Middletown transcript., 1870-02-12
gelttt gtorn.
VI0LA's FIRST VALENTINE.
ny MRS. II. A. DENSIsGE.


We were very poor. My mother was
widow. Her health had been falling for
months. At last she took to her bed, Just
as the winter began.
Oqe night | sat by her, watching anx-
iously the pale, wan face
Suddenly she cried, "Viola, get up, the
lamp is out. Light it and give me some
water.
l was quite startled, for saw the little
night-lamp burning as brightly as ever.
However. | arose, picked up the wick,
and hurried for the water,
"Do light the lamp, dear" she said a.
gain.
"Mother, darlng!" said, kissing her
lips, and, oh! how cold they were. the
lamp is lighted-..-don't you sec ?"
"Thcn it is death, death p she mur-
INJURED aud there came fearful silence.
For some time could neither speak nor
move; then, with shrill frightened cries,
I reused the people in the house where we
lodged. This was my introduction to an
orphans lot l will not dwell on the first
fifteen years. AT last l found home
that was, in some respects, congenial. |
was called to be the nursery governess of
two children, the motherless, twin daugh-
tiers of Mr.. Stanhope, an eminent lawyer,
who lived in lovely villa just out of New
York,
What change for me The nursery
was noble room, full of grand, old furni-
ture and lovely pictures. The twins' bed,
with its lace curtains, and my own little
couch in recess of the wall, looked really
fairy-like. There were wide, pleasant
windows, archcd at the top, with deep
seats, In which we three sat, all children
together, and watched the gray old gar
dencr trim the shrubs, or fine equipages
dash along the near highway, or brilliant
orioles fit through the emerald leaves of
elms and oaks.
And there was the stately housekeeper
beautiful woman still, who never seemed
so happy as when she was talking of Mr..
Stanhope.
"You see, my dear what good man he
is, and so very, very fond of the memory
of his dear wife. She has been dead ex-
actly seven years; and he religiously keeps
the anniversary of her death, and always
will, I think. 1t is a year since he went
away; he is in Europe, you know, and we
expect him next month"
We were sitting, sewing, by the front
window, as she spoke. Suddenly she
looked out, and exclaimed, "Heaven pre-
serve us! Here is Mr.. Stanhope himself
Why he must have come by an earlier
steamer Ihan he Intended"
Such noise and hubbub as ensued
Such hearty shaking of hands, and excla-
nations Of surprise! Soon little Grace
cried. shaking me by the hand,
"Oh, papa here is our teacher Kiss
her, dear papa; we love her ever so much" p"
was SO confused, [ could not even
look up.
"Hush my dear! !" said the housekeeper
in strange voice gentlemen ouly kiss
their little daughters. I ventured to en-
gage this young person, sir" she contin-
ued, ION good recommendation. She has
been very faithful, and Gertrude and Grace
seem to love her dearly. Viola, look up
this is Mr.. Stanhope."
I raised my head shyly, and encounter
ed two dark, shining eyes beaming down
upon me. Something in their surprised,
pleased expression affected me agreeably,
and made me less afraid; but, as I turned !
away, caught sight of the housekeeper's
face, and it turned my blood to ice. Her
glance, SO full of malice, of sudden, dead
ly hatred, troubled me, haunted me. | ]
could not understand it; later / learned
to do so.
The next day, and the next; | saw Mr.
Stanhope, and could look at him without
blushing, and speak without stammering
Every day he would take the children in
the garden, and play with them as if he
was boy himself; and he came into the
nursery, sometimes, when they were re-
peating their simple lessons.
Three blissful, happy years fed rapidly;
T xvos o,or,;,,,, All a,J ie;, -,