The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-02-11


were perfect ruffians to do it, and I'll
never forgive you for proposing it.. She
saw through our pretence, too! Did you
ever see more beautiful face, Frank?
She makes me think of that st. Cecilia
we were looking at the other day at Os-
borne's sale"
{" Poor old boyr' said Frank, inter-
rupting his burst of enthusiasm, and he
patted him patronizingly on the Shout
der "My dear fellow, never expected
this of you-that you would fall victim
to Cupid arrow; yoW who have laughed
at me for admiring the insipid beauty
and expressionless faces of pictures, have
at last been shared by pretty face.
Better mail your valentine to her right
away Declaration of First Love-
very appropriate, but rather precipitate;
might not be recfprocated, you know.
All that sort of thing does well enough
in novels. Willyou send your valentine
now? I'm going to stop in here to copy
mine, and mail to Fam
Don't" said Valentine, impatiently;
81 shall keep mine, and you may do
what you please with yours" and he
walked away, leaving Frank West stand
ing ON the steps of his uncle's office,
| looking after him with comical air of
mingled pity and establishment, depicted
on his face. When Val had disappeared
in receding car he gave prolonged
whistle and CALCULATED Hang it! I've
done it now! Who would have thought
of such thing? I'll have to laugh him
out of this delusion, else there'll be the
dickens to pay, when his family hear of
it, and they'll bring vengeance down on
my unsupported head. Ifn 90 hard
with Val, too, for when his mind is
made up, might as well try to move a
six-story block as to make him swerve
from his purpose. Poor boyr' Be it
known that this same ''poor boy'' was
older by couple of years than this
young man of twenty lone, who looked
at love in all its dealings from business
standpoint, and had little faith in love
at first sight, bleeding hearts, and ''all
that sort of thing"
! The next time these two young men
met, Frank West rallied Valentine Clark
on his recent fascination. Well,
VAIL he exclaimed, with provoking
GOODNESS, g have you seen st. Cecilia
again? Has she accepted thy Declare
ton of First Love? and contest thou
here to tell me that thy fate is sealed9
Whence this frown on thy brow, and
that scornful curve on thy lip?'
Enough nonsense, Frank, said Val
entine, carelessly. Lets drop the sub
ject.n
Exactly what 1 say" answered
Frank; it IS all nonsense, but L was
afraid you might be getting foolish, as
the Shakers say, over the pretty little
valentine writer-she was pretty, that's
they accomplished their purpose. She
guessed who sent them; didn't know of
my poetical ability before, thought the
verses Just lovely, admired the senti-
ment, etc. What if 1 had told her they
were not original (but haven't that |
bought them and paid for them with sill
yer? Half the charm would be LOST
After they had separated Frank West
congratulated himself that he had led
Valentine Clark to see the error of his
ways, and had cured him of his foolish
fancy. ''It's wonder, though he
said to himself ''for Val is such dream
er that he never sees the ludicrous side
of anything. This freak-which might
have proved an unfortunate one for him
is as foolish as the notion he took into
his head of educating that little girl he
picked up somewhere ayear or so ago;
he thought he had discovered a wonder
full artistic talent in her, which was only
an ingenious trick on her part of obtain
ing help.
Giles safe now, until some other odd
fancy strikes him. Perhaps he would
not have been so sure that his badinaoe
had succeeded, could he have seen his
| friend above in his room, heard his solilo.
quies and known who was the one that
figured extensively in his sleeping and
waking dreams, but he did not know.
and in the business and pleasure which
filled the next two months the episode of
the 18th of February was almost forgot
ten, and he probably never would have
recalled it, had it not been for an Incl
dent that happened early in the spring.
1t was April, but more like May, for, al
though the winter had been severe, the
season was unusually forward. Frank
West and Valentine Clark were walking
through Central Park, when the former
suddenly perceived that his companion s
attention was not given to the subject of
their conversation, and that his eyes were
resting on some distant object. ....
''There she isr' exclaimed Val. 81
thought it was she. Wen finish our
talk some other time"
"Wonderfully COOL" Frank West
thought, as he found himself walking
alone and saw Walls slim figure hurry
ing toward the subject of attraction.
''He takes it for granted I'm not coming,
but won't leave him now-rll be
bound if | will-he'll need me to help
him out again, for it's that Miss-what
is her name, anyhow l don't suppose
the dear fellow himself has the most re-
mote idea what it is. 1t may be Smith
or Jones for all he knows. He turned
and sauntered across the park with
nonchalent air, and came up to them
just in time to hear the ''dear fellow
asking considerably how Mrs. Dayton
was now that spring had come.
"I'll be bound if he does not know
her name already. His charming sister
Agnes might be sick a year. and he
wouldn't evince half so much solicitude
for her," said Frank to himself.
Miss DAYTON had seen and reco0ni1ad