Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1878-02-14

each other S eyeS-heard each other s
voices, and in giving her the flowers
their hands had met-hah touched -
and the thrill of pleasure he would re-
member for many day.
While Miss Griggs was entertain
ing her friends, and anxiousIy watch
ing for the coming Of her new adlni-
rer, she received very brief note de
clining the invitation, and declaring
that the writer had never sent her "A
valentine, and, therefore, she could
be under no possible obligations to
him.
Alas for her romantic dreams
Could she be mistaknn? Had she
not seen hi 4 with her own ewes, look :
ing over toward her hundreds OF times
every day And had she not dyed
her hair, and put on every youthful
adornment for his eSpe ;:al benefit
these many weeks past? Had she
not seen him give the valentine to the
boy, and anticipating his desire that
it should reach her hands safely, had
she not swooped ont upon the lad at
the landing by her door, and demand
ed it? And the by, willing enough
to have 50 easily and quickI Iy accom-
pllshed his errand, delivered it and
answered the questions but by the ca
ger and delighted splnster.
why, mlssus, that there tall chap
over the way, with stove pipe hat
on, teled me to bring it over to the
young lady ny stairs, what live in the
front room.
'That's me, replied Miss Griggs,
and You are good boy, and she pat
ted him upon the cheek and returned
to the quiet Of her room, and poured
over the missIve again and again.
That night she scarcely y closed her
eyes and the next morning mysterious
" beckenel Miss Isabella Graham in-
to her apartment as she was tripping
down stairs, and coniIed the secret
of her attachment to the handsome
stranger over the way and showed the
valentine as evidence that it was re-
ciprocated.
'Ot course, she said, I must make
some acknowled gement-have con
cludel to entertain a few friends and
the stranger gentleman with them.-
You know it would not be Just proper
for me, n young woman, 10 receive
him here for the first time all a one,
and | think it would be less embar-
rassing to have others present at the
interview.
Belle Graham acquiesced with a
gleam Of mlrth twlnkIing in the cor
ners Of her eyes, although She kept
her mouth drawn down into a lemure
expression as she complied with Mis-.
Grlggs' request to write the note fVr
her.
You see, my dear, she said T am
50 sensitive that really cannot com
pose myself sufficiently. Bat | shall
wear my hair 'Pompadore (accent on
the final letter. and a diadem Of rose
buds. Don't you think it will be very
becoming? You see he is an artist
an 4 | shall have to dress in exquisite
taste to please him | know.
Belle Graham escaped to her own
home and gave a laughable version
Of old Miss Griggs new love affair to
her mother.
That day, however, was a sad one
to the Young gr!. Mr.. Bingham had
read her Alright. Her mother was dai-
ly growing more feeble and the tho t
constantly obtrudel itself as she
glanced at the hollow cheeks and ema-
ciatel form where death was written.
And once when Ter mother had
dropped into a gentle doze she had
INDUCED in few, bitter tears.
Her work and the SAD probability
that she might soon be left an orphan
had driven Miss Grig5s and her ad-
venture from memory, or perhaps she
might have shown some interest IL
the arll't over the way.
According TO promise Mr. Bingham
presented himself with the picture a
tew days later, which lie had labored
hard and indGstriously to finish. It
received the warm commendat0n OF
both ladies. Isabella blushingly ac-
llnowledged the likeness to herself
her mother declared it perfect and
that they had no idea their lonely
home had bean the daily study o. so
gifted an artist.
The ice was broken. More than
one Of the dreams of Bingham were
fulfilled. Many a half hour he spent
with Isabella at Goupils and the
academy and many tempting lunch
shared with her at Delmcnico' 5, es.
pecially as shortly after making her
acquaintance he had secured q lucra-
tive position.
Mrs. Graham was laid to rest long
before another valentine day and
Belle had accepted the honest love OF
her new found and only friend, and
as his wife, they dwell happily in a
more fashionable neighhorhood
Mehlts Bile Griggs still fingers on in
single bIessedness and in the old
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