Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-02-14

Beautiful one
Like thee there's none
| Under the SUM-
THAT'S true!
Sure as gun.
mo, that won't do!
''Blue-eyed flower, fair as light!
Howl love thee, hearts delight!
'Just it!'' And he proceeded to write,
fearing that the inspiration would leave
him, if seized on the very instant.
''Now, I'll settle the other one.'' Taking
a sheet of paper, he began:
'MIss:--I take my pen in hand to rid you
of a delusion. [ do not wish you to
trouble me with your attentions, as I am
about to Engage myself to another young
lady.
Yours to command.
'AUsTEE RANE.
MILTON, Feb. 10, IS.
"Sharp and short, call it, ;" he common
ed. shut self-preservation is natures first
law, or something tl.at effect.'
He drew two large envelopes from the
desk. On one he wrote, in his best style,
''Miss Margaret Ost orne," On the other.
"Miss Belinda Briggs"
''Old links has come about the COLT"
announced Hiram.
Austen hastily placed the valentine and
the note each in an envelope, and went
down to the stable to see old Jinks, telling
Hiram to deliver the envelopes according
to directions. Hiram obeyed him.
But in Austen's hurry he had made a
slight mistake. He had placed the valen-
tine in Miss Briggs envelope, and the
note in Daisy's. A mistake indeed
''Somethln' for you, Miss Daisy" said
Hiram, grinning.
Probably valentine from-some-
body" said Mrs. Osborne, smiling sig
nlfcantly, as Daisy entered the parlor with
the envelope.
Daisy tore open the envelope. Happily
Mrs. Osborne, was not of curious ma.
ture; she saw the blood rush to her
daughters cheeks and the fire to her eyes,
but she concluded to keep silence, and
wait until Daisy should see fit to tell her
the cause of this unusual agitation.
Daisy ran up to her room, and burst in
to tears. She read and re-read that I'M
fortunate note.
"He takes his pen in hand to rid me of
delusion," she murmured. sob, in
deed! Some people possess a great deal of
self-conceit. He does not wish me to
trouble him with my attentions! Well,
[ thought that Austen Rane was honest
and true. I never imagined he would
(sobbing) insult me in this way. He is
about to engage himself to another young
lady. Belinda Briggs, suppose. No, it
can't be she, for he says young 1 wish
her joy whoever she is" Daisy concluded.
''Miss Briggs is in the parlor, Wants
to see you," called Mrs. Osborne.
Daisy wiped her eyes, and went down.
s'I've something sweet to tell yon,'' be-
gan Miss Belinda, simpering. ST hardly
know how to commence. I've just re-
ceived valentine. Such-a-lovely-o
Oh, my!'' and she displayed Austen's val
entine. Daisy read the two lines of verse
in Austen's well-known, stiff hand
writing, but she resolved not to show the
pain it gave her. IL cannot imagine from
whom it came," continued Belinda (she
knew very well. II shouldn't wonder if
he'd propose next. He! he help
81 shouldn't be surprised at anything
now" returned Daisy, the tears somehow
getting into her voice.
s'He's real poet. How true to nature!
Listen
"Blue-eyed flower, as fair as light
"My eyes are blue. [ didn't think he
had noticed it.
"How love thee, hearts delight!
s'That's really too much"
Daisy also thought it was too much.
''Good-by. love. I'll. call again soon.''
And Miss Briggs marched from the room,
triumphantly conscious that she had
planted dagger in Daisy's breast.
When evening came Daisy had recovered
her seIf-possession. She was alone in the
parlor, reading. reading. The door open
ed, and Austen entered.
Daisy nodded stif1y. She was astound-
ed by his impudence. He was dressed in
a new blue suit with brass buttons. He
seemed to be in a hopeful state of mind,
How dared he come near the house at
all?
"What's up now," he thought, respond
ing to Daisy's not by asking. "Did you
get valentine, Daisy?"
II received yours. sir"
wasn't it fine? I think it was right
smart. How did you know who sent it?"
"Your boy, Hiram, brought me the
note, sir, and, if had not recognized him,
your signature was plain enough"
Il didn't sign my name to it,
81 suppose you'll deny that you wrote
the note next.
s'What note?'
.'''That note.'' She gave him the missive
with an air of great dignity.
He looked at it. Then he began to
laugh, and he never ceased until two
bright buttons flew off his vest. Iaisy
stood near him, looking at him with
speeches. indignation.
This note was intended for Miss
Briggs" he managed to say at last, ''the
envelopes must have got changed. I'll
bet she got your valentine!''
His explanation lightened Daisy's
heart. And when he said, you'll have
to marry me, Daisy, or Miss Briggs will
grab me-" Daisy answered. eyes"
Miss Belinda threatened to bring suit
against Austen, for blighting her young
heart. She visited lawyer, to see wheth-
er the verses on the valentine were action
able or not. 1t is presumed they were
not, as he was never disturbed by any such
suit.