The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1879-02-27
Rose Matthew's Valentine
BY MRS. $. VAN BEx>cnorEN.

The sun was sinking in the west,
and, as its rays fell aSlant upon the
gable-end of weIther-Stained house,
among the hills of a small village IN
Massachusetts, "A beautiful face, stain
ed with teardrOps, and head OF yell
low hair, made golden 10y the sun
beams, looked from out small Will
dow in the peaked roof, and. StraiHing
her ewes to catch the beauties of the
varying landscape, as If for the last
time, saw in the distance the form Of
one she had learned 10 look upon as
the dearest friend among heT country
acquaintances. WIping the tears from
her eyes, and brushing the golden
tresseS, she went slowly down stairs
to have a quiet talk and SAY "gO0d-iy,'
perhaps, forever.
Some half-dOZen years ago Roses
mother had died, suddenly, and MIR
Matthews had taken it To heart 50 that
the doctors. fearing serious effects, had
sent him abroad.
Confiding his little Rose to his favor
ite aunt, in the little village Of L. he
went abroad to seek the needed
change. But, after many weary
months of rcStlesSneSs, he found he
was growing weaker, and settling him
self quietly down to die, in Il little
Swiss town, he wrote his aunt, That
lee had left everything % Rose, except
lag a small annuity to her, and that he
wished her to keep Rose with her
always, if possible"
But the Swiss air seemed to ill him
with new life, and, contrary TO his eX-
pectatiOnS, he began To improve. The
little country doctor understood his
case better than his great Boston phy-
siciap had done, and after couple OF
wears spent in quiet and observance Of
the health regulations prescribed 10y
the little Swiss doctor. he found him
self growing StOuter and healthier
than he had been for years.
Sitting i'm the twilight. he Thought Of
his little Rose. ROW budding into
womanhOOd, and made up his mind 10
transplant her to the old country, Civ
ing her the benefit OF travel, and 4
chance To make up her mind whether
her affections would take root either
in the little Swiss hamlet he had grown
so fond of, Tor in some larger city of
the old world.
Rose had received word that her
father would arrive in a few days, and
after spending couple of weeks at the
old farm, would take her across the
seas. to live with him.
\ letter from abroad in that quiet
village, was something wonderful at
that time.
But, that one of their number, one
that they had begun To look upon rs =
fair maiden belonging to their little
town forever, WAS 10 go abroad to live,
Tho aIt1
gray pastor came to see her. and with
tears in his eyes ~hOped she would ney-
er fail To pray for her friends on this
side Of the \ tlantic, or feel above the
religion she had prOfeSSed in the little
white church" The village maidenS
looked with wOndcrment, and almost
with awe, at the beautiful wardrobe in
preparation. The village dreSSmaker
was at her wits end 10 furnish pat
terms in the latest style, and give city
air to her customers beautiful fab
ricS.
The goSsips talked 10y the hour OF
"ihe fathers extravaganza, and some
wondered if Rose wouldn't lose every
bit of her religion if she was indulgcd
in such f0llieS.
Many hearts were Saddened To think
Of parting with the beautiful village
Rose, but no heart beat with such dis
appointment and throbbed with such
anguish rs her friends over in the
farmhouse on the hill. John Allen
WAS the first boy she had dared 10
coast down hill with; the first she had
received assistance from IN her studies,
for his arm and brain seemed so steady
and reliable that she never felt any
fear of accidents or ashamed Of the as
Sistmce lac offered. He was the only
Young man she would receive any at
tentiOnS from now, as she W;lS budding
into wOmanhOOd.
Being some years her senior, hc
knew of the many trials of faith she
would have TO 90 through, the many
chancrs of marriage she would have
from those far above him socially, and
50 he had not trammeled her young
heart by any promises or ties stronger
than friendship.
1t WAS from her he had encourage
ment for his profession. 1t WAS her
bright face that had given him power
Ia give the best wears Of his life 10 It;
and now, as he was nearly through MS
theological course, and an appoint
ment i'm the ministry awaiting him, he
bowed his head in grief, and felt as If
this breaking up Of his future dreams
was more than he could bear.
No words about the future had
passed between them, but the trusting
hand held within his own, and the
brown eyes, looking up to him from
out mass of golden hair, lighting mp
the face with such an eager. bright
look, told him of what was IN store for
| him when he had reached the goal he
was trying FOR.
Rose met John Allen silently and
sadly. She sat down in her little
rocker, without daring to look up, I'm
] til John said, in his quiet way. Rose.
wouldn't you like 4 walk up the Peak
tonight? We may never have an
other chance, and il is very lovely"
! Rose stopped her nervous rocking.
donned her jaunty little imported hat
which, to Johns eyes, made her look
prettier than ever. and went out be-
meath the rays of the setting sun.
We will not dwell or that quiet
walk. The coming home in the twi-
light, with the goodnight on the
low yeranda. Roses pillow was wet
I with tears that night, because John
I WAS letting her 90 from him without
/ eNacting any promise from her but
/ that she would write him every week.
John Allen sat by the window that
night, looking toward her home, think
ing of the dark and dreary future be-
fore him; and, not till the morning
, i. 4 L.