Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1859-02-24
The Valentine.

would get any.
We have therefore no doubt that she
meant just what she said; for if there is any
one thing certain in this wretched world
-iofincertitude, it is that young ladies al
ways say just what they mean. Ihis Is a
fact which has been noted by all observers,
and is founded on principle of the female
mind, perfectly known to every philosopher.
: If any .ill-advised person disputes il, we re-
fer him to the young ladies themselves.
1t is barely possible that in the most
sacred secresy of her own heart, the gentle
rArabella cherised little trembling hope
q that she would get a Valentine; for if
there is anything certain in this world, it
is that young ladies do not say all that
they mean; which We conceive, does not
the least conflict with the great truth we
have just put forth.
. Arabella, we say, may have had some
such hope, but assuredly none with refer
ence to the Charles of her untold affections.
= It is true that in the morning she had con-
fidentially charged Jimmy to put in the
post-ofice delicate billet addressed TO
Charles; and had corrupted her brother
TO silence with bribe of silver. 1t IS true
that she had spent the most Of Sunday
night 1--WE lament to relate this fact, but a
regard for the verify of history demands
the sacri6ce,) in writing some verses, which
she burned, and that finally she had quo
ted from Tennyson one line, of such tender
ness and significance, that Charles, if he
had any sentiment in his soul, must be
charmed with it, and must have some idea
that it came from her. These things are
true, but any person of ordinary discern
ment must see that they formed no ground
for the belief that Charles would reply.
Arabella sat al her window and looked
out upon the street. 1t was rather dis
NAL spectacle. There was really nobody
out. To be sure there were plenty of peo-
pie out; but they were none Of Arabella's
acquaintance. The snow was fast melt
ing from the middle street; but it still
lay in dirty patches on the gutter-slopes,
and encrushed the south side pave with
tfeacherous ice. Arabella, sitting pensive
and expectant in the solitude of her room,
smiled to see the drolI little dances the
people performed in order to keep their
feet. The boys had smoothed the ice with
their abominable sleds till it was absolute
ly quite dreadful to walk upon. Young
ladies were peculiar sufferers, having to
manage their silks and preserve their bal
ance at the same time; which it was hard
to do; and old gentlemen, austere men,
bers of anti-saltant churches, waltzed about
in the most unseemly and undignified way.
But Arabela never did more than smile
family, till plump, pompous middle-aged
person, in attempting the passage in
manner to combine skill and elegance, un-
fortunately lost his footing, flung his arms
about him "with wild rejection" jostled
the reproacbless hat from his head, and
then came down instantaneously, and all
over, with his shawl spread out like the
wings of giantly bat. 1t was then that
the gentle Arabella broke into a silver
shrek of laughter, that was repeated till
her ringlets were quite out of curl.
But was Arabella happy? All! no.
The one thought haunted her. She had
dismissed it certainly, but it came again,
this impertinent thought. She did not be-
lieve she would get any, but yet-that-
is-if it might be-Charles. So she trem-
bled with charming trepidation at every
step on the stair, thinking it was Jimmy
with valentine. We blush to record this
fact, having perhaps led the reader ro sup
pose that this young lady had no expecta-
tion of the kind. The truth is she hardly
confessed tito herself, and it was only
through that mysterious power that people
have who write stories that we found it
out, even so late as this.
At last Johnny came, and knocking,
thrust in his head, and with look Of the
profoundest Importance and wink of un-
speakable astuteness, gave her letter.
"Then fled she to her Utmost bower,
And there"
broke the seal of the daintiest envelope
that ever wrapt a perfumed soul of gilt
note.
"Pshaw!' cried the gentle Arabella,
with very prononce stamp Of the high
heeled infinitesimal shoe; 'it's from that
goose of a. -
Who?
We regard the feelings of the unfortu-
nate young person. We spare him. Heis
wretched enough.
The afternoon wore wearily away. The
slippery pave attracted not, neither did the
antics of the involuntary dancers delight.
The poor young lady put one of her fin
gers in her mouth, and actually bit the
nail. She refused supper with melan-
choly air of the most poignant sadness, and
remained at her window till the shadows
fell upon the street. Then she was startled
by another knock at the door. 1t was
Jimmy again, with second letter. She
snatched it wildly from the astonished
youth who inserted the hands with sur
prise in his pockets, and whistled the sibi-
lation of bewilderment.
All! this time it was from Charles
The dear, dear fellow had written some
passionate verses of his own
But why need any one know? 1t is
merely the affair of Charles and Arabella.
Mrs. Grundy would frown, if she knew
what was in that Valentine; all the Misses
Grundy would lift their hands in virtuous
abhorrence. But we protest that it is non
of their business, neither ours, gentle and
patient reader. We do not believe in
those novelists, poets and play y-writers who
impertinently follow their hero and heroine
to the very Threshold of welded life, feast
ing an unnatural curiosity on all those ten