The Florida agriculturist., 1889-02-13


ing will occur on the 9th"
Are you. sure they viii elect meF' asked
Tom, with sudden stopping of his heart 81.
81 manage this company, replied the pres
ident sententio usly
"But why do you give me so E1uch salaryF
"On account of the responsibility you
will assume. | would rather pay 5000 to q,
man put faith in than 81 900 to q man I'm
not sure Of"
''And you're sure of ne3" sse. es,s .,i.cs
Perfectly" .. s..xtas.ss
Tom tried to say something but thero was
"a choking sensation about the throat which.
prevented. Mr.. Lester bowed him on. po-.,
liteiy, and be went to his desk ...r
''A letter for Miss Kitty, m'rl . .',i
Jane handed her mistress an envelope on a !,
silver salver 1t was covered over with
flowers and naughty looking little cupids,
stamped on the paper, except a small island
space in the center for the address Mrs.
Cloverlie took the missive put on her glasses
and examined the address.
81 expects it's a walingtine, said Jane.
Tho mistress did not reply. The writing
somewhat resembled that Of Mr. Flin::, an
elderly suitor for Miss Ktty's hand, and one
who would be decidedly acceptable to her
mother. Mr. Flint was a millionaire.
Bring me some warm water, Jane.n
The water was brought, the gum softened
and out came valentine. The matron read
the contents over two or three times to be
sure there was nothing in it indicating that
it could be from Tom Horton.
What nonsense some people can write. If
John Flint wrote that he's a fool" she NUT
tered @s&n
But that inattered not. Flint had millions
to gid his Strengthened forehead" Miss
Cloverhe put the valentine back in the en-
velope, sealed it over and directed Jane to
take it to Miss Kitty.
Why is it that woman must always ex-
anime a superscription before she opens q
letter. We don't know why it is SO; we only
know it to be fact.
Kitty held the valentine up and read tho
address number of times before she tore it
open Then she read:
Aleaden February cloud
. Lies on the sky this morn,
81 Each tree with ice is covered DER,
: The shrubs Of leaves are shorn.
: ''Thats pretty likely" observed Kitty to
herself. IF the trees are covered with ice
there can't very well be leaves on the shrubs
| think that's from Mr.. Flint. He scribbles
/ know.
TO be TO thee H@e
IS Eternally -. ~, ~ a5-et<...
ReVered, beloved maid, I
ALI any lover e'er can be-
Through goreI'd gladly wade. ,.:ss
"What nonsensel" exclaimed Kitty. ''ro
think of putting gore III a valentinei, It's
certainly from Nh. Flint He hasn't any
better taste.''
Pure maiden deign this morn to look
On your respondent lover;
Sweet are to him the slightest smiles
That round your red lips hover
"That's very nice. It's much better than
talking about gore But can't look Oh him
when he isn't here"
On your blue eyes
Fair heaven lies;
Faint bushes spread
In clouds Of red;
Coming and going on your cheek divine
Eternal be our love, my Valentine .a.
"Isn't that lovelys Mr.. Flint never wrote
the last part of it, | know. | wish yalen-
tine would come from Tom. Dear Tom
she said dreamily. What q beautiful yalen
tine ne could write if he only would But he
wouldn t waste his time that way, hes too
practical
She threw the valentine on a table care
lessly, and sitting down by q window took up
book. She had read half dozen Eagcs
When something seemed to sting her rightin
tho center Of the brain. She sprang to the
valentine, seized it eagerly, read and reread
IT, turned 1T wrong side foremost. INSIDE
down and cat-a-cornered Then she held il
up to the window to look through it After
that she laid it on the table and rubbed her
nand all over the surface, both the face and