Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-03-16

crimson in 1he east when little Maude Har.
Sey woke the next day, aud raised herself
on one dimpled elbow, with the softest
shadow Of dream-smile lowering on her
lips. -,
"Yaleutiuo's Day." mused Maude to her.
self. II wonder if Walter remembers il?
Let me zee, what is the old story2 That
the man you first look upon on Valentines
MOI ming will be your true love all the year.
wonder il there IS anything in the old
superstition !"
Five minutes afterwards, Miss Maude, in
white Cashmere wrapper, with her tiny
feet thrust into fur slippers, and a
crimson shawl drawn round her shoulders.
was peeping shyly under the edge of the
whito linen blind that yelled her lattice
window-a real lattice, with diamond
shaped panes, and huge antique mulIions
down the middle.
"suppose IL shouldn't be he?" thought
Maude, dropping the shade. and then lift
1t up again, with crimson shadows on Ter
cheek, that might have been the ROSY morn
Jugs own incarnadine light. "Only sup
pose it should be somo one one else."
And Maude took another peep.
Il see pair Of legs walking about the
lawn just under my Windows hosrid
pair Of stout old legs in black CATERS aud
pepper. .and.salt trowsers. Walter never
wears perper-and.salt color, and Walter is
so very slender. I won't look bit more"
Maude resolutely closed the blind, and
waited until some more favorable appari>
ton should cross the orbit of her vision.
Patient little Maude.
But hers was not the only easement from
which anxious eyes looked forth upon the
reddening sunshine of St. Valentines
morning.
Aunt Rachel had been awake long, long
before the stars had grown pale in the grey
orient-awake and musing.
II wonder what made me dream of Ralph
conway Last night" she thought-"that
we were young once more, and that-that
he loved me just as lie used to. What
perfectly ridiculous dream!'
But Aunt Rachel smiled unconscious,v
before the mirror, as she brushed out the
satin-brown tressss of her luxuriant hair,
and twisted them into soft, lustrious coils
beneath her net. Perhaps she remembered
that the best part of happiness is made out
of ridiculous Dreams"
So, when Aunt Rachel was attired in the
soft grey meriuo, with its pink silk !acings
and pink ribbon at her throat, it was
scarcely strange that she went to the win
dow and glanced out, with vague re.
awakening in her heart of the memories of
fifteen long years ago.
In the same instant she uttered a little
hysteric scream, and grew pale and scarlet
in two breaths.
Ralph Conway's self! Ralph Conway
standing under the shadow Of the grand
old cedar tree on the lawn, and looking up
at her easement. Little changed, too, al
belt he was bronzed and stout with the
indeseribabie air about him that is gathered
only from travel and experience.
Obedient to the first quick impulse of
her heart, Miss Rachel ran down stairs q,
quickly and lightly as girl of eighteen,
unclosed the little side door and tripped out
upon the lawn with sparkling eyes and
bright hair blown about by the cutting
February wind.
"Ralph! Dearest Ralph!'
MIR. Conway's hat tumbled off and roll
ed away under the evergreens as the Old
Maids arms were thrown around his neck.
"Hallo! Woman, what are you choking
me for:" he gasped, feebly, while his
whole countenance wore an expression of
the EXTREMIST bewilderness and consterpa.
lion.
~oh, Ralph !" faltered Rachel, hys.eri-
cally, II did not deserve that you should
love me still !"
"Who said I loved you still What on
earth are you talking abouta" suffered Door
ccp'usea Mr.. Conway. "Oh, ye fates
why didn't stay in Brazil! Miss RacbaA
you're choking me /! sOiV you be so kind as
10 let 60! There must be some very unac>
countable Misunderstanding here.n
misunderstanding" feebly repeated Ra.
ene'' retiring pace or two. Ralph! didn't
you come here this morning to be my Val.
entines" ',i.N'o -: = -"
@NoP responded Mr.. Conway :do.oed.
y, thhrrusting both hands into bis pockets !:
u heard the old place was for sale, and i
was was thinking Of eettlips hereabouts, and I
thought I'd just come round and 49,. !. !.