Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-03-10
.Aa1,.s Molzies Valentine.

The DOStnan, SlOfC lJme before, na
left a number Of valentines, among then
one for Aunt Moliie. Ithad been handle.
around from one to another, speculate'
upon, laughed over, and then Mrs. Nor
GROSS without noticing the exchange o
chances between her mischievous daught
er, Fan, and BAN Reynolds, Fans mos
devoted admirer, and also the alder ant
abettor Of all her jokes called servan
and sent the missive up to Aunt Mollie'
room.
The young people were all so busy
with their own valentines that Aunt MOL
lie was left to read hers in peace. She
looked long at the direction, as many Of
us do, wondering who wrote 1t, BEFORE she
broke the seal, but, as she read it, the
color came to her cheeks and the light
and sparkle to her eyes, which shone as
they had not done for many long year
What she read was no valentine, but a
letter FROM Col. Sargent. He wrote that
he had long loved her, but, having had a
sister and niece to support, had beed I'M
able to marry; but now he was free, and
he entreated Aunt Mollie, if she had any
love for him, anG was willing to marry
him, to let him know it at the earliest OPP
portunity.
The letter fell from Aunt Mollie's fin
gers as she gazed into the fire, while her
thoughts flew back into the past.
How we'll she remembered when she
first knew Col. Sargent; be was a friend
of her brother-in-law, and was at their
house almost every day; in many OF their
excursions and gayeties he had been her
escort. Handsome and agreeable. kind
and attentive, was it any wonder, she
thought, that, she, girl OF twenty, had
lost her heart to HIM? She thought over
all their pleasant intercourse 50 many
years ago, and tried to remember some
word Or act that betrayed warmer inter
est than the brotherly affection he had al
ways protested for all the family. Alas
she could remember none-nothlng but
the sharp pang of sorrow IN her own
heart When he told them all he was going
away to india to be gone for years. He
had always been her hero, and although
she had schooled herself to Indifference,
and had never betrayed her secret, and
on his return from India, a few years ago
had met him with only q friends well.
come, yet she knew now what had made
all other men seem small in her eyes.
Aunt Mollic had refused several good
offers, to the surprise of her friends, and
was now an old maid of forty, with
nephews and nieces growing up around
her, quiet, reserved and lady-like, and
domineered over by her eldest
niece, Fanny Norcross, as wild but as
good hearted little thing as ever lived.
Aunt Mollie looked into the fire, and
became thoughtful.
"What has made him love me, I wonder,
and when did it begin, and why did he
keep it to himself, and treat me so indif-
ferently, startling me with an otfer?'
1t was all puzzel; Aunt Mollie had to
give it up She read the Colonel's letter
again; there was no mistake about it; he
said plainly he loved her, and wished to
marry her, and would like an Immediate
answer.
SWELL" said Aunt Mollie to herself,
s'why not? Why shouldn't I marry him?
If he loves me as he says, why shouldn't
I accept the happiness offered me? Oh,
if this had only happened years ago!' and
Moliie gave sigh as she thought of the
past lonely years; but the loneliness would
all be gone now; there was some one who
loved her.
So Aunt Mollie wrote her answer to
Col. Sargent with bright smile and
blush that it was pity no one saw. She
told him she would be his wife; and not |
only that, but with candor most women
think unnecessary, she told him how
happy his letter had made her, and how
olg she had loved him, and finally that
she would be at home the next evening,
and happy to see him.
Then ringing the bell for a servant, she
ent the letter to the postofice.
AT tea-time, when Aunt Mollie made
Ter appearance, her valentino had been
orgotten in the more absorbing topics of
he sleigh-ride for that evening, and
ea-party for the next, so she could think
Ter own thoughts undisturbed.
The next evening they all went off to
heir tea party, after vainly coaxing Aunt
dollie to accompany them.
"Mollie, you had better come with u.s."
aid Mrs. Norcross; "you will be so
oncly."
But Mollic, with a guilty blush, de-
lined. They left her, and she sat down
o wait for Col. Sargent.
COL Sargent received Mollies letter in
lue course Of time, and was-thunder-
t9'ucE'
'She had received his letter, had sheep
Vhy, he had never written to her. ''She
Dyed him, did she?' WE'LL Col. Sargent
'ather thought not. What did he want |
with q wife?
The Colonel had no words strong
enough to express his astonishment at
.eceiving such letter from Aunt Mollie,
out when he read it again some glimmer-
ng Of the truth dawned upon him. He
Jaw what cruel joke had been played
Upon Aunt Mollie, and he had now no
words strong enough to express his in
ignation against the offenders.
"Poor little Mollie!" he said, cit will |
kill her when she finds it out" Then
MS thoughts went back to the past.
s What a pretty girl she was when went |
to India. hated to say good by to her
then. All! if had only had money then !
I wonder if shoul have asked her to
marry me?"
The Colonel sat a long time lost in
thought, from which he suddenly aroused !
himself with the rsmark:
"I'll do it. Why not?' And putting
on his hat and OvercOat he started for the !