The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-03-12


cred around Mrs. 0'Donohue's hospitable
table, and devoured biscuits, cold ham,
pickles, peanuts and cake, and drank
vast quantities of lemonade and tea with
much gossiping and giggling. Mrs.
ODonohue thought they never would
stop handing her their plates and tum-
blers and cups; but at last, to her great
satisfaction, they did, and the opportuni-
ty for which she had been impatiently
waiting arrived. And pushing the tea
table back against the wall, she called
out, as though the idea had just occurred
to her, Bridget, dear, perhaps your
friends would like to see your valen-
tine" ~
can did you git a valentine9 Oh,
you sly thing, to, say nothing about
itP said Kitty Crowley.
"Is it comical onew asked Mary
Lee.
"Bring it out this minnit!" commanded
Annie Pheeny.
And as Miss O'Donohue pretended to
blush and hesitate, all the girls, shouted
in chorus, "The valentine! the valen-
tinew
And at last, with an air of great pride
and Importance, the valentine was pro-
duced. Its extreme beauty and costli-
ness for moment struck tine group OF
girls dumb with establishment. And
then there was another chorus OF
"SplendidW Beautifully "Ihgant!"
"Must have cost tin dollars at the very
lastep "Who sint it to you, BridgetT"
"I amt sure," said Bridget, with a
simper and her favorite toss ofsthe head,
"but l mostly thinks | know. A young
gintleman wild beautiful black eyes and
a big dimint pin, that lives in illigant
house near the bakers. He sits in the
windy an smiles at me livery day whin
I goes for Bread"
"An' You'll be marryin' him some fine
day, an forgettin' all your old comrades, "
said Kitty Crowley.
a"rll not be forgettin' thim," said
Bridget, with emphasis.
"But you'll be forsakin' thimg sugges'
ted Annie Pheenv.
"Shure an l suppose he'll make me, "
replied Miss ODonohue. "Pd have tc
'sociate wild me own class thin. But I'd
spake to ye all whin Imet ye," she added
in patronizing manner.
"Indade an Pm obliged to you fol
your great condescension," said Annie.
"An' SO are,all the rest of the gurrils
Pm sure" joined in Mrs. Crowley, Rates
mother. "You allus thought yourself
above them, Bridget dear, but faith!
niver could see the differ"
"Me child's shuparior style an beauty
is the differ" announced Mrs. ODono
hue; an so I tell you, Mrs. Crowley
ma'am."
'1 don't take in washin' to give shupa
rior style to me Kate" retorted Mrs
Crowley.
CAN no dacent girl would want style
when her mother had to find it for hel
in the shtubs," declared Kate. "But
l suppose the washtubs will be burned
whin Biddy"-purposely using the OBJ
noxious name-"gits the young gintle
man. an lives in the iliigant house nea
the bakers"
"Indade, an they will, Kitty Crow
ley," said Bridget, her voice trembling
and her earrings jingling, "an' Everything
else belongin' to this low place; an al
for the low, common, jealous folks I've
been forced to know here, I'll wash my
hands of them for iver and iver."
Just then there came loud knock al
the door.
"Maybe it's black eyes and dimant pir
comm to see his BRIDE" said Mary Lee
eff it is, yon needn't introduce US, Bidd,
dear. We won't be. offended"
But no young gentleman met Mrs
O'Donohue's gaze as she opened the door
The postman confronted her. II left
valentine in box here this morning,
he said.
"You did," replied Mrs. O'Donohue, il
faint voice.
"It was mistake" he went on, hur
riedly; "and I've nearly lost my situation
on account Of 1.-THE young fellow tha
sent it raised such row in the office. IT
for Miss Bridget ODonovan, who lives a
the same number in the next street. Be
ing used to bringing letters here, and tn
names heing so much alike, l nike
things little"
And, sure enough, there was the direc
ton on the cover of the box as plain a
could be, though Bridget and her mothe
(the latter for very good reason. how
ever) had neither of them noticed it.
: Mrs. ODonohue handed the valentin
over in perfect silence. But as soon a
the postman departed such Babel a
there was.
I "sure, Biddy, twill be too bad if h
dontt let you 'seciate with us. Dom
, burn the wash-tubs yet awile, me deal
y l thought that ring little too gentee
: for any of my lady's fingers. Smile a
} us from the windy of the big house whil
we go to the bakers anyhow, that's
darlint."
"Ill be thankful to yez all if yell
lave Inc house this instant, and niver in
ter it again." said Mrs. O'Donohue, in