The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-08-23
A VALENTINE
VERSE

ONcE upon time Drouet wrote a val
entine verse to a girl-and sent II.
This Was a foolish thing to do. and Rrou-
ei Is not usually foolish But the girl In
question Is exceptionally pretty and
charming. and Drouet did not then
know that she Is as mischieyous as de-
lightful Had he known this Il is pos
sible the verse would not have been
sent
The girl scratches for living" by
means of the daily press and the maya
zines. 10 she scanned the verse critical
Iy. In more than one sense She smiled
over Il little. amused, but nevertheless
pleased. womanwise. 10 receive Il. read
IL 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 Il for some time.
"Oh. just little bit OF verse some
one sent me, she explained with blush
when her dearest caum pulled Il forth
one day and insisted upon looking II
over 1--WE been thinking I'd throw a
LOT OF that stun away before long
Which statement. II not strictly true.
served the purpose Of changing the sub
ject. For the girl had begun to like
Drouet very much by that time, and felt
correspondingly unwilling to talk about
him. Again she read the paper, tucked
II away and forgot all about II once
more.
But last month she received a 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
quite unworthy OF the offered honor.
She was about 10 close the letter when
a brilliant thought flashed into her
laughter-loving mind. She added line
saying 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 to
mention that he had heard from the
downc0untry literateur with the i'm
pressive name. But she laughed mer-
rily over the matter in secret every time
its memory recurred TO her. She hoped.
100. that John Drouet would somehow
manage TO JET her know If he did hear
from the anthology compiler so THAI
she might enjoy some open merriment
al his expense. The anthology man evi-
IDENTIFY believed in prompt action. Three
DAYS after mailing her own repiv the
girl received a letter from the man
whose verse she had recommended.
Dear Miss Martha 80 he addressed
her. -the inclosed letter is self-explan-
atory. Since YOU we're good enough
10 recommend my poetry to this man.
be good enough 10 write something for
me TO send him. You know / can't
write poetry. In fact. never wrote
but one bit OF verse in my life.
Pinned to the top OF this letter was
a forid epissle from the astrological
compiler The fiorid epistle explained
that Miss Marcia Cunning, Washing
ION boulevard, had spoken admiringly
of John Drouet's verse. The girl. high
~ amused. was by no means ready to
retire from the field in favor Of John
Drouet- She copied the valentine verse
and sent it on to the author
How about this for real poetry"
she tersely inquired