The Wilmingtonian., 1885-02-14
the scrap book !:

/
/ miss you at the wicket gate
| You always let me through.
1t is very hard to open,
But you never come to try;
Won't you tell me why, Robin?
Won't you tell me why
But, as she iesd them over, she reflected
MY. shy litilesister will never send that"
"Well,' said Viva, ''let me hear them."
"On second thought, don't think they'll
do said Mrs. Aidrich, closing the book.
"rm go ng t, pnt in card" Viva said,
going to her escritoire. "Amy, have you
any large-szed envelopes ?"
"Plenty of them,' Mrs. Aldrich replied,
seating herself at the desk, and quietly OPEN
ing tile scrar-book again. 81 will address
one for you. There, dear, is some tissue
paper. You had better lay that over the
satin; it is not quite dry yet. You write
your card-t ere on the table. | want to
copy something.
Viva sat down and thought a Topg time
i
her pen and wrote in graceful Characters:
"With the lope Of Vica Farington.
Meanwhile Mrs. Aldrich copied the old
song on sheet of paper, substituting the
name of Laurie Cor that of "Robin," and
slyly slipped the transcription into the en-
yeope which she addre sed to Mr.. Lawrence
Van Orden.
'What is the number, deara" she asked,
as Viva laid the painted satin valentine on
the desk with her card.
"No. 500 Sanford street."
81 will give it to Thomas right away,
J and Mrs. Aldrich, inclosing the valentine
and card in the envelope which already con-
tanned the verses of the old song. ''rhere is
always SO much mail matter on st. Valen-
tines Day that it is best to get it off early
"Very well," Viva answered unsusri-
ciously, and her sister left the room.
/ at is a pardonable deceit" murmured
} Mrs. Aldrich, as she saw tho servant walk
7 off with the mIssive fiom which she hoped
SO much 1T will bring them together,
am sure; and if could do that, would moi
stop at anythingl"
On the night of ST. Valentines Day, Viva
D stood at the window watching the beautifu
} spectacle of a snow storm by electric light
a She saw the glistening crystals whirlint
about with thousand scintillations, spark
ling like diamonds, dancing like gay littl'
t sprites but Nesting down at last on the still
+ shining white shroud.
} "Viva!"
Never had she heard her name spoken a
n she heard it then. She turned and me
Lawrence Van orden who caught her in hi
arms with lovers rapture.
e "My darlingl" he cried, ~ meant to Civ
d you up, but if you love me- you love me
Viva"
d 81 do love you," she whispered, swift
t. my whole soul!
Lovers ecstacies will not Bear description
IL We will pass over vast amount, and tax
y up the conversation where it grew NOR
d rational.
10 "You don't know how happy was whe
got your valentine this morning." Lawrl
sr said at length.
''The pretty little painted Love aslee
lie among the lillies."
IN "Why Lawre-you didn't sent that
to your brother Harry!"
m 'But it was addressed to me, ? he insiste
G. stoutly, producing the envelope as pro,
d, positive.
he "Amy addressed it! " said she in disma
O. "Could she have thought l said LAW
he instead of HarryP Oh, should never ha'
re been so bold as to send you such a thing.
'Then you did not interd d it for me ?"
rs asked, bankly. ....#
mo, mol OF course not!'
i'd "0h, Viva!"
ss ''But do love you,' she whispered, ,sl'yl
I 'sand-and I'm glad there was mistake
to though perhaps Amy did it on purposel"
ng 'Heaven bless Amyl" cried Lawrie, q
his voutly. "If had not been sure that "
nd loved me, Viva, l could not have sacrific
my worldly pride by suing for your 10y
at But when I found out-or thought tha
had found out that you really cared for N
cast all other considerations to the winds
ly Viva was not satisfied till she had it O
me with Mrs. Aldrich, who readily confessed
an the deceit of the poem, but insisted that t
address was mistake. She had not kno'
Id that Lawrie's brothers name was Harl
nat and when Viva uttered it in the folds of l
ia handkerchief and in fearful voice, she h
ut naturally mistaken the sound.
bit "Well, it happens to be all right" 81
If Viva, with little sigh of content; ''bnt j.
ror- think how dreadful it would have been, j
to if it hadn't been you, Lawriel"
20 He drew her to him in the close embr
ID, of jealous lover.
II hope there is no likelihood Of such
'ui mistake occurring in the case Of any OF
'ish fellow!" he said quickly, at which n