The Elbert County tribune., 1903-02-12

yelope. The girls snickered and ran
away. watching. however TO see what
Miss Nancy would do with it-she sell
dom received letters. and this was
something unusual. Turning IL over
and over suspiciously, she looked
around furtively and put 1t in the hos
ON of her dress without opening it.
BY and by she went up to her own lit
tie room and opening II, this is what
she read;
This heart present to Miss Nancy.
Dare hope that some day she'll be
mine?
For her have long had a fancy.
| confess 1t In this valentine"
Her usually pale cheek flushed a
vivid scarlet. but she looked over TO-
ward the colonel's garden. Lottie
bursting in upon her. she hastily hid
the missive in her bosom.
"Oh. Auntie. Auntie. did you get
valentine? What fun. valentine at
last. saw the postman deliver 1t.
ard 1t looks Just like one OF mine"
mo, It is not a valentine said Miss
Nancy stlnly, at is a letter from a
friend" She blushed again at the
prevarication. for Nancy was truthful.
too much SO. some said. Lottie saw
It and rushed over to MaOefs.
She's got it. Mabel. she's got it.
and she says it is from friend. Come
over and wen finish our scheme"
The horrid girls danced in upon
Miss Nancy and actually caught her
studying the tender missive. Without
I IFasa 4s... sfT.ff Ion naxg
each gave her good hug. and seized
the valentine.
who is It from?" queried Lottie.
Mabel examined It critically, and
whispered mysteriously in her friends
ear. loud enough. however. for Miss
Nancy to overhear
1T looks like papa's writing; 1t is
panas writing" Tnen handing it back.
she said aloud: What a beautiful
valentine. 1t is actually hand painted.
See. dear Miss Nancy. it is like a
heart, with little pink hearts all over
it and sprigs Of lovely forget-ne-nots
intertw!ned. Whoever sent you that
loves you truly | wonder whnt 1t can
be?"
Il know" said Miss Nancy shortly,
tho impudent fellow"
Clapping on her hat. she went
straight up to the colonel's front door.
which he happened to open at that
moment to go out. With an indignant
toss of her head and without uttering
a word. she cast at the amazed colo
nels feet the poor innocent valentine.
and, turning, fed hor,e again with her
heart going pit-a-pat and her knees
Shaking under her. within an hour,
special messenger handed Miss
| Nancy plain envelope. Opening IT,
| the same valentine cropped out but
written in a bold hand in penman-
ship unlike the rest. were the words;
Il accept the authorship Of this val
entine and stand by IT,"
Miss Nancy. with n woman's intui
ton, perceived that she had made q
mistake, and in her confusion rushed
up to her little room, locked the dooi
and dropped the curtain. probably tC
keep the impudent colonel out. Bu
he was watching and accepted the
signs as favorable. for he called thai
evening TO apologize.
Miss Nancy" he said. permit me
to call you that. everybody else does
was amazed that you should ever
suspect me of such an underhand aci
as sending a valentine when | have Q
tongue to talk with and express m!
sentiments. saw Immediately thai
somebody will not say who"-h'
looked at the two girls sharply. who
hlushed and stole away-"but as
have long held the same sentiments
in your regard. | accept the situation
and resolve to speak my mind, the op
portunity presenting itself. Can yol
forgive me. my dear Miss Nancy?"
Miss Nancy evidently did forgive
him. for the neighbors, not so very
long afterward, were astonished to see
the belongings of one house moving
into the other. the girls superintend
ing the matter. the colonel and Miss
Nancy being mysteriously absent on {
trip somewhere.