The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-19
ST. VALENTINE AND CUPID.
By MARY c PRESTON.


s.For ne7" asked Anna, csio.iug q little,
iace-liks envelope with the few touches of
git. which her sister was looking st with sd
mirstion.
"Don't be in hurry, Minna said, coolly.
.Itsa valentine, OF course. and You shall
have 1t in = moment l am trying to re-
member where ] saw this writing. o."
with sudden conviction. ST could swear to II
now 1t is-it is-a valentine from George
Dennis
1T is mine, and l think you might sDsrs
yourself al this anxiety concerning the
sender of it." said Anna little tartly, tax
ng II from her sisters hand
Bat Minna would not be crushed. She
followed Anna TO the window, and laid her
lar coaxiDgly on the plump shoulder.
open IL and let me see, too" she said,
with all the assurance of fifteen years, and
AZ unlimited amount OF curiosity in love
ffairs. Hes SO bsshful, that Tm sure it
L will be drol. Perhaps he mas taken this
chance Of proposing TO you-he never would
fBd better, and We all know how much be
i in love with yous"
"Minna," Anns cried. you are a perfect
little goose. and l shall not crafty your
curiosity
With that. ard with deepened color on
eth pretty cheek, she ran out of the room.
1t was the l4th of February and Anna
had SURELY received q valentine, which she
was arefuliy opening in her own room, and
reading with dimpling smiles and sparkling
eyes
First there was a lack-work affair, with
The pre- test little Cupid, half hidden by sill
Yer leaves holding IN one plump hand an
arrow with tTansfxed heart upon 1t, while
IL III - - ~eA
Lightly on the little gods lip.
"a pretty idea" Anna whispered, regard
n z Il smiliDgly. at surely means silent
love. 1 never thought George at all roman
tic before"
Then she drew from the envelope tinted,
lines thereon:
I'D rather be thine own, beloved.
Forever in thy heart 10 dwell,
Than own the treasures OF the earth,
IN palace. cot or cell.
For what would such things bring TO me
When Joy can only come from thee2"
J Particularly the cell part of it." laughed
Anna.
But she blushed also.
Then she drew out sheet OF note paper,
unfOided II hastily. and read the following,
ltr heart giving few uneccastomed throbs:
ny LIFE SrAg--I have loved you long in
silence, because / dare not speak; but the
time has come for confession from me, and
Itke II ere, diIuost Without nope. You
aye so beautiful, so winning, that better
than will bring yon pleadiDgs and find you
more willing 70 hear. Yet 1t LIES devo-
tIon Is anything to you, send me line, say
ing msy call on you tonight and lay my
heart at your feet. III receive no word from
you, will know that there is indeed no
hope for me, and you will never see my face
again on earth. Do you not realize my sue
perse3 Shorten IL, If you care IN the least
fer ne. Your lover always. G. d."
Hall an hour later, a little fellow
running across the fields, not mlnding tbs
II ow. because Anna had given him piece
OF silver If he would deliver the note ne
held in bis hand 10 Mr.. George Dennis.
And said note ran thus:
I accept you as my valentine come tonight
and come in hope. Yours, ANNA SNowE.
In the evening. when tall. handsome
yosth stood tremblinly At the door, waiting
for an answer 70 bis ring, and wondering
what he'd happened TO make him so unit.
teIably happy, the door was opened by Min
.. and be was drawn hurrisdiy into the
hall and detained there
4 want to tell you-Im awfully sorry.
bit Anna would never forgive me If she
knew the girl began, confusedly. ST sent
her a valentine, and an awfully silly one,
to-day; and l copied your hand, and il
locked as IL you had written il. Do you not
understand She thinks you have-have
proposed to her; and ] only meant it as
joke. Bot when l found that she had sent
you word &c. come tonight l didn't care
10 tell her.
Mr.. Dennis took one OF Minnas hands and
held 1t firmly, ms eyes lighting, his face
flushing.
s'Tell me what was in the note you sent
Anna IN my name" he said quietly. Per
baps she need not know"
"But Ina afraid she must" Minna was
aow almost crying. 81 told her you had
a0yed her long while, and would 90 away
forever unless she could give you hope; aad,
If she cared at all Tor you, l told her TO send
= line, saying you might come tonight. II
was al for Jest, but-but I AN afraid she
took Il seriously, and nov she viii never for
give me,n
LET me make your peace with her. Where
is shef''
In the parlor"
Alone
Yes
Then think, my little Minna, you have
! been the best friend to me to-day man ever
had"
And be stopped and kissed her on the fore
bead, then turned hastily in the direction OF
the parlor.
Il wonder what be means? And do
wonder why in the world he kissed me?
Maybe because I'm Anna's sister," Minna
said, sagely, to herself, as she darted of along
the hall, feeling very much as though she
deserved 3 sound shaking for the thoughtless
prank that Was likely TO be so resented BY
her sister.
Meanwhile, George had entered the parlor
where Anna was, looking very sweet and
very shy. snd pretending 70 be very much
interested IL = novel; and when she looked
up on his entrance, and blIshed so divinelv,
George Dennis, who had always been so bash
f1l "a Individual, did something EXTERNALLY
= pold ard daring, for, taking the hard she
xtendsd 10 him, he drew very Gloss 20 her,
locked a moment on the pretty. downcsst
face and then-yhispering something Which
souL ced ike darling" stoopsd impudenuy
4 ard touched the girls red lips with his.
Half sn hour later Minis put her head in
81 the psrlor door. and opened ner nlisc5iev-
Gus eyes widely to see how near together
lNo other heads were.
A very decided Mn from her sspar-
aied them. howsver, ard she entered de