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

tonight, dear; you won't nindi I'll
send you my maid :" and without waiting
for an answer she was gone.
l did ''mind," but there was no help
for it. Constance was always fond OF
society. I dressed myself an well % my
limited wardrobe would allow, and she
presently returned and escorted me to the
drawlng-room where about fourteen per-
sons were assembled; but among them
all not one face was familiar to me save
that ofmy host.
1quietly ensconced myself in q win
dow recess, where I was partially hidden
by curtain. My eye wandered for q
moment rather anixously over the group
in faint hope that 1 might discover
Mr.. Bargill, but in vain.
Dinner was announced. The party
paired of. As sat wondering who my
partner was to be, Constance touched
the arm of portly-looking man who sat
with his back to me, engaged in earnest
conversation. He rose at once, and she
led him up to me.
"An old friend, Ethel. Mr.. Bargill,
you remember Miss Vane.
Was it posslDler Was the tine-looking
man before me the "sly curate" of form
er days2 No need to ask If he remembered
me. He gave start and colored visibly
when she uttered my name, and I then
saw plainly the resemblance which I had
failed to detect at first. He recognized
me ut once too. I saw thai, and it was
no small pleasure to think that times
ravages had not altered me in his eyes,
at least beyond recognition.
went into the dining. room on his
arm, and after the first few sentences our
conversation never tagged. then
discovered how in mind as we'll as in
body he had developed and improved;
or rather, having gained in assurance and
manliness, those qualities whice I mag
ined he had always possessed were SUIT
tered to come to the surface, while that
stiffness of manner which he had called
conceit, and which now felt sure had
proceeded from shyness, had vanished
altogether.
When I returned to the drawing-room
Ino longer felt myself alone in the COM
pany. talked indiherently to my next
neighbor, hardly conscious OF who or
what she might be, my eye meanwhile
watching the door with anxiety, until
at last the hum of voices outside told
that the gentlemen we're coming.
There was a vacant seat beside me.
Would he take it2 Yes, he was evident
~ coming towards me. My heart throb-
bed loudly when down upon the chair I
had guarded sat fat old country squire
who had began to make him self agreea-
BILE to my next neighbor. I felt morti-
fed and disappointed, and soon after.
wards took an opportunity Of retiring to
my old seat in the window.
had not sat there many minutes when
the curtain was drawn aside, and Mr.
Bargill, placing char for himself in my
recess, sat down beside me.
Mr.. Barglll," cried out Constance 8
little girl, running up to US, "just look at
my valentine! 1sn'tit beauty9 l have
such lot, but this is the prettiest of them
all, and I can not find out who sert it.
Do you know? believe it was you. Now
wasn't it? Tell the truth"
"No, Carrie, 1t was not me-
II believe it was, though she persist
ed. "I'm sure it was!'
mo, Carrie, indeed" he answered,
while a grave smile lowered round his
mouth. l never sent but one valentine
in all my life, and that
''Well, and that?'
THAT one was never answered.
He looked at me, though he was speak
ing to her, and instantly remembered
my two valentines Of long ago, that one
in particular which was never accounted
for, and which 1 had troubled myself so
little about. In my own mind l had
never doubted that it had been sent me
by my mischievous young friends.
remember now how strongly they
had denied it; and, as thought of its
contents, reflected, what if it really had
come from him?-had lain all these years
unheeded and unnotlced2 and nowl
My cheeks burned crimson as turned
my head away, and my confusion must
have been evident to him.
Katie had flown away to exhibit her
treasures in another part of the room.
heard low voice close beside me:
''Miss Vane-Ethel, will you answer
it now?'
I did snswer it and in way that I
have never since regretted.
When my friend Constance came to
visit me in my bedroom that night, had
a secret to confde to her, and was kissed
and congratulated to my hearts content.
"But oh! Constance" I exclaimed,
when she allowed me to pause chow
could you not tell me that that second
valentine came from you2 How could
you let me believe otherwise2
MY precious child, did I not tell you2'
she answered, laughing, ia hundred
times overland why were you so OBJ
stinately persuaded to the contrary2 Why
the signature should have been enough.
But never mind, ''all's we'll that ends
we'll, and this is just the very thing I
should have wished.'
EYES," l said softly. III believe it IS
well; and though shall be only poor
curate's wife I shall be the happiest--''
"a poor curate's wife, troke in Con-
stance. "Why, don't you know that
Charley has given Mr.. Bargill the rich
living of Braintree, two miles from here,
and l shall have you near me always?
Oh! it is delightful. So you thought
you were marrying "poor curate," did
you?"
The lovely Rectory of Braintrce has
lcng been my home, and the "shy cur
ate' the best and most devoted of hus.
bands. Little does the title apply to
him now! Beloved and respected by his
Pensioners, and known far beyond his
own little circle for conspicuous talents,
my home is all and more than could
wieh; and as the fourteenth of February
again approaches recalling the happiest
event OF my life, with what different feel
ings do I greet it from when. ten wears
ago, sat in my lonely lodgings, think
ing sadly of my Valentines Days. of