The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1886-02-20
GEORGES VALENTINE.
The Trouble a Doll Caused, and
What Game of It.

On St. Valentines Day there was no
five o'clock tea in Mrs. Croft's draw
ing-room. 1t was swept and garnished.
Many waAtn candles CLEANED in the
candelabra, but they were unlighted,
only the bright freight lit up the room
and threw its ttful glare over the
fresh-cut flowers and bric-a-brac that
adorned it.
Evidently, something unusual had
occurred or was about to do Sc. Such
was in truth the case.
On this evening Mrs. Croft was Civ
ing a ball to eyerybody-eyerybody
who was anybody in the town was bid
den.
A clink Of t~ea-things sounded in the
hall and proceeded upstairs to Miss
Croft's boudoir, where she and her
cousin, Mary Croft, who had
arrived an hour previously, were sit
ting in all the luxury of dressing-gowns
and unbound hair.
And he sent You this, Georgiep"
said Mary, holding up a wonderful
work of art composed of lace and
swan s-down with a humming bird
nesting in the center.
Eyes answered Georgia, laughing.
"lt's a beauty, isn't it?'
And you really sent him that one,
as you said you wouldP'
Eyes, | posted it this afternoon be-
tore | came to meet you"
well, you are a brave young
woman she laughed. II dared not
have done it; however, l suppose you
disguised your handwriting?'
"Well, yes, I should think I did,
responded George. II wouldn't have
him know for the world. However.
we shall see what he looks like tonight,
1 say, Mary, it's a quarter to seven
we haven't much time to dress"
In the town of Wellington, where
the conversation took place, and in the
principal inn known as the Royal, on
the night in question sat St. Michael
Delaney. close to the fire of the cheer
less sitting-room.
Mr.. Delaney was an Irish gentleman
of good family, who was blessed with
a handsome fortune, and, moreover, q
handsome presence. Both being taken
into consideration, it was not strange
that he was soon admitted into the
limited society of Wellington in which
the Crofts moved.
Tonight he had returned wet and
weary from the hunting-tield and was
now giving himself up to a pipe and
his W thoughts.
Would it not be better, he thought,
for him to have a nice home in the
'1'ould country" with a nice little wife,
instead of knocking about the world at
the mercy of his valet and the hotel
And then he fell to picturing
the little wife, and somehow he always
of her in connection with
Croft.
"He had an idea George rather liked
him. Suppose
At this moment the fire burst into a
blaze, and he perceived for the
first time a little packet lying on the
mantel-piece.
"a valentine byJove!' he exclaimed.
perhaps it's from G%eorgie9" but as he
sxamained the direction a cry of disap-
pointment escaped him. "Goodness!"
be calculated in wrath. THAT lean
Bingham girl"
Some moments elapsed before he re-
covered sufficiently to open the packet;
,ut at length he did so and disclosed a
ipy pill-box; on the lid was written:
tRhis pill to be taken once in a life
Inside the box was a wee doll attired
s a bride, beautifully dressed, even
With a wreath and veil. I am sorry to
ay that Mr.. st. Michel Delaney crushed
he pretty toy in his hand and dropped
with a gesture of contempt in the
re, saying, with q somewhat dismal
'By Jove! that W0uld be q pill and
o mistake"
Three hours later Mrs. Croft's rooms
resented the appearance of a kaleido- !
cope, SO brilliant were the rich Jewels t
nd dainty costumes worn.
1t is. perhaps, well to say that De- q
,ney was there and was mostly seen y
the side of George, who looked very
yeet in her simple gown of white silk. b
t the supper table, where he had the II
rtune to take Miss Croft in, they had O
r their vis.a-vis Mary and a Young