The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-02-13

Inc time that Mr.. Gridley'e hired man
went to the post-ofice he was entrusted
with letter directed to the principal Of
q young ladies' seminary, asking for
terms and accommodations, as q pupil
from his family would like to enter al
the spring session. This course Vests
had now resolved to take, as her parents
were DESTROYS, and it would postpone
further advances, she thought, it might
be for years, and-it might be forever.
Preparations we're at once begun for the
outfit, and when bashful friend John
called one day to invite her 10 assist in
a grand school exhibition in an adjoin.
ing 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 . Jacob ladder on
which he would travel heights of bliss as
he should fetch and and carry Vesta to
and from rehearsals. Little did Mrs.
Gridley suspect the psog sent into his
heart by her refusal. All, no. No more
than che suspected the existence of a
regular valentine in the house,
As was predicted BY her friends, Yes
Ia made most gratifying progress in
study, and it was not surprising that
before the usual time for gradua she
had been offered . post IS assistant.
This was accepted, and, becoming more
and more interested in her work, and
her service being appreciated, she was
further promoted, III at length che
found herself principal and preceptress'
"a position to which at first she would
not dared to have aspired.
But meanwhile the years had glided
by, and Vests was no longer young. Alb
sorbed in her school and devoted to its
duties, she gave little thought to the
change that time had made in herself,
but vacation visits at home had seemed
to show her it's effects on others. The
boys we're married and settled'-one of
them with her parents. Hugh had gone
West and fallen q victim to tho fever
me- as be had written back. While yet
q pupil at the Sem, she had received
from Fanny glowing account Of cousin
Dicks marriage, and subsequently from
the same source of his high standing in
distant city. This was relief to Yes
ta's mind, though her little episode had
ceased to worry her, as she had never
seen or heard directly from him since.
After presiding tor years at the same
institution, Miss Vesta began to feel that
both she and it were needing 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 Tor tho future? She could not
come home and take up life as she had
left 1t. Her mother was now gone and
her father would probably soon follow.
Old acquaintance were scattored-some
were married, some were dead. To her
brothers family she would be only an
'old-maid aunt Bereavsd of her be-
loved employment, she would be indeed
bercaved.
Her thoughts were rudely interrupted
by the entrance of two giggling girls
her brothers oldest and school mate
Clara Dexter.
%, Aunty, it's Valentines week, and
Clara's got the most beautiful one you
ever saw, and We want you to help US
mako up something to answer it, and
numerous gigglcs burst from the excited
girls.
IL don't think altogether approve
of valentines, aun,y cautiously replied.
Father says he doesn't,-says I'm
too young 20 have one, put in Clara,
but VIC only send them for fun, you
know and another series OF gigglcs
followed.
Show aunty yours, Clara, and see If
she don't thinklt's just splendid And
the fanciful envelope was put IN her
hands with not sign OF maidenly con
fusion.
'Oh, the girl of the PERIOD sighed
Miss Vesta, and Johns girl, too"
1t was indeed rare piece of fiiigree
nonsense, with Cupids pfomiscuously
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 mirror might be.
10 reuect, lara, thre, III ohiy Dut thee'
Don't you think it's NIGEL! asked the
niece, who thought it failed to excite
suitable admiration. Did you ever have
one yourseIf?' she inquired again alb
ruptly.
yes, aunty once had one.'
ooh. let me see 1t, do!' cried the girls.
Il have not seen it myself for many
years, but it is still preserved, think,
in that little chest with my name on the
cover
LET me get it, pleased! and with halt
permission, her niece few to the little
chamber where she knew It was kept,
and it was soon before them. At ans
other time the girls would have been
amused with the other trinkets the little
chest had so long contained. but nov
they were only curious - 10 the ancient
valentine. Didn't they have any fancy
ones in those daysv asked the inquisi-
tive girl, who evidently thought . plain
sheet of paper was no valentine 1t oil.
q presume so, but this is the only one
| ever had
why, it's an acrostic, amt it! giggled
the girls again.
'Tis L. That's real nice. May
copy IT, Miss Gridley? asked Clara.
.Yes-l have no objection
Did you know who sent It" vent on
that impertinent niece.