Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-03-10
The Curate's Valentine.

\ clerical prig!" said the eldest Miss
Grantly
something has vexed him. said the
second. .'He looks worried
Il know what" finished the third; at
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, as 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 Sci
turn, called by his intimates, Will; and he
had been this evening what the young
ladies chose to designate ''Crawley." In
general way he was rather pet with them.
He had nothing but his curacy, and ht
boosted sometimes of his own cleverness IL
making both ends meet, 50 that he was moi
a 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 curate; he
not only would not exert himself TO be en-
,ertaiuing, but, when he did speak, it 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, ''he LEFT
off to 90 and iiiri with Bell Lindhurst. ANY
one could see that
"Are YOU sure it's Bell r said another.
Il thought it was Frances"
s.Oh. either Will do" said the other,
since a man with a curacy can only flirt.
But it's Bel. of course. Well, he has
spoill our evening completely. and we owe
him something. wish could think of q
real good trick.
81 know of something" said TIE young
est Miss Grantly. who was also the quiet
est. and had q sad, plaintive way of speak
| ing. ''But then he would never open 4
Valentine.
s.Not if he knew it," said the oldest
.'but he need not. What's your plan :"
There was a good deal of whispering. 4
little laughing. and then lull.
Yes, large blue envelope-oihcial
looking-and Eve got seal with Cupid
on it. holding a letter on his arrow; the
moor stupid man Will never see that, anc
one must have the sign manual of Falen'
tine about it. But then he knows all oul
handwriting. | can manage disguise fol
the letter itself, but my disguises ar'
cramped. If we had only free. bold
natural address outside. he would nevel
suspect.
There's Bell and Frances put in thu
plaintive little voice sadly, whereupon be-
sisters applauded.
"a pat on the shoulder for that, sai'
they. ''No. he has never seen Bells writ
ing. Frankly won't do it, she's s'arched
but Bell-we'n see
The three young ladies moved forward
simultaneously.
.'lsn't it bed time I'm sure you two
poor children are tired to death Oh papa
asleep. You rude man."
The colonel, of course, declared that III
wasn't. and shouldn't have thought of sucl
a thing. and then instituted very wide
awake search after candles, during which
Miss Grantly whispered into Bell Lind
bursts ear softly, ''rll come to your room
bit, dear"
| The result of that visit was that Bell ed
dressed a missive Of whose contents sh'
was ignorant. 1t contained, however, {
pretended offering to Mr.. Selturn Of rec
torship at Greenham-cum Oakes, by ST
Harry Lindhurst, ker own uncle.
1t was not until it began to be talked o
that Mr.. Selturn was going to leave tn
parish, that she saw she had been tn
means of deceiving him by apractical joke
Consequently she determined TO rectify j
so far as she was able.
She was still at the Grantlys, and Mr.
| Selturn was there on a visit. He having
been few minutes alone in the drawing
room, was startled by the appearance o
Sir Harry's niece from the conservator.
door.
"sir. Sslturn," said the young lady, g