Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-02-14
eff only she could like me-if onl!

L Qdr6u nope IudI su0 cOulu
Across the street, the smart, serving
girl was sweeping down Miss Halll'
days doorstep. She turned sharply
as en- urching addressed her from the
pavement.
CERES n letter for yer.
"For who?" inquired Lucinda.
"For you! De gen''mau as guy ii
to ne said as twas for de young lady
ober ere. "
Miss Mabe.-was that her name?"
said Lucinda, tnrniDg the envelope
over and seeing that it bore no od'
dress.
'Danno. 'Spects 'twere."
"Who sent it?' demanded she, sus'
piciously.
Now the boy had been expressly
charge to place the sentimental mis-
sive in the hand of Lucinda herself,
and to say nothing, except that 1t was
tor her.
"Sho would know who sent it,,
Christv had remarked, as he took
last look at the artistic Cupids and the
doctors beautiful handwriting, un'
conscious of the sharp eyes OF the
boy.
'Dunno who sent it," responded
the boy.
'Look here, boy" said Lucinda, as
she seized him by the collar and gave
him O shake intended to stir up either
his wits or his memory, "dou't tell no
lies to me, but Jest tell me this minute
where you come from
"Trom ober at de doctors otlus. "
"Ohl SO Doctor Lawton sent the
eiter?"
Mercury was discyeetly silent.
"Aud You says the letters for Miss
Mabel. A doctors prescription, prob
,ble." soliloluized Lucinda, medita'
lively.
"It's-it's-" How conll the boy
esist the temptation of giving this in
5eresting piece of information? cts
Volantne, full O. picters al things|
"Lor'!" said Lucinda. And then
urning sharply upon tie informer,
Immediately added, in virtuOus indig.
nation. "What business is that OF
yourn, YOU good-for-nothin, tell-tale
imp? GIT out! And next time you're
sent on o message with letter from
young gentleman to a young lady,
mind how you go letting on to every
body what's in it!'
And with q parting sweep at him
With her broom, she assembled the steps
and closed the hall-doOr.
That evening, young Doctor Law
ton sat in his Office, with no company
save that OF a sleepy cat, and skull
or two, smiling cheerfully down upon
him from glass case.
"a letter for You, sar !" said Chrlsty,
entering noise!esslv. 80
And depositing it on the table beside
his master, he gloomily retired.
Mechanically the doctor opened the
letter. No doubt from of his few pa
tients, asking to be excused from pay
ing that little bill vet awhile.
But, upon unfolding the inclosure,
what was his surprise to behold the
identical Valentine which he had that
morning written for Christy!
He glanced ct the rhyming dog
gerel. Beneath it appeared some lines
added in n delicate la1y's hand:
"DoCroR LAwToN: Yes.
"MABEL STANTON"
d. Lawton stared, and read the
contents of the Valentine over and
over again, before he appeared able
to understand or realize its meaning.
And then, suddenly, light seemed
to flash upon him he became first
very pale and then equally crimson.
Strong and stalwart though he was,
his hand, and even his frame, trem.
bled as he folded the paper, snatched
his hat, and, walking straight over to
Miss Halliday's, inquired for Miss
Mabel Stanton.
She came into the room slowly ly--al'
most timidly. There was an odd little
smile upon her lip, but her eyes were
glistening with tears, as she looked uI
into the earnest face Of her visitor.
Her expression reassured him, he
advanced to meet her and took both o.
her unresisting hands.
"Mabel, did you mean it? We're
you III earnest"
eff you were,' she answered, glanc
ing shyly up.
And then But what followed may
be imagined by those who have beei
in like situation.
At the end of one blissful half hour
DR.. Lawton said:
"But how could you have thought
nv dearest, that I could have sent yol
such Valentine?"
. And she answered, half archly:
"Ob, I knew that you have rath
odd ways of doing things at times!'
And whether or not she did reall!
= believe that Valentine was intended
' for herself, is a question which th'
reader may decide.
As for Christy-the doctor, mind
full of what was owed to that Vaentine
l took care that his love affair should
7 have happy ending.
Chrifty is head servant of DOcto
. Lawton's handsome establishment, an
, his wife, Lucinda, is Mrs. Lawton'
= maid.
t Superstition Killed Her.