The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-06-10
!" Yes, I wrote and said I would

Dut S1Sy VClGEFapucO W LAG a. AOEU
Marston's to say they had illness in
the house, and had been put in quar-
a~ntine, and couldn't have me. So |
came here straight. 1t will be an
early morning call if you cant take
me in. | have left my luggage at the
station"
By this time Major Deverel was
walking with us toward the house
He soon said: Do you always walk
as early as this, Miss Lawrence
I8olld not help stammering; but
BERTHE spoke honestly. !" It's the best
joke In the world. We made an en-
last night to walk out
together to-day early. Valentines
day, you know. The first man Aunt
Grace met was to be her valentine.
We West-country people believe in
all kinds of superstitions, and this is
one. We promised to tell the truth
to Oliver and Jack, which. was but
fair, as we had refused their company.
Now We shall carry you back as proof
positive; the valentine not only seen,
but captured and brought home. You
are Grace's valentine, Major Deverel,
and | hope you will dc your years
service properly"
Major Deverel stood still. He look
ed az BERTHE, and he looked at me.
= never thought of i'll" he said.
i" Valentines day! Well, so it is!
Valentines day! | never thought of
it once, even"
His manner was very strange. L
saw that it was provocative of Ber-
ties mirth, SO / began to talk to Ma
ior Deverel of Devonshire customs,
and the queer fancies that we kept in
remembrance in ouT old~-fashioHed
place.
Major DevereI got as good a well
come as any mar could have desired.
He and my brother had been at
school together. My brother had
gone to Cambridge, then - TIE bar,
and had been going the W.-tern Cir
cult when his friend Frank Deverel
had been through hard fighting in
India. They had seer each other but
ssldom, but had corresponded with
out Intermission; and now it was
pleasant to see my brother of forty
years of age, and his friend a few
years younger, standing with grasped
hands, looking In each others faces,
lCOdAlk0& OA0 lCS4 UOL4 RGLE
happy In the old friendship 50 faith
fully cherished, and so suddenly
gratiied by this pleasant appearance
on Valentines Day.
We had breakfast; aud after break
fast I heard Major Deverel say how
strangely fast my brother had seemed
to run through life-only forty, and
twice married with three boys, and an
eldest son shooting up into manhood.
" Well, my life" he said. has got
to begin-my home life, | mean; at
least I hope so. After ALL" be said,
" the great struggle of youth carried
into battle fields full of danger, fuller
of thought, and a responsibility that
shuts self out of ones mind, is not
the life that a man looks forward TO.
The patriarchal vine-and. fg-tree life
advances upon one in a sort of vision,
and claims ones sympathy. Yes"
he added, thoughtfully, and comes
in some mems best moments, l think
I felt quite touched. | confessed that
my valentine entertained some most
admirable sentiments. But should
not have liked to begin so early,
though" he said with an honesty o!
tone and name that made me hate
him. In fact, before luncheon time
Mljor Deverel had greatly puzzled
ME, and [ said to myself, There is
something queer about him." He
kept on betraying the drollest sort OF
interest in this Valentines day, and
once, IN the most unaccOuntabIe man
ner, wondered what would happen
before the end Of it.
- Da4ra a1froa~1s,or 49,
an assemblaRe of friends in the even
ing" said Julia, with her pretty
quiet, captivating smile. was
pleased to see that Major Deverel
admired her.
"Ohi" he exclaimed, "a party oil
friends; would you tell me all about
them?"
Aud then he sat down by Julia's
work table, and cut open the leaves
of a book In a peculiarly careful and
knowing way, which made me, more
than once, entertain a good opinion
of my valentine. He heard about
Lawsons and Robertses, Colvills.
brakes and Markingtons and asked
questions as TO sex, age, family, for
tune-once more lie was growing IN
accountably odd, and once more he
wondered out loud that it should be
Valentines Day. Valentines Dayl
Never thought of itln and when he
ended by saying. with every mark OF
astonishment- Apd eighteen hun
: dred and sixty-six, toe" Z really
thought him crazy.
Before dinner I had been both
charmed and bewildered by cur new
CUES. several times. [ liked, I dis
liked, [ wondered, but, with all,
think l admired.
When we had assembled for dinnn1