The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-02-10

"Yes, sir; step this way, sir" And
Sam began to show his goods. 4 he judge
selected a pretty box Nitn garland O
roses on the cover, then changed it iol
one whose pictured LID bore II pretty fam
lily scene-father and mother sitting by Il
CHEEKY fire, TWO or three little ones play
ing with some kittens on ihe hearth.
He took the letter from his pocket, put
1t inside the valentine, inclosed them
both in the box, wrapped the box IN tis
sue paper, and wrote upon it, with q
bold hand, the address,, "Miss Hatty
Norris"
"sam, can you leave the store few
minutes?" said he.
"Yes, sir. We're not busy now."
| "Very well; II you will take this box
and leave it at the address written on it,
and say nothing; to anybody about it, III
give you half dollar"
"All right, sir; thank you." And
catching his hat, as he dropped the mon
ey into his ocket, Sam set out. He gave
Vent to a low whistle as he read the ad
dress, but sped on his errand, and soon
tapped the little dressmaker's door.
| Miss Hatty answered his summons,
took the package he gave her, and read
her name upon 1t in some surprise. With
hasty fingers, she unwrapped the box,
|
Miss Hatty's thoughts to-day made her
quick to understand the picture.
| mo such pleasant tireside Tor me-" she
hall-sighed, as, wondering what it meant,
| she opened the box.
A valentine! Yes, a valentine, all
| white satin, lace and flowers, with a gold
| en- heart in the centre, upon which, in
little letters OF pearl, was the inscription
"An,0 Il" and though Miss Hatty knew
litLle about Latin, sne knew enough TO
know that those two words mean, ~
love thcc~
Bewildered with surprise, Miss Hatty
sat down and gazed at the pretty toy.
who could have done thi5g Not the giris
she did not believe they would mock
her-no, this was not joke. Judge
McCOwcn! lie had heard what she
said! A hot flush of shame stained her
face as she thought of the rich Judge
doing this in pity TO poor dress-maker!
She hastily took the sheet out of the
box, seeking for a clew-and found one,
for the letter fell out. She caught 1t up,
glanced at the signature, and swiftly
read:
"DEAR MISS HATTIE: l heard your
brave words, and send you valentine,
that you may know indeed there is one
who cares tor you and remembers you
but still think | could make your Lie
happier than it is, and reading your Sc
cret, womanly nature in the new light in |
which l have glanced at 1t to-day, / be- |
lieTe / have found the woman who can |
make me happy. Miss Hatty,, will you |
be my wife, and brighten my home with |
your presencef / shall come to you to-
night, for my answer. If you can make
it favorable, l pledge you my honor never
to let you regret IL. AnXiously,
"HoWARD MCCOwEN."
That was oil. Almost too plain and
simple to be called n love-letter, but
somehow it brought an odd sense OF COM
fort and protection to Miss Hatty's lone
ly little home. Well, she did not drop in
q faint, nor 60 into Mysteries, nor act in
any way as the heroine in novel would.
She just sat down in her little sewing
chair, folded her hands in her lap, and |.
thought deeply, with a quiet face Tor an
hour. Then she arose, made her simple
cup of tea, tidied the little room, trIm-
med the lamp. put on clean collar and
cuffs, smUOtDed down her hair and sat
lown again to wait for her lover.
Her loyer She blushed MS she thought
he word all alone in her little room, but
she smiled too, and her soft eyes wore u
happier LOOK than they had known for
years.
A few moments more, and Judge Nc.
Cowen was in the little dressmaker's
room again.
Now I'm not going to describe the In
,erview. The lovemaking OF elderly
people is always laughed at, just as
.hough one was not more capable of low
ng at forty than at twenty-five. But, Pil
ell you that, shortly alter Madam. How
lrd's grand party, there was another oc-
,asion for feminine tiutter even more in
eresting, for Judge McCowen and the
title dressmaker were to be married in
church, and all go to the Judges home
or a splendid reception.
Brookville never saw greater commo-
ion. But somehow almost everybody
seemed pleased with. the match, and said
hat MISS Hatty stepped into her new
lonors very gracefully.
And know furtner, that, in Mrs. Nc.
Governs private rooms pretty box stands
lpon her favori,e table, and If you lifted
he lid you would get a peep at an old
'alentine, which is Mrs. McCoWen's
,reatest treasure, after her husband ana
Ter three babies.