The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-02-19
MY VALENTINE.

Valentines day, and I am sitting in
the bow window Of my front room in the
little semi.detachea house which is now
my home. The little maid has laid the
breakfast things, but it is early, and I
=, sit on the horse-hair sofa in the window,
looking out for the pustman.
Not that his cuing this morning has
any romantic interest for me. Those
days OF romance are past ana gone.
arm now arrived at the sober age OF
th1rty-fve. and it is time to have done
with such folly. And yet as l sit here,
and the postman delays his coming, my
mind wanders back to other Valentine 8
days long ago, when it was a matter OF
such ocep interest to me.
One fourteenth of February in partlcu-
lar, remember, ten-let me see, sixteen
years ago it was. How the years fly
and no" short a time it seems! Those
few bri ght years of a woman's life seem
to go by magic, and when they are gone
what remains? Always at one time or
other an aching sense that they are gone.
and sometimes alas the knowledge that
she is doomed to loneliness for the years
to come. felt that at one time myself.
but am used to it now.
At thlrty-tive these romantic regrets
should be done with. And especially
when one lives the life of daily govern
ess (as have done for some years past)
the realities of life press too constantly
and too unpleasantlv to ones mind to
leave room ter day dreams.
Rnf on thp fourteenth Ot To Urinary
just referred to my governess life had not
yet begun. had then as fair future
before me as most young girls OF my &C.
quaintance, with equal chances of an
advantageous and happy marriage, and
lite OF independence. At that time
was on visit to some friends, the Gov
cntry's.
The family consisted of father, mother
and two daughters-tine, hearty, good
looking girls, tall, strong, and high spirit
ed. In that respect rather a contrast to
myself, for was small, quiet
and (as [ was myseIfpaintully consciously
rather plain in appearance. They saw
plenty of company, for their father,
Squire Coventry as he was called, kept
most hospitable house; and especially
during the winter the house was continu-
ally filled with yoang people, ,and amuse-
ment of all kind was the order of the
day.
In most OF these amuscments took a
part; and though l had neither health
nor animal spirits equal to my young fe-
male friends, their kindness and hearth
ness ma lie everything pirasant. They
had most especial fundness for practi-
cal joking Il mean of the harmless kind),
particularly the younger one, Kate, who
was ably assisted in this line by her
cousin, Charles Bralntres, who constantly
formed one of the party.
Kate and Charley were in every kind
OF cscapade-companions in mirth, and
frequently in misfortune. when the evil
effects Of their joking came hone to their
own door.
While was at the Coventry's we at
tended little village church close by,
where, the rector being absent, there Of
tciated at the time curate who had
lately come to the place. He was tall,
slight nam, rather good looking; but he
had painfully stilted, self-conscious
manner, which quite did away with the
prepossessing effect of his appearance. I
ut first attributed it to conceit, afterwards
when knew him better, to shyness. He
seldom came to the house, although the
Coventrys quickly made his acquaintance
and pressed him to do so, but invitations
OF all kinds he refused.
During my stay, however, he gradual
~ acquired the habit OF walking home
with us from church, our road lying part
ly in the same direction he would part
with us at the park gates with the stifest
OF bows, refusing all cntreaties to enter.
and proceed to his lodgings in the vii
lagc.
By degrees his visits to the house be-
came more frequent and of course the
change was attributed to me- I could not
help becoming conscious that during
these Sunday walks his place was gener-
ally at my side; and l suffered from the
sly looks and muttered remarks of which
was subject. Our conversations on these
occasions was of the primmest and most
demurc. Sometimes, after silen' walk
of two or three minutes, feeble request to
carry my Prayer-boek, and that yielded
to few remarks on the weather and so
on. and we were already at our journey s
end; nevertheless this was sufficient food
for my mischiet-loving friends to found a
joke upon. AS to Mr.. B. himself, he was
''fair game HIS conscious, conceited.
and yet awkward and bashful manner,
made him must confess most tempt
ing subject; and while he had quickncss
enough to see that in some way or other
he was being ridiculed, his senses of
humor were SO dull that he could never
comprehend the joke. All this com
b1ned to make him undergo torture when
IN my friends society, and verify be-
!ieve he fled to me (quiet, sedate and
harmless as l was) as refuge from thei,
sallies. Whether that were so or no. I
know not, but by degrees I became quite
used to his society, and from tolerating,
got to like it, and to miss him v hen he
did not come; and when the joke ragged,
invariably took his part.
Valentines day drew near, and of
course Kate Coventry was full of business.
There were valentines of all kinds to be
dispatched and expected in return. NJ
merous ''hoaxes' desi gned tor particular
friends, and the plots and schemes as to
P'oSco VI ooo'"S0 auu oIss5ulSe VI Q1nQ-
writing, were truly wonderful.
"What fun it would be to send a valen
tine to Mr.. Bargill!' exclaimed Charlie.
''What would he do with it, Put it in
the fire, l expect, and never let any one
hear OF it. He would feel it au insult.
"Mr. Bargillr' exclaimed Kate sud.
denly looking up from her work of d.
rectlng and stamping envelopes. "Why
of course he shall have one. How stn.
pid of me to torgetl It's impo, tant
though. l must take time to think of il.
: OF course we know who the sender will
be.
She glanced at me as she said this.
- kate, please do not I said, imploring-
~, blushing up to the roots of my hair,
for knew that I was doomed.