The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1870-01-19
family Reaoines anS Nems 1tems

"Only a boy.
family RsaDines an0 News Stems.
ETHEL R0MER'S MISTAKE.
| Valentines day as soft and sweet day as
| any birds could wish for mating in: promise
of viOlets in its breath-prOmise of roses in
its sunshine. Though, to be sure, the boughs
| were bare as yet, and there were no green
things growing, save in the pots which Ethel
Romer had been putting out upon the broad
window sill to catch the sunshine. The
thing that savOred most of spring was Ethel
ROmer herself, as beautiful woman as ever
an artist painted, or poet sung of. Within,
near the fire, sat DR.. Ralph Romer himself.
Spring had left him long before If winter
frosts were not upon his head, autumn had
touched it with gray.
Ethel's musing was interrupted. The post
mans rap did it. An envelD pc, with pretty
border and fanciful seal, and her name upon
it, was put into her hand. At the sight she
blushed rosy red, knowing well what Law
within, and went back to the fire side with
the thing in her hand.
"FOr me 7" asked Ralph
''No," she said; "fOr me-"
If he had only shown some curiosity then
if he had only looked at her jealously; had
there been some shadow of the lover in his
face or mien, all might have been different;
but he went on with his book, and she carried
her valentine to her own room to read it
there in quiet.
Yes, it was q valentine. Three times had
that day returned since she married DR..
Ralph ROmer, and each time had it brought
just such an envelope, with just such passion
ate lines upon the page within, written in
the same feigned hand. Again and again she
read it Over-again and again-iust as she
had the others, and thought, oh, how bitterly!
what beautiful thing life might have been
to her, blessed with such glowing love as
this-life that must always be cold and Win
try, having only the calm, quiet, common
gave for all the wealth Of golden spring time
warmth which she felt within her soul-for
all the beauty that many an ardent youth
had coveted in her girlhood.
Could it be the fair-haired student who sat
near them in church or the dark-eyed SOL
e'sT %ls 50 an M sseE % ha1 sEa .a
such an impression, while he whose life she
shared saw in her only good little woman,
who had silly ideas on abstract subjects, and
neededmuch sage advice and counsel!
Her poor heart ached, as head did. She
felt wicked and ashamed, and very, miserable;
and forgot how time was flying, and how her
sinking sun reminded her of them.
Even then she took one look in the glass,
and thought, if she did not say it, that a
great deal of beauty had been cast away on
quiet, unfortunate Ralph ROmer.
After tea they walked out together, and
stood beside the pond in the garden, and saw
the gold fish in its depths; and he told her of
of the valentine would have spoken-so
thought Ethel-of her golden hair. The
stars came out, and he spoke Of them, not of
her bright eyes.
She wanted to turn upon him, and say:
''What are all things worth, compared with
warm and living love p! She longed to ask
him why he had given her that woful fate
why he had Gagged the heart he did not care
| for. "Any woman could have made your tea,
and listen to your talk of astronomy and nat
ural history;;' were the words on her lips.
| 81 was made to love, and to be loved again y
But she said nothing. He saw her beside
him, a little paler and a little stiller than OF
yore, that was all.
But from this time forth, the little happi-
ness that had still fingered in Etheps life was
at an end. She grew desperate, and seized
upon the only possible relief to the monotony
Of her life. Very beautiful, very lively, much
courted by the village coterie, she found nc
| difficulty in becoming that most detestable
creature, married firt.
Ralph Romer never sought to keep her at
home, but he seldom went out with her
More than once the golden-haired student, OF
the dark-eyed soldier had found it the most
natural thing in the world to act as escort
home after some social meeting, and no harm
was done; only there were too many blushes
too many smiles, too lingering clasp Of
parting hands, when one remembered that
Ethel Romer was o wife. Home was neglec.
ted; but Ralph did not complain.
| So the long year rolled around, and Valen.
tines Day came again. Ethel had watched
and waited for its coming-not quite the
| same pure-hearted Ethel Thoughts she
dared not utter had crept into her soul. The
soldier with the great black eyes and soft
| voice, who made his empty sleeve only
| another Charm TO win nearts-wnU mad told
her all he dared with his tongue and more
with glance and sigh-must, she had long
ago decided, be the writer of those valen.
tines, SO full of love and pathos. SO tender, SC
different from anything that Ralph Romel
| ever felt or uttered.
She had given him hint, and if it were he
she would surely know it this day. And il
it were he, then Ethel ROmer knew that il
had been better for her never to have beer
born; for, for the sake of him who wrote
those love poems, she was willing to forsak'
home and husband, and wifely name ant
fame, and be the scOrn and fOut of the whole
village. To be 90 loved for q little while, an(
then die, was all she asked.
"If it comes to that" answering her owl
thoughts, show my name will ring! shall
be blacker than Satan. Do they kn0w-thOs
proper, frozen village women, who will scorl
/, me so-what it is for q loveing woman to leaa
q loveless life? It withers one as neglect an,
cold have withered those poor flowers there.
For Ethel had set forth no flower pots il
the sun to-day, nor for many days. Tha
morning she had watched her husband rid
away ON his great brown horse-thinkin
how grave and serious he was-how old il
1 all his ways-how old-manish was his gra
overcoat, and his broad -brimmed hat-sayin
to herself, "If l were to leave him, and
were to find the house empty, he would go o
reading, or comfort himself with new insee
or new planet. No need to wonder how b
would take ii"
And snc, then she had watched at the wiz
. ., dow guiltily aud miserably for the valentin,
5 SO sure, she thought, to come. -
), At last, she saw q figure coming straigh
! and fast toward the house, and the blood fe,
! to her cheeks, and her heart beat fast; but
5 was not the postman-only ncighbor wit
. blanched face and frightened eyes, that tol
: her bad news before her lips uttered it.
She went out to meet him, and they st6o
there looking at each other for moment