The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-02-16
VIC VINTON'S VALENTINE.

80, Vic! have you heard the newsP
Isn't it perfectly splendid" burst from
a chorus of girls clustered about the
school-room register on cold frosty
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-
deavoring to warm her hands.
''Why, Maidie Seymour is to give a
Valentine party on the 14th and every
one of our class is to be invited" eX-
planned Clara Townley
''And there is to be letter box,
through which we are to send valentines
to each other" continued Bella Os-
good, land 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 up our
pocket money"
80, you always have plenty, and can
favor us all, laughed Nellie Frost.
twining her arm around her friends
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 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 &C.
.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 q 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
plainest of the class, to whom she had
scarcely spoken dozen words through
out the year and of whom she rarely
thought. Nlilly Melville looked upon
Vic Vinton as her ideal of every beauty
and grace. although she never ventured
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 school as emily the
book-worm' (for she was very studi-
ous), and at recess she was left alone
and 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, wendell her way down town in
quest of the fancy missives for her
mates, to be distributed by Cupid on
the following evening. AS she
walked brisNly along, her busy
brain was calculating how far
the five dollars in her purse
would 90, for having always taken the
lead, she felt some pride about having
her gifts as handsome as any that
would be sent; and Maidie, she knew,
had invited large number of friends
to do honor to ST. Valentine.
So engrossed was she in her own
thoughts that she almost ran into an
other girl who was coming up the
street, and was only reused by timid
''Excuse me, Miss Vinton.n
''Why, Milly, is that you?" exclaimed
Vic. 81 think am the one to apollo
gize My head was so full of valen-
tines did not see where | was going.
You will be at the party tomorrow
night, of course?'
mo, | think not, - said Milly, mourn
fully, while the tears started to her eyes.
81 never go to such places"
"But why notp'' asked Vic, impul-
sively. "Maidie expects all her class.
l know" And then as Milly blushed
and hestated--''B pardon me, per-
haps you do not care to tell your rea-
son.
81 don't mind telling you," STAN
mcred Milly; ''but really have moth
ing to wear.'
Like Miss Flora McFlimsey, of Mad
ison Square, laughed Vic.
"No, not like her, for this is truly
the very best dress own;' and Milly
glanced from her rather shabby black
cashmere to Vic's stylish winter suit.
''Why, how is thatp Come, walk
down the street and tell me all about
il" and urged on by Vic's sympathiz-
ing manner. Milly overcome her re-
serve and told her of the strict economy
her widowed mother was obliged to
practice to send her to Madame Ber-
gers school, and how impossible it
would be for her to procure dress
suitable for an evening party. 81 am
being fitted for a teacher, you know"
she sighed, at the end 'but l never
shall like it,
''What do you fancy?" asked Vic.
80, painting, above all things The
dream of my life is TO study art; and /
particularly wished TO go to this com