Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-02-12

Mrs Chiffon tod me last week she was TO
/ have quite a large number OF fashionable
| among them"
| How can you talk such nonsense Iia?"
Ida pursed up her ripe cherry of'a mouth
! Oguishly.
| "IteII Jon what, Jenny she said, ats
| high time was on the look out for a real,
| genuine Valentine. Only think! twenty one
| last week: and not an engagement ring to
| She shot sideways glance as she spoke at
\ the mirror beyond, which returned a by no
means unflaitering tale. Hair light and
| FURNISHED as iossy gold, eyes foil of blue,
| limpid, light, velvet s kin, softly tiuged with
| rose, and a figure slender and rounded as that
| beauty, and she knew it.
"A Nalentinel" retorted Jane, rather ac-
| IDLY: ~ think you have forgotten that you
are to be milk-bOy's Valentine"
| lea burst out laughing merrily.
Haven't you forgotten that luckless ad-
venture OF chiidhoods days yet?-But Sc
| riously, Jane, / 60 believe that s.. Valen-
| tines Day has always exercised a sort of
4 fate over me, for / never have succeeded in
| winning anice Ealeatine since. Now, don't
\ be cross, Jane, that's dear; but help me
| with the white lace puffiDgs 10 my blue silk
| dress. or / shall never get them done in
| time
Miss Cornell locked quite pretty enough
\ to he appointed lieutenant general tn Cupid
that night, as she entered Mrs. Clifton's man
sion, where the glitter OF lights and the per-
| fume OF flowers and the confused hum OF In
Vulnerable feminine voices kept up plea
SAINT sort Of bewildeTment. She was dressed
III blue SILK, draped with lace, and caught up
here ard there with clusters of blue feur-de-
| lis, while her golden hair fiOated down her
| back In c!epe waves OF sunny brightness.
| ard her cheeks glowed win SOFT, worm
| crimson.
"Have you got your number, Ida?" cried
| Kate Clinton, gravely advancing with
| satin wood box.
| NO; what is it?'
| "ATeyO ready 10 80 in"
| YES quite"
Kate presented her with tiny slip OF
white silk, on which was embroidered, in
| silver letters, the magic humber ''S33'
| present il at the door as you enter" she
| said, with much sOlemnity, "and may 81.
Valentine treat you Well"
AS Ida, half-fluttered. half amused, pas
SD into the brilliant draw!ng-rooms, Mrs.
Clinton sIniliEgly met her and glanced AT her
silken ticket
NO. 333, y she spoke, and tall, handsome
gentleman stepped forward on the instant.
Mr.. Moray, Miss Cornell" she said. pre-
senting them 10 each other, and passing on
TO receive the next aspirant for the good
offices of ST. Valentine.
Ida glanced shyly up at the stately, dark
bronZed cavalier VINO stood SO gracefully be-
side her; ard Hugh Moray's heart gave
sudden thrill W thin him. as he met the gaze
of the blue liquid eyes which had once
flashed so scornfully upon him years and
age. How lovely she had grown. yet still
how much the same. He almost expected 10
see her traighten up her slight figure, aud
| draw back from the polluting touch of his
arm.
seemed passing well pleased with her fate
in becoming his companion for the evening
the more so. as once or twice she heard en-
vious comments on her good luck from
others VINO were not so auspiciOusly mated.
"Only Think pOuted Virginia Berry, VINO
bad drawn dapper, Ineligible young
Treasury clerk, without more than one idea
at sture in his brain, ''tts just Ida Corn
ellis luck to get that splendid Moray, with
handsome fortune"
But there was nothing mercenary IN Ida
| CorEells nature; if she gleried in her hand
some companion, IL was from no lguoble
motive. she was young and very impress
Sible, and Hugh Moray was fascinating in
Lo Common degree.
| When Ida Cornell went home that even
| ing, it was with shy half consciousness
that she had ell joyed herself very much it,
| deed, and a distinct remembrance OF sundry
| sparkles from the deep, dark eyes that hal
| spoken with more eloquence than wOrts.
! like your partner
VERY much, p Ida answered, dreamIIy.
| ''NaS he at all ike the mi k boy
! The milk-bOy, indeed! Jane, l 30 wish
| that you would forget that absurd piece OF
Miss Cornell had permitted Mr.. Moray to
| cali, and Mr, Moray lost no time in avail
| ing himselfCf the permission: and from thai
| the succession To parties, morning concerts
| and drives In the country was simple and
| natural enough.
| And ore day the finale came, when they
| were sitting together behind the draperieS Of
| q box al the theatre, with lights AMI music
4
| thrt ugh tine EOlemn glOries of dream. They
| had teen talking about the party at Mrs.
| CliftOn's on st. Valentines Eve.
| II enjoyed that party SO much Ida said
| softly, wiz out raising her eyes from the
| bouquet Of jsUOnicas that she held
| did you, dear Ida" (Tney mad become
! quite EOOu friends, you may perceive,
| "Shouid you be willing 10 adopt your Val
| entine Of that night for your Valentine for
| ever?' he asked, earnestly.
| Al she replied in all good faith:
| IL should, Hugh"
Then you will be my vile, my little gold
/ ha red brid.?''
| Dear Hugh, yes.'
| He SIN lei, as he held both her hands
| firmly pressed in his own.
| Ida" he said, cit was strange fate which
| assigned us to each other for that st. Nalen-
| tines Eve, was it not? One might almost
believe that the gentle-natured saint really
guided our destinies."
| "Almost, Hugh" she assented.
"But you will think IL stranger still. when
/ tell you that, years and years ago, you
| We're sent to me as my Nalentine."
| "What can you mean?" she asked eagerly.
| "And he told her how one Hugh Moray
! had sat in the hall Of her mothers residence,
on bleak February morning, waiting for
money for his milk bill, and how q little
| shining apparition In blue and gold and
| roses glimmered upon him for one instant.
| and then disappeared; how his boy heart had
| ached and smarted, and how all the time de-
| nverance was close at hand, and
| Well, he told the whole story, with sundry
with sparkling eyes and changing color,
more than ever convinced that "there is q
| destiny which shapes our ends"
| And am the milk boys true Valentine,
| "Yes, you are the milk boys true Nalen-
| tino," he answered, tenderly; sand after
\ this, who shall deny the authenticity Of
/ loves own patron saint?"
Il fv,lo