The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1879-02-14

would postpone further advances, she
thought it might be for years, and-it
might be forever. Preparations were
at once begun for the outfit, and when
bashful friend John called one day to
invite her to assist in grand school ex-
hibition in an adjoining town, her
mother had answered, in her absence,
that Eesta was as busy as she could
be getting ready to 90 away, and hadn't
Poor joint This exhibition had
opened to his gaze Jacob ladder on
which he would travel heights of bliss q
he should fetch and carry Vesta to and
from rehearsals. Little did Mrs. Grid
ley suspect the pang sent into his heart
by her refusal. All, no. No
more than she suspected existence of q
"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 be-
fore the usual time for graduation she
had been offered a 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, ositien 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 herself,
but vacation visits at home had seemed
to show her its effects on others. The
boys were "married and settled
one of them with her parents. Hugh
had gone West and fallen victim to
the 'sfeyer-neg, ''as he had written back.
While vet pupil at the "Sem," she
had received from Fanny glowing &C.
count of Cousin Dicks marriage, and
subsequently from the same source of
his high standing in 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 di-
rectly from him since.
After presiding for years at the same
institution, Miss Vesta began to feel that
both she and it we're 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 left
it. Her brother was now gone and her
father would soon follow. Old &C.
quaintances were scattered-some were
married, some we're dead. To her
brothers. family she would be only an
"old.maid aunt" Bereayed of her be-
loved employment, she would be indeed
bereaved.
Her thoughts were rudely interrupted
by the entrance of two giggling girls
her brothers eldest and q school-mate
Clara Dexter.
go, Aunty, it's Valentines week,
and Clara's got the most beautiful one
you ever saw, and we want you to help
us to make up something to answer it,"
and numerous giggles burst from the
excited girls.
"I-f don't think I altogether ap-
prove of Valentines" aunty cautiously
replied.
"Eather 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 giggling
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, tool"
1t was indeed a rare piece of filigree
nonsense, with Cupids promiscuously
scattering darts in all directions, and
"hearts with daggers plunged" in a
way to quite meet the views of Hugh
Plunkett. These were the lines that the
girls desired to s'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 excite
suitable admiration. "Did you ever
have one yourself?" she inquired again,
abruptly.
"Yes, aunty once had one.'
"Oh, let me see it; dol" cried the
girls.
81 have not seen it myself for many
years, but it is still preserved, I think,
in that little chest with my name on the
cover"
Let me get it, please?" and, with
half-permission, her niece flew to the
little chamber where she knew it was
kept, and it was soon before them. At
any ether 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 evidently
thought plain sheet of paper was no
valentine at all.
81 presume so, but this is the only
one ever had.'' .E.
"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-I have no objection"
did you know who sent itP" went
on that impertinent niece.
ell suppose I did,"
!" Was it any body VIC know" pur-
sued the perseVering Miss.
"No. It was nobody that you have
ever seen," replied her aunt, CURLY.
The girls went out, giggling as they
had come.
$50 your aunt used to have beau
l wonder why she didn't get married?"
81 guess they must have had fuss
or something" replied the young Miss
Gridley, whose own experience with
beaux had thus far always had that re-
suit.
It was late when Miss Vesta retired, |