The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1866-03-14

God bless the sender OF SUCH precious
valentine II ss.t 49,.
The dawn Of another day of st. Tal-
entine-dark, raw and gloomy. Out Of
doors the scene is wretchcd enough. The
trees, in the London square opposite, are
dripping with damp moisture; and the
London street Is slippery with the same
Inside it is different. A cosy breakfast
room, luxuriantly appointed, the fire
dancing brightly In the polished gratc,
and the whole atmosphere scented by the
breath Of the exotics, that comes floating
in from the open conservatory adjacent.
Two ladies are its occupants, one Of
whom is busy at the breakfast table, while
the other stands at window, looking
out.
",yhy, Nell, one would think you cx-
pected valentine.
My sister did not answer; and lonkine
merrjly towards her, | saw so vivid Il
color stealing into her pale face, "a made
me instantly silent in wonder.
"What were you and Captain Mildmay
talking about so long in the dark ycstcr-
day evening" asked presently.
"About valentines" answered Ellinor,
quietly. "Yes, 1ibble, was telling him
of tho time we earned our bread by
making Them
"Oh, Nelll" 1 called out, nghast. Bat
my sisters noble face rebuked my paltry
prile into silence.
sit seemed to me only right" sho went
on.
"And did hc-do you think he had
ever recognized US for the poor girls he
bought the valentines Of that day 7"
faltercd.
81 don't know--if 30, he did not con-
feSs it but l think it very unlikely. II
was natural we should recollect hun NOT
likely that lie should associate tue idea Of
two forlorn looking creatures with the
neces Of the rich Auatr.ljan merchant,
whom he saw living in luxury. No;
dare say he has long forgotten rs as he
first saw us; though ] have always
thought, Tibbie, in my own soul, that
he sent that precious valentine that saved
you, my darling, after the fever"
"Oh, Nell land you never told me
before. Well, and what did be sayl'
''Last night livery littlo. ! thoughi
it only honest to tell him; it seemed te
me right; but perhaps it has lost us a
friend, Tibbic; 1 don't know"
Her voice shook little, and she turn.
ed her face SO that could not see it.
just then tho postman's kpock made the
house resound; and, as if the noise had
galvanized her init motion, Ellinor dartet
out into the hall. don't know what
she expected, or what l did, but follow
cd her, and leant over her shoulder n.
she opened tho box, With her little hand,
trembling, so that the letters rs she lifted
the fufiered in her grasp. There wert
| several of them-I don't in the least re
member what the others were, all my at
tention being concentrated on the one thai
Elliror selected as il by instinct IA val
entine, yes, her own wreath of holly Der
ries, whose ruddy glow seemed somehow
to he reflected in the color flushing my
sisters happy face.
AS looked at it, presumed that tl,,
token Carried its message, in words no
exactly patent TO my understanding an,
| know that, though Ellinor has beer
years married to Fred Mildmay, she still
keeps her two valentines among her mos
sacred trcasura. The silver snowdrop
and the bright holly berries must be tar
nished NOW but TO Ellinor they viii
always he fresh in the remembrance O
the faithful love which has blessed he
life and made it beautiful.
"Nell was my fate, you see," sal,
Fred, as we all stood together in the hap
py freight on the evening of that day o
ST. Valentine. ~ could not forget he
face after had once seen ii, and when
found out where you lived, and sent tha
that first valentine, you know. wa
thinking how to follow it up, when be
.,Old was introduced to my fate on
night, as the niece Of the Australian mil
lionaire. And so you didn't think l re
membered you Nell. Well, Ill own,
was too fabbergastcd to be qIite sure, Ill
you spoke. AS TO the holly wreath,
always meant to keep it till l was il
earnest, you know, and | told Ellinor S,
last night"
''Oh, indeed said |, as the little his
tory of the morning lay revealed befor
me.
"Come, come" said pnple John, en-
tering at that instant, "what are you al
doing moping in the dark"
Talking about our valentines, uncle,
responded | demurely.
"Iomfoo!ery," growled my uncle, il
the very words of Mrs. Smith. Ellino
and Fred glanced at one another archly
and then Fred said:
'But, nevertheless, l hope you'll dsinl
glass to St. Valentine after dinner, sir
and own that some foolishncss is wortl
the worlds wisdnm," LRM.
| TastfpaouU of txau Tho,xS q ~.