The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-02-10
Miss Hatty's Valentine.

1t was morning of the 14th of February
cool, cloudy, and slight sprinkle
feathery snOw-flakes OH the ground. A
the youthful feminine hearts in Brool
vile were in a delightful tlutter of antit
! ipatiOn, for " ho knew the sweet secret
wicked little, blind Cupid, whose tw
bright eyes yet see ten times as far a
any body else's can, would bring TO ligh
that day?
In the little parlor and shoproom c
Miss Hatty Morris, the village dress
maker, little knot of feminine forms a
: we'll as hearts were ali in tlutter, TO
the little white bed was one breezy mas
of blue, pink, buff and white taTlatan
and gauze, which Miss uatty's magi
fingers were to transform in prett
dresses to be worn at Madam Howard
grand party.
Madam Howard lived in the grea
house on the hill, was rich and exclusive
had no relations but one son, who nigh
be somebody's husband some day, and {
nephew, Judge MCCOwen, as rich q.
herself, who lived in another great house
opposite hers, but was ever so old, and
not marrying man at all. AT least the
girls said 80. / believe he was really
about thirty. eight and had never mar
ried, simply because when he did marry
he wanted a woman, not dollbaby, and
he had not found the right one yet.
| When Madam Howard gave a party, it
was worth while getting q new dress,
and every single girl wanted her own to
be the prettiest. But to day they could
| talk about dresses and valentines too so
there was a merry chatter going on in
| Miss Hatty's room, while she selected
patterns and clipped Innings, and said
| nothing. Why should she? Only poor
dressmaker, twenty-eight years old, and
no beauty either. What had an old maid
like her to do with love and valentines
worked, while Carrie Mckinney was
showing a lovely thing all satin, lace
paper and love nonsense which she had
just received.
"Oh, what beautyw cried pretty Sue
Jones; "you guess who sent it, Carrie 2"
"Not J.! expect so manv, don't i'll
tend to begin guessing where they come
from. And if they are pretty, l don't
care, either" 49,,
"Neitner do l." said Lefty Fay, "but
do wish Gus Howard would1
A rap on the door interrupted them,
and when Miss Hatty opened it, in walk
ed Judge McCowen with bundle of
shirts 10 make, and the sentence about
We
the judge was his cousin.
But the girls all knew the judge, SO the
chattering went on, uninterrupted, while
he sat down by the little stove.
81 don't expect any valentines. Don't
want any either" said red-haired Jenny
Reed. t-'
"Oh, yes you dow cried Carrie Nc
Kinney. .....
"Everybody does-even Miss Hatty
here, whether. she will own it or not.
Come now, Miss Hatty, wouldn't you
like to have somebody send you valen-
tineY
A little flush tinted the dressmakers
cheek as she answered, "Yes, Carrie"
The frank answer was not what was
expected, and there was little hush of
amused surprise, which made Miss Hatty
feel she must say something to be more
understood.
So, flushing deeper, remembering that
Judge McCOWen was in the room, she
said honestly and bravely, 'Not for the
valentine, but because they are said to
be tokens of affections; and if l had one
l should feel there was somebody in the
world who cared for me enough to re-
member me to-day, and that would be
pleasant. You know, Carrie, l have no
near relatives living in the world, whose
love could make life pleasant"
She stopped, but none OF the girls had
q ready answer, Tor the little dress
makers words were too earnest and sim
cere for merry. making. So, to cover her
Miss Hatty stepped forward,
saying: 1--WE are keeping you waiting,
Judge McCowen. These girls will need
me good while yet, SO I'll attend to you
first" reaching out her slender hand for
his bundle of work..
The judge took the hint, and after
few questions and directions about his
shirts he took his leave, too, and Miss
Hattie went back to the clouds of oauze
and tarlatane on the bed.
But as the judge-he wasn't-so very
old, you knOw-Walked back to his lone
ly great house, with only hired house.
keeper to preside, he thought of the lit
tie, lonely woman, who had bravely
dared to speak truly in his presence.
"POor little thingw he said. "She
wOnld feel as if some one cared little
for her. Pity some one wouldn't send
her valentine! Many a worse woman
will get DOZENS" He went into his hall,
where his footsteps echoed lonesomely,
and then Into the vacant parlOr, and sat
down alone by his tireside.
He looked around. Everything was
lonesome, and In very prim, precise or
der, for Mrs. Thompson, the housekeep-
er, was dreadfully neat. But there wal
lacking. If, now, there were a
nice, low sewing chair, and little work
basket and thimble like Miss Hatty's, it
would look more sociable. Why, even
that flimsy pile OF gew-gaws on Miss
IIatty's bed looked more like home than
80 much stiffness.
Poor little Miss Hatty! lie wondered |
f. she living all alone, was not even more |
onely than he, who did have Mrs. |
Thompson even II she was not much |
company. Nobody to care for her. She |
,uyht to have! She had kind, loving |
lature. That showed in her face, even if
t was-no, it was not plain-she had |
,ure, lair skin, soft, earnest eyes and |
nee brown hair, and when the color rose
o her face as she spoke out SO simple
md brave, she really was very pretty!1
4adylike-yes, always that, and easy in
Ter manner as if used to good society.
POOR little thing!
Well--the judge sat in his parlor and
houghl about little, lonely Miss Uatty
ill dinner time. After dinner he was
till thinking, and at 2 O'Clock he sat
own and wrote short letter: lie fold
d it, put it III his pocket without enye-
Dpe or address, and went down to the
bookstore.
And there, Judge McCowen, getting
90 old Tor youthful nonsense, bought a