The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-03-13
VIC VINTON'S VALENTINE.


20, Vic! have you heard the newsa
Isn't it perfectly splendid?" burst from
chorus of girls clustered about the
school-room register on cold frostv
morning early in February, as a bright
eyed, golden-haired maiden entered
and joined the group.
mo what is it?" asked the new
conner, drawing off her gloves and en-
deayoring to warm her hands.
"Why, Maidie Seymour is to give a
Valentine party on the 18th and every
one of our class is to be invited,n ex-
planned Clara Townley.
''And there is to be a letter-box,
through which we are to send valentines
to each other continued Bella Os-
good, "and Maidie's little brother Fred.
dressed as Cupid, is to distribute them.
Isn't it pretty idea?"
Lovely" responded Vic; '.but
Maidie ought to have let us known
sooner so we could have saved ND our
pocket money"
30, you always have plenty, and can
favor us all, laughed Nellie Frost,
twining her arm around her friend s
waist.
Don't be so sure" said Vic. 81
have drawn pretty heavily on my
months allowance already, and father
always objects to advancing me any
money. He says | will never learn the
value of it if he does. But there goes
the bell, and haven't learned a word
ofmy French yet" As the gong sounded
the girls dispersed to their respect
i've seats, but little was thought or
talked OF during the ensuing week ex-
cept the coming entertainment and the
dainty missives to be sent on the oc-
caSion.
Every school has its belle, or leading
girl, and at Madame Berger's Vic Vim
ton was certainly that one. Handsome,
brilliant, and withal kind-hearted and
generous to fault, few could help low
ing her, and with both teachers and
scholars she was a general favorite,
While certain royal manner of her
own had won for her the title of ''Queen
Vic" amongst her school-mates.
But perhaps her most ardent admirer
was one quite unknown to herself-a
little demure lassie, the poorest and
plalnest of the class, to whom she had
scarcely spoken dozen words through
out the year and of whom she rarely
thought. Milly Melville looked upon
Vic Finton as her ideal of every beauty
and grace, although she never Yentured
TO do more than gaze and admire her
at distance, being much too timid and
reserved to mingle and make many
friends amongst the girls. So she was
only known in the sch DOL as '.Milly the
ooek-wormn (for she was very studi-
Gus J, and at recess she was left alone
ana unheeded in her distant corner.
In due time the invitations were
issued, and on Valentines Eve, Vic,
warmly wrapped up, for it was bitter
cold, wended her way down town in
quest OF the fancy missives for her
mates, to be distributed by Cupid on
she following evening. AS she
walked briskly along, her busy
nraln was calculating how far
tne hive dollars in her purse
wo9id 90, for having always taken the
,eaa, sac felt some pride about having
ner gifts as handsome as anv that
would be sent; and Maidie, she knew,
nad invited large number of friends
70 DO honor to St. Valentine.
90 engrossed was she in her own
aoughtS that she almost ran into an
oaner girl who was coming up the
street. street and was only reused by tinnid
Excuse me, Miss Vinton."
=. why, Milly, is that youP'' exclaimed
VIC Il think am the one to apollo
sAe' Ny head was so full of valen-
vnes did not see where | was going.
LOU will be at the party tomorrow
night, of course?''
a., NO. think not, y said Milly, mourn
.g .gaiiy'whlle the tears started to hereyes.
never go to such places"
out why not?' asked Vie, impul-
asely. "Maidie expects all her class,
SNOW And then as Milly blushed
ana hesitated-''But pardon me. per
son. y VOL oNi ioN1-
= don't mind telling you,'' stan,-
;ne. nerea Ailly; ''but really have moth
;son Ike Miss Flora McFlimsey, of Mad
ison Square, . laughed Vic.
y. 40 not ike her, for this is truly
~ o5s very best dress | own;n and Milly
sialced from her rather shabby black
e@s1mere S.al1l to Vic's stylish winter suit.
Why, how is that? Come. walk
10, sV@h the street and tell me all about
;no n and urged on by Vic's sympathiz-
80 manner. Milly overcome her re-
lslFe ha and told her of the strict economy
NV yra widowed mother was obliged to
Factsee to send her to Madame Ber-