Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-03-20
A SLIGHT MISUNDERST DING
a Valentine Story.
By CAROLINE S. VALENTINE.

Nellie Nlilroy was so plump and rosy and
so altogether bewitching that Ralph Bart
lett was desperately in love with her.
He had never been able to find
out whether she returned his affec-
ton, for Nellie was something of a
coquette and always managed to turn
the subject when he grew too serious.
Still he was almost sure she cared for
him. The eve before St. Valentines Day
Ralph went to the one stationery shop Of
the village TO look over the valentines to
see if there was anything quite fine and
pretty enough to send to his charmer.
None of them suited him, but as he dis
contentedly turned away from the fancy
missives with the gilt cupids, and pierced
hearts, bright idea came into his head.
"Why not write her valentine, real,
true one from my heart, and offer myself
to her 81 he asked himself.
The idea seemed so good that he has
tened home and wrote the most tender leve.
letter ne could compose and ended bRSbeg
ging Miss Milroy to accept his haqd md
heart and give him-her own in exch3lse.
It was with considerable compl kcency,
mixed with little wholesome fsacNef re-
fusal, that Ralph started out % leave Ms
letter at Squire Milroy's door. This
seemed to him more romantic than sending
it through the mail and he thought it
safer and quicker way.
1t was late, and he encountered no one
but Tip, Nellie's little terrier, in the yard.
Tip wagged his tail and followed Ralph to
the door and watched him slip the letter
under; then he trotted along BY his side to
the gate and licked his hand friendly fare
well greeting. Good dog, good Tip said
Ralph, patting him on the head, as he softly
closed the gate, and with mind at ease,
started homeward. Then the good dog
Tip scampered back to the door to investi-
gate. He scratched the letter from beneath
L.. L l. Il,
open the envelope. How provoking! There
was nothing but piece of paper to reward
him for his trouble.
Naughty Tip dropped the envelope on the
doorstep and raced up and down the walk
with Ralph's precious letter in his moVfh.
until, tired of play, he ran under title
rosebush and dropped it on the ground.
Just then the cook, who had been Speeding
the evening out, came along and lip ~
lowed her into the house. Ten minutess Ser
Corinne Pepper, who lived next dooae had
hated Nellie, because Ralph Bartlett loved
her, ran softly up the MilrOy steps and
pushed q comic valentine, without an en-
yelope, under the door. 1t represented
young woman running after man, and
under the picture was q verse, beginning:
"You are crazy for man,
But you cln't catch me, you know"
THAT will make her simply furious"
said Corinne, as she ran home with satis-D
fed look on her spiteful face In the moV6-
ing Nellie found the empty envelope And
the comic valentine on the stem The
writing on the envelope was csftajRky
Ralphis, but how did the valentine eet out
of it? Nellie forgot this question and
everything else in her rage when She
opened the valentine and read the verse:
Glow dared hep she cried, stamping Her,
foot, her eyes sparkling with angerI -
thought he cared''-Then she burst INTO
tears and ran and locked herself in her own
room.
That afternoon, when Miss Milroy went
down to the postofice for the mail, Ralph
Bartlett, who had been waiting impauently
for her appearance, fastened TO Join her
His heart was rapidly beating, for he felt
sure she would give him an answer TO the
question in his letter.
Good evening, Miss Nellie,'i he said,
with a tender look. Miss AIilroy gave him
a very distant bow and hurried on without
speaking. Ralph stood still in perfect
amazement for a moment, then with very
decided look on his face, FASTENED after
her, but the young lady walked so rapidly
she had reached her fathers gate before
Ralph could catch up with her.
See here, Nellie, he said, putting de-