The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-06-10
F#ENFY-FOBR HOURS
Strange story.


III was a 0AA6ANt y -
sun sparkled on a thousand emerald
buds. and the morning breeze waited
In a strong scent of vl0lets. AS l
stood on the doorstep of my
home in Devonshire, IIooked on as
fair a scene of flowers and sunshine
as ever was given in these British
Isles TO Valentines day. Such Drll-
liant blossoms-wind flowers. hepa-
ticas, and crocuses-blue, purple,
white, and cloth of gold. 1t was 2
thoroughly Spring like morning, and
as l stood lettering on the step a
youth of fifteen bounded through the
hall, seized me by the arm, and cried,
+" I ought to be your Valentine, but L
can't. A man may not marry his
grandmother, nor his maiden aunt
o, dear me, what a pity But never
mind, Grace; come along we will go
forth for adventures, and you shall
meet your Valentine, if such a being
exists" / told Master Bertrand that
be was a sauey school boy, but L
started with him on a walk to the
lodge, nevertheless.
And now 1must explain a little.
I was at Combe Minor, which had
been my home from my birth. My
father had died seven years before
last Valentines Day, and left my
mother with a daughter by her first
husband just ten years my senior, and
myself. Seven years ago from last
Valentines Day | was sixteen years
of age, and Julia Moore, my step
sister, was six-and-twenty. But my
father had a son by an earlier mar
riage, and when this son ZANE to take
possession of Combe Minor. he came
as a widower, bringing Bertrand,
Oliver, and Jack with him. A year
after our fathers death my half
brother married Julia Moore, and a
year before the day when | stood,
as I have said, on the door
steps of Combe Minor, my mother
had married her third husband, Sir
Godfrey Selby, and they were keep
ing St. Valentines day in Northum-
berland, amid wind and snow. No
wonder that, on every account, | pre-
ferred the soft Devonshire air and the
sweet flowers of our sunny home. So
I was twenty-three and Bertrand was
fifteen. and not my Valentine, be
cause he was my nephew; aud so we
started on early walk. There was
a winding drive by the edge of the
wood, where rock cropped out and
holly glittersd, aud the willow had
begun to show golden buds. This
drive led by the moss well, and the
old quarry, 30 picturesquely planted
with larch to the north lodge; and
Berry and 1 trod the way gayly, our
steps making crisp echoing sounds in
the clear, frosty air, and sne birds
singing in the sun that set all nature
sparkling.
The old fancy. that the first man
we met was TO be my Valentine for
the ensuing year, made fun for BERTHE,
who, being a very merry-hearted, and
also a very clever boy, kept me laugh
ing. spite of the mock indignation
with which I had to meet some of his
most daring imaginations.
You'll never be married this year.
Oh, Graceyl Nobody coming to
marry me, nobody coming to wool
Eh! who's that?"
We had just caught sight of the
lodge, and we saw a stranger standing
as If i~rresolute. The stranger then
knocked at the lodge door, and walk-
ed in.
Nov, fair play, dear, good, unfor
tunate Aunt Gracey. 1t won't dc
unless he comes out, and walks on
and meets as honestly. The first you
meet, not see. You are out of luck
you are-nol"
And here the stranger reapppeared
and walked toward US quite as un
wavsringly aud with as much inten
ton as could be expected of any Val
s~ntine, under any circumstance
throughout-the whole West Coun
trie."
"All right said BERTHE, in a low
voice; don't finch. Bear up bravely
Gracey, I'll stand by you. It will b,
all over IN a moment. Look him IL
the face, that you may know hin
again" Y
Icould have beaten the boy for tn,
drollery he threw into his small i'm
pertinence, for l could not keep m.
face grave, and the stranger was
fine, tail, handsome looking man
walking straight in the middle of tn,
road, and inspecting US with very evi
dent attention.
Hold your tongue, BertieP'
Don't be agitated-keep your self
possession. Trust in me-guide, phi
losopher, friend!'
Here we were broughtto a stan.
suddenly by the stranger stoppini
close before US, and saying, "Bertran,
kLawreneel know your name.
asked at the lodge0- Then he tool
nj off his hat to me!gE sidf
II IAsked, Did Msjera DeEerel pre-
nose UharadesY3Gs 53sst5g sTi1
II 8sIOh, no. y~ougcanlt get MIN to pro
pose anything; i go with the stream
on Valentine day he said?'zot a-