The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-02-19
handsomely, and the enterprise proved
verv popular.

handsomely, and the enterprise proved
very popular.
just before luncheon the Captain
came to distribute the contents of the
letter bag. The young and gayer mem.
bers of the party assembled in noisy ex.
pectation. To my great disappoint.
ment Miss Parke did not appear, and
sent Mrs. Ray to fetch her. She came
after some delay, saying that she knew
\ no on6Eon board whV wound ,be IT. al
likely 20 send her any, though she en-.
joysd he fun OF lers tbapd ID il
ss:Rd."N sid. -::sSQY ma hsRe a
score OF unknown admirers who may
take this opportunity of declaring
themselves.
II do not think anyone would dare
70 be solrQdet DO your
! 80, perhaps tot," said.
| She received one from me, however,
be-doved and be-cupided thing, and
another from Fred. But, much to her
surprise, the last one in the bag proved
to be for her also. She looked at it,
was startled, and then flushed with
anger. She thrust it back into the en-
velope, went into her state-rOom, and
did not appear until dinner. t..
We were sitting on deck that evening
when she drew an envelope from her
pocket, saying, gravely:
I'm going to tell you about TINS.
See what somebody has had the imper-
Thence to write to me! l am SO in
dignant; and papa would be in a rage."
With mock surprise and indignation
II read my own effusion, which, l am
bound to say, sounded to me then not
only impairment, but intensely silly.
Miss Parke referred to one, part of it
with especial indignation.
Fancy his saying that l don't know
him, but that the admiration he will
show in his eyes when meet them will
reveal him to me. wish papa was
well, and I~wouldn't mind so mach;
and l will have to trust you or Mr..
Raw to save me from any rudeness."
What could do after this but assure
her Of my protection, and declare bold.
ly that if l once intercepted one Of
.'the horrid MANS chances would
kick him into the sea? Miss Parke al
once objected to my carrying matters
quite so far, and l could only repeat
my promise to defend her for my
cousin Lottie's sake.
..How often Lottie has talked to me
of your she said; cit seems odd tC
think of it now"
"And what did she say?" asked
glowing with consciousness of the
tone of my cousins remarks about
Nina. To my delight I saw little flush
mount to her cheek as she answered
hurriedly:
80, nothing special. She used to say
she wanted me to meet you, and thai
she liked you very much. -
swell. I'm thankful that her wish
was granted" l replied.
In spite Of my increasing interes,
in her l was very seasick after this and
SO was she. When crawled out aea air
she was nowhere to be seen, but the old
gentleman. her father, was comforta
bly, settled in the saloon with his books
and papers, having apparently got over
his attack. l hesitated a moment anC
then walked boldly up to him, ex
planned my relationship to his daugh
ter's friend, and described the acct
dent which had led to our acquaint
ance. l begged if there was any way
in which could serve him, either nov
or in the future, that he would cal
upon me. His countenance, though
forbidding, melted at the mention O
his daughters name, and he was 81
courteous and civil, and thanked mi
in such fine way for my kindness t,
her, that almost fell in love with him
too! He asked me to present him t.
my friends, the Rays. and it PROVED
that Mrs. Ray was daughter of an oil
friend of his, which further strength
ened our friendship. By and by Mis-
Nina came out, gentler than before
The next two days were passed 81
pleasantly that l was sorry enough
when we sighted land. However,
learned that Mr. and Miss Parke's DIES
tination was in the south of France
and az l found my business would tax
; me there we parted with the expects
ton of meeting again. And in thre
weeks more we did 50. finished m
affairs in London and posted off to tn
continent with all speed.
Oh, those happy days that followed
sailing on the Mediterranean; walkin
and driving down by the shore; sittin
under palm trees and in rose garden
with Nina, who grew lovelier ever
moment. 1 seemed to have Statistic
the old mans inquiries about my rels
tives and my profession which he pu
with adroit delicacy; if he OWNED whs
was going on, it was plain he did nc
disapprove.
One lovely evening as Nina and
were sitting on the little veranda {
their house, her father reading within
l said, suddenly:
miss Nina, have you ever forgive
the author of that impudent valel
tine?"
"Oh! I've almost forgotten him." 81
replied, ''he was too rude and disagree
able to be remembered"
$50 when you do think of him yo
) don think ina very4kind way?'
"Of course I don't; but he must hay
got over his admiration for me or hay
> been only in fun about it. l never foun
out who he was"
"And if you did find out, and were
( meet him, would you always dislik
: him for itP'' 4,
g" OF course I would. AMMAN whom
? did not know had no rig ht to do such
l thing" ~ss~ ~.
."But suppose you did know him."
said. .,..,
t ssBut didn't
II beg your pardon, but you did"
She opened her great eyes and stoc
marveling. g Why, I only knew you ar
Mr.. Ray. Surely it was not Mr.. Ray,
she said. yr,I e,s-
!, "No, it was not Mr.. Ray" a.
1. Your she exclaimed, in amaz
. ment; "why, what on earth made ye
!. do such a thingi'' w,g
q az can't tell you that unless you
Il tell me what you think now about Il
;. author of the valentine.
]. 81 always said he was "a horr
L 7 man." she answered, smiling archl
l "and l must stick to it, az
!, elf vOr dO.n I ren1ied. "there