Louisiana capitolian., 1880-09-11
HER FIRST VALENTINE.

iaht nti Det. III eafLN winter. b"tIt
many weeks had passed, death visited
us, and became an orphan For many
years lad hsrd struggle with the
world ior Subsistence. buta last found
home that was, IN some respects, con
genial, | vas called to be nursery gov
crueSs Of two children. TIM mothcriesS
twin daughters Of Mr.. Melville, an emi-
nrnt lawyer, who lived III al superb villa
near the metropolis. Ihc uursery vas
a grand room, with costly furniture and
lovely pictures. There We're wide, pleas
an windows, arched at tbd top, and in
them deep scRt., IN which he children
and ,cysel: frequently sat, noticing tic
beautiful garden and gorgeous land
scape. There was 4 stately fhousekeeDcr
in The mansion, who navIr seemed 50
happy as VIXEN .ne was falling in lavish
praise Of Mr.. Melville. He liaA lost his
wife some seven years before tlIe time
ol my arrival Tie past year he had
been absent " Europe. dnd was eX-
peeted IN apou, q month IL return.
One day all oi Us si5tingby the win
dow, We we're sarpr ,eA at the Sudden
Naad unexpected appearance oi Mr. Mel. |
vile. 4 noise an' nubSnh rnsued and |
)jttlc Louise, ii ;hr miAs! II /, cried:
"ob, papa here is orr tc aeher kiss
he, 1etr papa, we love her ever so
much, ..g
| was 50 confused coIdd hot even
look up
"IasI! my dear! 54il he house
kceper IN a Strange voice /; gentlemen |
only kiss their little daushters.n Then, ,
addressing Mr.. Melville, she said II |
yentDred to engage th3 Young person |
Oh good recommendations. She has been |
very faithful, aud Matte and Louise
seem to love her dearly. Celia, look
up; this is Mr. Melville.
Raising my head shyly, I.cuoouutercd
'N" dark, shining eyes bcaming down
nron NE. As turned away, caught
sight Of the bcusekeepets face, and il
turned my blood TO ice, for it was fNll
OF malice. Later learned IN ur,;.r-
stand i,
J soon l"St NY f7n'4itJ in greeting
Nj Melville, and could sneak without
st"mmeFins. He would frequently :
come INTO the presence of thc children {
md myself, and take interest in their ,
lessons and play.spells, :
These blissful happy Years fed rap /.
ids J idolizcd The cIf'drt,i.. and had n
Their love. The hou,eke4 4per seemed
constantly to watch me. atltctiuo, how. .
ever, 10 he my friend and counselor f
Her advice 10 me was 10 .e,yorn of NJ, @
Melville, and she occasionally deo]t ou, $
hints and destinations. .....,. ii
Sud3rniy the secret of her morney 5
lawned on me- She WAS ic,on. and "
was IN love with Mr.. Melville herself !,
'"c ""S sue had become particularly
InSry with me, and could restrain her.
self no longer. c
VII ~" th'hk yourself q paragon Of ~
beauty she cried; you think youy Il
bright eyes will cusnarc him. How dare IL
'ou aspire 50 high. Do Won suppose c;
o"Iish girl, that he loves you! On thc 81
ontrary, he sees that you ARE infatuote1 al
With him and despscs YOU Ii
"ns' 'heh one OF the house maids open. :,
It the door and handed me h LARGE on u
cIope, which, she said, had come from VI
Il" postoiiice that moment I onencd III
with some surprise, for knew no one ~
u" WHOM I" expect a letter 4 pic 49,
'irr, coarsely covered. was inside, ~
." that the rough wood cut, painted ''
glarins colors, represented a ri,l
nm one OF the most vulgar faces had -"
yer seen, but with hair the cyoct b,e pc
my own standing admirably before o"
lrror. Under the picture WAS written III
Eeha's portrait" A moct;nc r,,n, oe
tcryup,rl mo Tho H.. ""s" all
'p,',' NV "e holIsekccper had >,
'cn looking over my shoulder sho 10
H. i give you joy OF my valen,;u, P''
KNOW who sent it; i. was Mr. Ma, vi
lie he tod me your airs needed t,l. '''
= down. ed
'' ",''' le'l from my trembling ~,
gers. lrnshed wildly from the room ''''
II when reached my own apartueut ''o
ell writing to tie floor !"
H. one
Fionrs after kissed the children nc ,.uo
y slept, and then yathcrc ID toccth,, !
cw ncedtul things and waited rest. nm,
sly for the moonlight hour 70 arriv. ,rr
length it came, and stole no;s.l.s.,,. 9, .,
WI stairs and left at tl. .erv,,ts, ,,,,
n at the side. An impulse led ma to vo,, u
around to the front of 4, g hons, +o 1;,.