Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-09-07
A VALENTINE
VERSE

n nee upon a time Drouet wrote val
entine verse To a girl-and sent H.
This was a foolish thing TO do, and krou-
ct is not usually foolish. But the girl la
question is exceptionally pretty and
charming. and Drouet did not then
know that she Is as mischievous as de-
ughtful. Had he known this II Is pos
sible the verse would not have been
sent
The girl scratches for a liying" by
means of the daily press and the maya
zines. so she scanned the verse critical
ly. in more than one sense. She smiled
over IL a little. amused. but nevertheless
pleased. womanwise. TO receive II, read
it over several times after she almost
knew IL by heart, and tucked it away in
the souvenir corner OF her desk. Then
she forgot all about It for some time.
~oh, just a little bit Of verse some
one sent me. she explained with blush
when her dearest chum pulled It forth
one day and insisted upon looking II
over. i've been thinking Ia throw a
lot OF that stun away before Iona"
Which statement, II not strictly true
served the purpose OF changing the sub
feet. For the girl had begun to Ike
Drouet very much by that time, and felt
CORRESPONDENCE unwilling to talk about
him. Again she read the paper tucked
II away and forgot all about u once
more.
But last month she received letter
from a countryman Of high-sounding
name. who wrote that he was preparing
an anthology Of Chicago poets. Might
he not include the name of the girl, some
of whose lovely verses he had seen, and
would she not kindly furnish him with
the names OF other Chicago poets whom
she might know?
The girl. who had no mind to later
subscribe TO a costly, leather-bound,
deckle-edged list Of unknown writer's,
merely for the not altogether unaccus-
toned pleasure OF seeing her name in
print. briefly answered that she felt
ouite unworthy OF the offered honor.
She was about to close the letter when
a brilliant thought flashed into her
laughter-loying mind. She added line
saving that John Drouet, OF No. = La
sale street. had done some beautiful
verse
The girl had no thought that she would
ever hear more from the matter, unless
indeed. John Drouet should happen 10
mention that he had heard from the
downcountry literateur with the i'm
pressive name. But she laughed mer-
rily over the matter in secret every time
its memory required 10 her. She hoped,
too that John Drouet would somehow
manage to let her know II he did hear
from the anthology compiler so that
she might enjoy some open merriment
AZ his expense. The anthology man evi-
IDENTITY believed in prompt action. Three
DAYS after mailing her own reply the
girl received a letter from the man
whose verse she had recommended.
Dear Miss Martha, so he addressed
her, the inclosed letter is self-explan-
atory. Since you were good enough
10 recommend my poetry to this man,
be good enough to write something for
me 10 send him You know ! can't
write poetry In fact ! never wrote
but one bit OF verse in my life. "
Pinned 70 the top Of this letter was
q aorid epistle from the astrological
compiler The horid epistle explained
that Miss Marcia Cunning. Washing
ton boulevard. had spoken admiringly
of John Drouet's verse. The girl high
lv amused, was by no means ready to
retire from the field in favor Of John
Dropet She copied the valentine verse
and sent II OF to the author.
How ABOUT this for real poetryF
abe tersely inquired. --