Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-04-27


Valentine be with thee, and may you live TO
see a thousand returns of this grand anniversa-
ry,' was my exclamation as entered the bou
doir of my sweet friend, Rose Weston, on
certain fourteenth of February. Just then
happened to catch sight of several valentines
upon the writing table-some of which were
very costly, and all of a tasteful and sentimen-
tai character. Most fortunate of damsels,
what favorite you must be with our patron
saint, | CALCULATED, as | seized upon, and went
into critical examination of the tender mis-
;sives. Here am I, poor heart-lacerated
specimen of the feminine gender, without so
much as the compliment of one passed on me
save and except comic affair, in which
certain horned parsonage was represented in
the act of giving me the SACK everybody
else having refused me before, and left me to
my loneliness, a : sere and faded leaf Waes
me The sack was long one; l hope it
didn't contain all my short oOnlings, or I'd
find it hard TO take, and be apt to refer it back
to the committee on internal improvements.
Rose laughed, and observed, as ] rumaged
the pretty biIlet-doux:
They'll answer admirably to kindle the
fire in the morning.
What y said /, with small shrek Of
surprise. You ungrateful recipient of favors,
you desecrator of all that's bewitching in
painted cupids Make kindling paper of these
heart crayons! Commit to the devouring
flames these innocent angels, with pinions
plumed to order! Don't do them up so 6ro,vn,
beg of you, without you wish to see me
marching to the rescue Of the doomed ones, at
the risk of martyrizing my superfne velvet
hands, and otherwise involving my precious
person in the terrible confagration.'
You'd not have me so silly as to treasure
up such trifes,' said Rose. I'm sure there's
not sentiment in the whole batch worthy
second reading
Ahem then there's niver one from
Professor Galatin eh = and I looked up to
see if she were blushing, but nv prying ewes
could not detect the slightest increase of color
on her naturally pale cheek.
After awhile she asked, with some little
embarrassment of manner:
Should you suppose, Nellie, that any of
yon handwriting was your cousin Fred's IN
disguise =
No, said l. scrutinizing the chirography
of each. { / could tell his characteristic
scrawls through green baize veil. But you
didn't expect one from him q
oh, no ! not erpect-but thought perhaps
he might send me valentine for little
pleasantly, as we are engaged
Engaged" cried l, with the most sincere
astonishment Why, Rose, I'd as soon sus-
pected you of falling in love with tight-rope-
dancer, as with our harum scarum Fred!'
NV friends face crimsoned up 10 brow and
temples.
Forgive me, dear Rose, said |, but really
you and cousin Fred are so dissimilar in
tastes, pursuits-everything that I confess
amazement to hear that you are to be united
till death doth part Perhaps, though,
you've discovered some congeniality. What
it is, cupid only knows
l lore him, dear Nellie-that is my only
apology for promising to marry him.
"A very good excuse, in truth, but
The opening of the door caused a rent in
the sentence. The intruder was little Matte
Weston, and she announced in voice of
triumph
Here's another valentine for you, sister
Rose
I'll wager that is from cousin Fred,' said
|, as caught a glimpse of the direction. 'He
has tried to be incog, / see, but he can't de-
ceve me-
Rose endeavored to conceal her pleasure,
but she couldn't blind my lynx eyes,. Very
slowly indeed did she break the seal, open the
envelope, and unfold the peculiar-looking
sheet of paper, whilst | smiled, and looked on
mischevously. But surprise and vexaton
were soon visible in her countenance, as she
read on.
It's comic affair, | suppose said l,
though one would think twas tragic affair,
from your looks, ma BELLE.
She made no reply, but hastily placed it in
the folds of her dressing gown and conclud-
ing twas some Of Fred's waggery, which had
had different effect from what was intended
/ said nothing more. Going into her room an
hour later, l found her lying on the floor,
where she had fallen in fainting fit.
Dear, dear Rose, | said, as soon as / had
succeeded in restoring her to consciousness,
this application to your desk is running you,
darling. You will shatter your nervous sys-
tenn beyond repair. I'll positively lock up
pen, ink and paper, and carry the key, if you
persist in killing yourself. You shall go 10
the country with me, Q'm going home next
weekly You'll have fine chance to recruit
there, and I'll be your jailor, and never did
janitor of the Bastile keep stricter watch on
his prisoner than will keep on you
She smiled sadly, and only said:
Thank you, Nellie, will go home with
YOU
Thanks, exclaimed, at her ready con-
sent. One thousand, two thousand. sir thou
sand thanks, dearest, fairest, 5estest of friends
feminine =
Rose Western was my first friend and con-
hdant. She possessed an equal mixture of
good sense, with amiable, soft melancholy. ,
and though some years my junior, was pre-