -