The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-03-27
The Curate's Valentine.

a clerical prig!" said the eldest Miss
Grantly.
Something has vexed him." said the
second. "He looks worried
II know what" finished the third s'it
would be great fun to send him one"
The three Misses Grantly put their heads
together, in order probably to converse
more in private. They need not have been
frightened. Everybody was tired, and
would have yawned, had such a luxury
been admissible in the the Grantly draw
ing-room Tea parties are always slow
, this one had been very slow, indeed, rs Mrs.
Grantly and the colonel. her husband,
would be ready to testify, when they had
smiled their good-nights to the young
friends who were staying in their house.
Amongst their few guests had been the
curate Of the parish, the Rev. Wilfred Sell
turn, called by his intilnates, viii and he
had been this evening what the young
ladies chose to designate "Crawley." In q
general way he was rather pet with them.
He had nothing but his curacy, and he
boasted sometimes Of his own cleverness IN
making both ends meet, so that he was not
dangerous man to know; and then he
was OF good family, and could talk well,
and was altogether very useful creature,
since he never interfered with more eligible
individuals. But to-day something had
evidently gone wrong with the curatc lie
not only would not exert himself to be en-
tertaining, but, when he did speak, 1t was
to put aside, with considerable contempt,
the subject on which the sisters were just
then interested, namely, Valentines.
"In fact" said the eldest sister, che left
off to 60 and tlirt with Bell Lipdhurst. Any
one could see that
care you sure it's Bell ~ said another.
81 thought it was Frances"
ooh, either will do" said the other,
''since man with a curacy can only fiirt.
But it's Bell, of course. Well, lie has
spoilt our evening completely, and we owe
him something. wish could think of a
real good trick"
"1 know of something, said the young
est Miss Grantly, who was also the quiet
est, and had sad, plaintive way Of speak
ing. "But then he would never open a
Valentine"
''Not if he knew it," said the oldest
''but he need not. What's your plan9'
There was good deal of whispering, a
little laughing, and then lull.
eyes, large blue envelope-official-
looking--and I've got seal with Cupid
on it, holding letter on his arrow; the
poor stupid man will never see that, and
one must have the sign manual of a Valen-
tine about it. But then he knows all our
handwriting. can manage disguise for
the letter itself, but my disguises are
cramped. If we had only free bold,
. natural address outside, he would never
suspect"
'.srhere's Bell and Franceg,'' put in the
plaintive little voice sadly, whereupon her
sisters applauded. .gg,
GA pat on the shoulder for that" said
they. "No,, he has never seen Bells writ
ing, Frankly won't do It, she's starched !;
Z but Bellr-well see. = b
The three young ladies moved forward
simultaneously.
'.fsn't'it bed time2 I'm sure you two
poor children are tired to death. Oh papa,
asleep You rude man -
The colonel, Of course, declared that he
wasn't, and shouldn't lave thought of such
. thing, and then instituted q very .wide-
awake search after candles, during which
Miss Grantly whispered into Bell Lind
\ hurst's ear softly, "l'll come to your room
9 bit dear. = u
Tho result of that visit was that Bell adj
dressed q niissiye Of whose contents she
was ignorant. II contained, however, a
! pretended Offering TO Mr.. Selturn OF rec
torship3 3at Green enham.cum Oakes, by Sii
Harry Lindhurst, her. own uncle.
y was lotuntil ~ began to be talked Of