The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-02-13

advantageous "chance" would have
appeared to him preposterous.
"Jes let me see your valentine, Ves,'
he whispered next day, when the frs
favorable opportunity presented. SIS
it q picture of two hearts with a dagger
stuck right through, or what?''
"No, Hugh, nothing of the kind. You
are quite mistaken about it,
"But amt it valentine, then?' he
asked, with much anxiety.
cit is only-only-a few-lines, See
therer' drawing it hastily from he,
pocket and spreading it for a moment
before him.
"Only some writin', after all?' ex
claimed the disappointed Hugh, as his
dull eye failed to notice the poetry form
of the writin'." "Wall, I'm beat
I'd bet anything twas regular vol
entine."
The next time that Mr.. Gridley's
hired man went to the Postoffice he
was entrusted with letter directed to
the principal of a young ladies' semi
nary, asking for terms and accommo.
dations, as ga pupil from his family
would like to enter at the spring ses-
sion. This course Vesta had now re-
solved to take, as her parents were de-
sirous, and it would postpone further
advances, she thought-it might be for
years, and-it might be forever. Prepa-
rations were at once begun for the out
tit, and when bashful friend John called
one day to invite her to assist in a
grand school exhibition in an adjoining
town. her mother had answered, in her
absence, that "Vesta was as busy as
she could be getting ready to 60 away,
and hadn't minute to spend"
| Poor John! This exhibition had
opened to his gaze a Jacob ladder on
which he would travel heights of bliss
as he should fetch and carry Vesta to
and from rehearsals. Little did Mrs.
Gridley suspect the pang sent into his
heart by her refusal. All, no. Nc
| more than she suspected the existence
of regular valentine in the house. -
AS was predicted by her friends,
Vesta made most gratifying progress
in study, and it was not surprising that
before the usual time for graduation
she had been offered post as assistant.
This was accepted, and, becoming more
and more interested in her work, and
her service being appreciated, she was
further promoted, till at length she
found herself "principal and precep-
tress''-a position to which at first she
would not dared to have aspired.
But meanwhile the years had glided
by, and Vesta was no longer young.
Absorbed in her school and devoted to
its duties, she gave little thought to the
change that time had made in her
self, but vacation visits at home had
seemed to show her its effects on 9TH
ers. The boys were married and
settled''-one of them with her par
ents. Hugh had gone West and fallen
a victim to the 'fever-neg," as he had
written back. While yet pupil at the
"Sem," she had received from Fanny
a glowing account of Cousin Dick s
marriage, and subsequently from the
same source of his hi h standing in a
distant city. This was a relief to
Vesta's mind, though her little episode
had ceased to worry her, as she had
never seen or heard directly from him
since.
After presiding for years at the same
institution, Miss Vesta began to feel
that both she and it were needing a
change. She was thinking it over as
she sat one evening at the old home
whittier she had been summoned by the
fatal illness of her mother. But if she
resigned her present position, what
would be her plans for the future? She
could not come home and take up life
as she had left it. Her mother was
now gone and her father would prob
ably soon follow. Old acquaintance
were scattered-some We're married,
some were dead. To her brother $
family she would be only an " old-maid
aunt" Bereaved of her beloved en-
ployment, she would be indeed be-
reaved.
Her thoughts were rudely interrupted
by the entrance of two giggling girls
her brothers eldest and a schOol-mate
Clara Dexter.
"Oh, aunty, it's Valentines week,
and Clara's got the most beautiful one
you ever saw, and we want you to help
us make up something to answer it, :"
and numerous giggles burst from the
excited girls.
ell don't think I altogether APP
prove of Valentines aunty cautiously
replied.
Father says he doesn't-says I'm
too young to have one," put in Clara,
"but we only send them for fun, you
know" and another series of giggles
followed.
"Show aunty yours, Clara, and see
if she don't think it's just splendid. :"
And the fanciful envelope was put in
her hands with not sign of maidenly
confusion.
"Oh, the girl of the PERIOD" sighed
Miss Vesta, "and Johns girl, too!''
1t was indeed rare piece of filagree
nonsense, with Cupids gromiscuously
scattering darts in all directions, and
''hearts with daggers plunged in way
to quite meet the views of Hugh Plum
kett. These were the lines that the
girls desired to " answer:
Oh that my heart a mirror might be.
To reflect, Clara, thee, and only but thee!
"Don't you think it's nice?'' asked
the niece, who thought it failed to ex-
cite suitable admiration, "Did you ever
have one yourself?' she inquired again,
abruptly.
AOos 0AACy VACO ASku OlC
"Oh, let me see it; dor' cried the
girls.
II have not seen it myself for many
years, but it is still preserved, l think,
in that little chest with my name on the
cover" tt.Et r..
Let me get it, plcase?" and with a
half permission, her niece flew to the
little chamber where she knew it was
kept, and it was soon before them. At
any other time the girls would have
been amused with the other trinkets
the little chest had so long contained,
but now they were only curious as to
the ancient valentine. "Didn't they
have any fancy ones in those days?"
asked the inquisitive girl, who evident
ly thought pain sheet of paper was
no valentine at all.
~ presume SO, but this is the only
one ever had"
"Why, it's an acrostic, amt it? gig
gled the girls again.
"''Tis L. That's real nice. May
cOnv If Mics Erid1ovp asLad Cloro