Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-03-26
The Two Valentines.
CHAPTER I.

The winter had been an unusually Sc
we're one, and even now, on the morning
of st. Valentines Day, King Frost still
held sway with undiminished rigor The
ponds were frozen over, the ground was
ironbound, and none of the early spring
fowers-crocuses, snowdrops, or prim-
roses-had yet made their appearance.
In the cheerful parlor of q comfortable
house in the garrison town of D
party of four sat at breakfast. These
were DIR. Marchant-ta country medical
practitioner of some eminence-his wife,
his daughter Lilla-a pretty, two and
twenty years old blonde-and Frank
Drake. the doctors ward and assistant.
pleasant faced, dark eyed young fel-
low, about three years Lila Marchant's
senior. That there was good under
standing between the youthful couple
was pretty evident from the glances that
every now and then passed between
them, and the complacency with which
the elders looked on.
al shan't get much out of the maids
to-day, | suspect" said Mrs. Marchant,
rather pettishly, as she handed her hus-
band cup of tea "Such stuff and nom
sense, I've no patience with it. Even
our cook, Bolders, who is fat, and at
least fifty, evidently expects one. It's
ridiculous, l might as we'll expect one
myself"
"Well. my dear" returned the lncor-
rigible doctor, 81 should see nothing so
strange in that either"
"But should" retOrted his wife /;
''and if any one dared
Rat-tat rat.tat
There's the pOstman l'' cried Lila,
rising and going to the window with
heightened color, and look of expec-
fancy on her face.
1t was evident that whatever might
be her mothers opinion on-th--9uUJect'
Lillas valent;---uTys were by no means
~-or.
Frank Drake looked down on his
plate, with covert smile lurking about
the corners of his mouth, but he said
nothing.
A neat little maidservant entered the
room carrying a small salver, on which
were several letters, which she took di-
rect 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 in
his eye as he threw the last 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. Marchant, as
after turning her letter over and exam
lining the address minutely, and, in
short, doing everything but break the
seal, as is the absurd practice of people
when they are IN doubt about corres-
pondent, she at last proceeded to open it.
But who shall paint the good lady's
wrath and Indignation when she found
that her letter was neither more nor less
than valentine.
The doctor burst into roar of laugh
ter.
Very pretty, indeed, declare said
he, taking the valentine from the hand
of his wife. "Hearts and darts, and Gu
pids, and church spire in the distance
All quite the orthodox style of thing"
doctor !" exclaimed his wife, in ter.
rible tones.
But the doctor only laughed the more
Meanwhile, Lila had been examining
her own two valentines. One was in al
unknown hand, and to that she first di
rected her attention, reserving the sec
ond, which she observed at glance wa
in Franks writing, for bonnie bouche.
Her mother looked over her shoulder
, "Well, now, l call that beautiful, Lii
la. Depend upon it, it's from Lieutenan
Tregennis. He's great admirer o
/ yours, you know"
) Frank frowned.
"Ah !'' said the doctor, perhaps wish
ing like his wife. to tease Frank lit
, tie, and winking at Mrs. Marchant a
he spoke, "I've no doubt it is from Ire
t gennis. You've made conquest there
r Lii"
, But Lila made no answer. She ha
g by this time opened the second valer
S tine, and as she glanced at it an EXPIRE:
y sion of extreme astonishment stole owe
e her face, which was Immediately SUI
. ceeded by one of intense wrath, as wit
e flashing eyes she turned for an instar
a towards Frank, who appeared absorbe
in the examination of his own letters.
. Lila made gesture of indignant in
4 patience.
n That her second valentine was
It Franks handwriting there could be I
d possible doubt. But that it was not il
! i tended for the young lady into who
8 hands it had fallen was equally certai
n 1t was not an ordinary valentine. sci