The Van Buren press., 1876-05-06
A Story About Valentines.

The little girls of Miss Powers. school
were grouped in pairs, and threes, and
ours, and were chatting aud laughing
nd enjoying themselves rs little girls
re apt to do in the few moments that re
main before the time for the bell to ring,
just then Clara Seatons came bounding
among them, her pretty checks lash
cd, and her eyes brightly glowing
30 girls :" she exclaimed, am 20.
ing to have some capital fun Sec here
Jennie Cole, and you. Mary G GOODWIN, Iii
tell you something. II .dun't wnat any of
you to know. I'll tell you about it when
I've had my fun" And so saying, she
took her comrades and Withdrew from
the other little girls.
"Pooh Who cares for Clara Seaton
or her secrets" said May Thornley,,
tossing her brown 9curls; and some Of the
Others initiated hef; but the remainder
were very cautious about speaking so con
temptuously Of Clara, for Clara was the
only daughter Of very wealthy parents,
and she therefore held her head very
high, and looked down on the most of
her schoomates SO Jennie Cole and Ma
ry Goodwin felt particularly tlatlered
when they found themselves set apart for
her confidence
- am going to have such splendid
fun !" she said, when she had taken them
to a safe distance. " See this, and this p
and she unfolded batch Of comic Valen-
tines of every conceivable caricature.
Mary and Jennie laughed as the hdeous
pictures met their gaze.
You're not going to send them to any
one, are you" asked Mary.
"Certainly / AMI answered Clara
"Ths is for Unclel jim he's always
twrling his moustache, you know. This
is for Sister Julia; she'll be awful angry
about it, but will never suspect me And
this is for--guess who.'
After guessing while, and not being
able to hit upon the right Que, both girls
gave it up
Now, don't youItAl- -ncyer, never
said Clara. E1s&H4F
Both promised.
It's for that hateful Katie Dlake!"
"Katie Blake" said the astonishca
girls.
"Yes. She's always getting ahead Of
me; and Ma says it's too bad. How
inpudently she marched up above me-
yesterday, when | made sure of getting.a
head mark. said then I'd have my re-
venge," and Clara looked triumphant
That will be poor revenge said Ma
ry Goodwin, as she looked at the picture
ut will make her think she has an en-
cmy, and that will be spite enough for
me, for heard her say not long ago that
it would grieve her Fdreadfully to think
that she had an eneny-the meek faced
saint" said Clara. scorntully.
All further conversation was checked |
by the ringing of the bell, and in very
orderly manner the little girls walked in
to the room. Foremost among them
moved Clara Seaton, and behind her came
Katie Blake She was a sweet faced, |
bright eyed, Intelligent child, and the ia
vorite Of all who knew her. excepting
Clara, and her dislike arose from envy
alone. Clara could not bear to be excel
ed, and that by the daughter of a wash
er woman-for Katie's mother did Miss
Towers washing in, payment for her
daughters tuition.
No ono who looked upon the bright,
eager faces in the school room that morn
ing, could have suspected tho schemes at
work in the brains Of at least three of the |
number Clara Seaton was planning how |
best she might deliver heril natured mis-
sire, while May and Jennie were plan.
ming how they might dcfeat her scheme,
and thus save Katie from the bitterness
they knew she would feel should she re-
ccivc the valentines. Finally they conclu
ded to dctain Katie at Nays home after
school, SO that il Clara should send it to
Mrs. Blake's house, that lady would de.
str,y it, and katis would never know.
But Clara was too cunning for that. Her
chief design was to see Katies suffering.
So she arranged With little boy whom
none of the girls .knew to carry il to Ka-
tie and deliver tito her at school.
Early that afternoon the, little boy
came. Miss Tower herself answered the
summons.
"Katio Blakewis wanted" said Miss
Tower, as she re entered the room.
Katy turned red, smiled, looked awk-
ward. and obeyed exciting no little curl
osity amont, the scholars as to who want
ed Katie She remained out so long that
most Of them had forgotten about her.
But Miss Tower grew apprchenslve, and
went at last to seek for Katie whom she
found in the hall weeping bitterly, with
the vicious valentine open in her hand.
The kind teacher comprehcnded the stu
alton at once, and tried to sooth the poor
girl by telling her it was not worth SO
much distress, and that only evil-minded
persons ever resorted to such low means
TO triumph over another E&
"But, o Miss Tower to think that any
ono hates me so J" sobbed Katie
Miss Tower smoothed her hair and talk
ed to her until sAegrsw calm.
You may be excused for the rest of
the day." said the teacher, :" We will
say nothing Of this to the scholars, ka.
tic" J.s.ft
"Oh, thank youn returned Katie,
gratefully, for she felt that size could not
return to the school room.ayss as,r.
"She got it, That's what she was cali
ell out for, and | suppose she is so morti-
fled over it that Miss Tower let her 60
home" whispered Clara, as she passed
Jennie Cole in the. aisle. i N, s.a
Jennie whispered Clara's message to
May Goodwin at recess, and their hearts
sunk within them. How now to act they
knew not They talked it over all recess,