The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-02-13
HISS yEsTA,s VALENTINE.
Written for the Republican by Mrs. y. W. Griswoo
of Ruckland

Of auckland
ssThere Is one who indeed loves you WE'LL
lfyou wish who it is you may know,
Search these les they in silence do well,
confess the initials do show :"
These lines had laid undisturbed for
many years at Mr.. Grldley's, in rude
miniature chest, along with other giriish
relics. They were written in bold ana
youthful, but evidently psins-taking
hand, and had been carefully folded and
sealed with Q path of red wax. They
lev at the bottom of the little chest un.
der the till, and had for company several
old letters from "friends and well-wish-
ers," number of tickets for good be-
havior at school, lot OF silk piece-work
which had once been designed to blaze
as q "star," but whose light was yet in
undevelopcd chaos, schoolgirl keep
sakes of ingcniously cut paper and
twisted locks of hair, with the motto
"When this you see," etc., and few
painted ballads and child's books. This
chest had been made and given "Io
Vesta Gridley by her friend Hugh
Plunkett," as was indicated on the cover
in largo capitals. He had long been
her fathers hired man, and had never
failed to share the family admiration for
the abilities of Miss Yesta. 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 a
young lady and beginning to accept at
tentions from the neighboriug young
men, Hugh looked on with a jealous
eve, 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 requested,
at the postoffice for the weekly paper,
and was handed with it misslve ad-
dressed to "Miss V. Gridley," with a
"Paid" in one corner, and rather OBJ
scure post-mark 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
. "Whew" he whistled, as that
fact became established. ayes, sir" it's
-! Must be it's from that Hux-
ford! And I'll bet it's valentine, too"
"That Huxford" had met Vesta fire.
quently the past year, and had paid her
polite attentions. He was uncommonly
ine-looking, was already gifted" for
college, and the presumptive heir to
large estates. What more could even
Hugh expect in beau? Chuckling to
himself ut the fair prospects of his ia
vorite, he gave his mind to the matter
on his way back, and before he reached
the house had planned about how big
q wedding the occasion would demand,
and already in fancy saw 'Vesty' the
mistress of the kingdom of the Hux-
fords, and the glory of them. John
Dexter has always had sneaking DO
ton after her, but guess this herein
my-pocket II settle his hash. Wall, he
concluded, "I've always said there want
nobody IN this town good enough for
herr
Hugh watched for private opportu-
nItystO deliver the important document
into Vesta'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 q guess.
well, what day of the month is it
nowT
sWhy, the fourteenth of February,
isn't IT.
yes, that it, and | got valentine
for yc at the postoflice, he grlnned, as
he carefully drew it from his pocket.
"A valcntine' she repeated in as
constituent, for she mad never yet re-
ceIvcd one.
'Taint boughten one with Cupids
and such like on the corner, as I've seen
en-, but l bet it's a nice one inside.
And as Vesta was inspecting the dim
post mark, he added, with u wink and
nod, dts 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 postmark
settled the point,-she knew no one else
at l., it must be from Richard lux
ford, and what if it was real valentine!
Concealing it in tho folds of garment
upon which she YVES sewing, she bur
ried to her own cold chamber to learn
the true inwardness of her letter. Break
ing 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 per-
suaded herself that Richards attentions
had been only out of regard to his cou-
SIN Fanny, with whom she was so init
mate. Surely she had never considered
them as strictly complimentary TO her
self, and oil the insinuations of others
to that effect had been offensive. Blu,
here it was that be, indeed, loved her
well.' For who else 10 l. knew her
to love her, or could name her TO praise!
Agreeable as she was as An acquain-
lance, and so good match as her pa
rents could possibly desire, Vesta re-
coiled from the idea of viewing him as
. lover. Why, she could not exactly
tell; but as she slowly folded the sheet
and thoughtfully descended the stairs,
she felt herself newly burdened.
Had her brothers not been so absorb
ed in games that evening. they might
have noticed what dull sister sat
amongst them. And Mrs. Gridley, did
she ever know her sprightly daughter
to answer d don't know" and Il guess
so,' in such an distracted way? But
Vesta was keeping these things TO her
self and bordering them in her mind
Hugh watched her with critics eye as
be oiled his boots around the kitchen