原版故事A Valentine Story.pdf

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1、A Valentine Story(Doug Bell)John Blanchard stood up from the bench,straightened his Armyuniform,and studied the crowd of people making their way throughGrand Central Station.He looked for the girl whose heart he knew,but whose face he didnt,the girl with the rose.His interest in her had begun twelve

2、 months beforein a Florida library.Taking a book off the shelf he soon found himselfabsorbed,not by the words of the book,but by the notes penciled in themargin.The soft handwriting reflected a thoughtful soul and insightfulmind.In the front of the book,he discovered the previous owner s name,Miss H

3、ollis Maynell.With time and effort he located her address.Shelived in New York City.He wrote her a letter introducing himself andinviting her to correspond.The next day he was shipped overseas forservice in World War II.During the next year the two grew to know each other through themail.Each letter

4、 was a seed falling on a fertile heart.A romance wasbudding.Blanchard requested a photograph,but she refused.Sheexplained:If your feeling for me has any reality,any honest basis,what Ilook like wont matter.Suppose I m beautiful.I d always be haunted bythe feeling that you had been taking a chance on

5、 just that,and that kind oflove would disgust me.Suppose I m plain(and you must admit that thisis more likely).Then I d always fear that you were going on writing tome only because you were lonely and had no one else.No,dont ask formy picture.When you come to New York,you shall see me and then yoush

6、all make your decision.Remember,both of us are free to stop or to goon after thatwhichever we choose When the day finally came for him to return from Europe,theyscheduled their first meeting 7:00 p.m.at Grand Central Station,NewYork.“Youll recognize me,”she wrote,“by the red rose Ill be wearing onmy

7、 lapel.”So,at 7:00 p.m.he was in the station looking for a girl whohad filled such a special place in his life for the past 12 months,a girl hehad never seen,yet whose written words had been with him and sustainedhim unfailingly.Ill let Mr.Blanchard tell you what happened:A young woman was coming to

8、ward me,her figure long and slim.Hergolden hair lay back in curls from her delicate ears;her eyes were blue asflowers.Her lips and chin had a gentle firmness,and in her pale greensuit she was like springtime come alive.I started toward her,entirely forgetting to notice that she was notwearing a rose

9、.As I moved,a small,provocative smilecurved her lips.“Going myway,sailor?she murmured.Almost uncontrollably I made one stepcloser to her,and then I saw Hollis Maynell.She was standing almostdirectly behind the girl.A woman well past 40,she had graying hairpinned up under a worn hat.She was more than

10、 a little overweight,herthick-ankled feet thrust into low-heeled shoes.The girl in thegreen suit was walking quickly away.I felt as though Iwas split in two,so keen was my desire to follow her,and yet so deepwas my longing for the woman whose spirit had truly companioned meand upheld my own.And ther

11、e she stood.Her pale,round face was gentle and sensible,hergray eyes had a warm and kindly glow.I did not hesitate.My fingers gripped the small worn blue leather copy of the book thatwas to identify me to her.This would not be love,but it would besomething precious,something perhaps even better than

12、 love,afriendship for which I had been and must ever be grateful.I squared my shoulders and saluted and held out the book to the woman,even though while I spoke I felt choked by the bitterness of mydisappointment.“I m Lieutenant John Blanchard,and you must be MissMaynell.I am so glad you could meet

13、me;may I take you to dinner?”The woman s face broadened into a smile.“I dont know what this isabout,son,”she answered,“but the young lady in the green suit who justwent by,she begged me to wear this rose on my coat.And she said if youwere to ask me out to dinner,I should go and tell you that she is waitingfor you in the big restaurant across the street.She said it was some kindof test!”Its not difficult to understand and admire Miss Maynell s wisdom.Thetrue nature of a heart is seen in its response to the unattractive.“Tell me whom you love,Houssaye wrote,“and I will tell you whoyou are.”