The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-02-13


Unless you want my frOwn,
For here's the years subscription,
Aud credit II right down;
And send the paper promptly
And regularly on,
And let it bring us weekly
Its welcomed benson.
MISS vESTA'S VALENTINE.
I" THERE is one who indeed loves you we'll
If You wish who it is you may know,
Search these lines, they in silence do tell,
confess the initials do show.
THESE lines had laid undisturbed for
many years at Mr.. Gridley's, in rude
miniature chest, along with other girl
ish relics. They We're written in bold
and youthful, but evidently pains-tak-
ing hand, and had been carefully fold
ed and sealed with a patch of red wax.
They lay at the bottom of the little
chest under the till, and had for COM
pany several old letters from friends
and well-wishers,' number of tickets
for good behavior at school, lot OF
silk piece-work which had once been
designed to blaze rs "star," but
whose light was yet in undeveloped
chaos. schoolgirl keepsakes of ingen-
iously cut paper and twisted locks of
hair, with the motto when this you
see,' etc.. and few printed ballads
and child's books. This chest had been
made and given "To Vesta Gridley,
by her friend Hugh Plunkett," as was
indicated on the cover in large capitals.
He had long been her fathers hired
man, and had never failed to share the
family admiration for the abilities of
Miss Vesta. To hear her rattle off the
multiplication table, and wade through
the authorizations without "balk, :"
seemed to him nothing short of genius.
And when growing into young lady
and beginning to accept attentions from
the neighboring young men, Hugh
looked on with a jealous eye, for he was
sure there was no one of them "smart"
enough for "Vesty."
In coming through the village one
winters day he had called, as request
ed, at the Postofiice for the weekly pa
per, and was handed with it q missive
addressed to 'Miss V. Gridley,' with
4 Paid in one corner, and rather
obscure postmark in the other. Hugh
gave it his careful scrutiny, for it was
not often that letters came to Vesta,
and finally spelled out the Town of
l.. "Whewr he whistled. as
that fact became established. eyes,
sir, it's l.! Must be it's from that
Huxford! And I'll bet it's valentine,
too!' That HuNford'' had met Vesta
frequently the past year, and had paid
her polite attentions. He was uncom-
monty tine-looking, was already d" fit
ted for college, and the prcsumptive
heir to large estates. What more could
even Hugh expect in beau? Chuck
ling to himself at the fair prospects of
his favorite, he gave his mind to the
matter on his way back, and before he
reached the house had planned about
how "big'' wedding the occasion
would demand, and already in fancy
saw "Nesty" the mistress of the king
dom of the Huxfords, and the glory Of
them. "John Dexter has always had
sneaking notion after her, but guess
this here-in-my-pocket III settle his
hash. WALL" he concluded, "I've al
ways said there want nobody in this
town good enough for her?'
Hugh watched for private opportu-
nifty to deliver the important document
into Nesta's own hands.
Guess what I've got for you?" he
asked, his face all alive with anticipa-
ton.
But. Vesta had no basis for a guess.
"Well, what day of the month is it
now?n
Why, the fourteenth of February,
isn't it?''
Eyes, that's it, and l got volen-
tine for We at the Postoffice," he
grinned, as he carefully drew it from
his pocket.
"a valentiner' she repeated, in as
constituent, for she had never yet re-
ceived one.
"'Taint boughten one with Cupids
and such like on the corner, as I've seen
EN-; but l bet it's nice one inside. :"
And as Vesta was inspecting the dim
postmark, he added, with wink and
nod, "Its from l., don't you see!'
Yes, Vesta did see, and she began to
tremble with an almost painful excite
ment. At first, the handwriting seemed
familiar; but, no, it was better than
John could write. And then the post
mark settled the point-she knew no
one else at l., it must be from
Richard Huxford, and what if it vas a
real valentine! Concealing it in the
folds of a garment upon which she was
sewing, she hurried to her own cold
chamber to learn the true inwardness
of her letter. Breaking the seal, her
quick eye soon ran through the lines,
yet, ere she finished, the carelessness
of girlhood had left Vesta's heart. She
had hitherto persuaded herself that
Richards attention had been only out
of regard to his Cousin Fanny, with
whom she was SO intimate. Surely she
had never considered them as strictly
complimentary to herself, and all the
insinuations of others to that effect had
been offensive. But here it was that
he, "indeed, loved her WE'LL" For who
else in l. knew her to love her, OF
could name her to praise: Agreeable
as he was as an acquaintance, and as
good a match" as her parents could
possibly desire, Vesta recoiled from the
idea of viewing him as lover. Why,
she could not exactly tell; but as she
slowly folded the sheet, and thought
fully descended the stairs, she felt her
self newly burdcned.
Had her brothers not been so alb
sorbed in games that evening, thew
might have noticed what a dull sister
sat amongst them. And Mrs. Gridley.
did she ever know her sprightly daug6t.
er to answer 81 don't know" and g
guess so," in such an distracted wayl
But Vesta was keeping these things to
herself and bordering them in her
mind. Hugh watched her with a
critics eye as he oiled his boots around
the kitchen fire for his next campaign.
His manner to the rest of the family
betokened the superiority of I" KNOWING
something that you don't know" But
this was as unnoticed 40 the others uu.
usual quiet and deep self-interest,
Shouldn't wonder If the weddin' come