Stevens County tribune., 1880-02-19

''What would he do with it9 Put it in
the fire, expect, and never let any one
hear OF it. He would feel it an insult.
"Mr. Bargilll' exclaimed Kate sud-
DENY looking up from her work of di-
recting and stamping envelopes. "Why
of course he shall have one. How stu
pid of me to torgetl It's important
though. l must take time to think of it.
OF course we know who the sender will
be.
She glanced at me as she said this.
kate, please do not l said, imploring-
ly, blushing up to the roots of my hair,
for l knew that I was doomed.
ado not what?' replied Kate. "Oh!
by-the-by, Ethel you're sure to receive
some this year-one at least"
"Yes,' broke in Charley; Ss'directed in
a very stiff, upright hand. Now who
would think that such very modest, re-
firing person would write such a very de-
cided hand? You know what | mean,
Miss Vane?'
So the remarks flew round, and / knew
that atremonstrance was in vain, and that
Mr.. Bargill and myself were to be two
of the victims on Valentines day. Not
only that, but greatly feared that they
intended sending either valentine to
me in his name, or, far worse, one from
me to him.
For some reason this latter idea was
torture to me. Of course what I received
myself was matter of little consequence.
I should know whom to thank for it; but
If only could know how they meant to
make use OF my unfortunate name in
playing their jokes upon him.
Some time wore on, and / cOmforted
myself by thinking, that Mr.. Bargill,
come what might, would never believe
that had sent him valentine, more es-
pecially such one as feared they would
send him.
"It will be as Charley said," thought.
she will most likely put it in the fire,
and no one will be,a whit the wiser"
And l caught myself wondering
whether 1t would make him shy of our
company, and whether he would cease
the walks from church, SC. And [ must
allow that the idea Vexed me.
Chow very tiresoms they are!'' l said
to myself. ''And what bad taste it is to
play these jokes on people," forgetting
| lOW O1lCA AdN LILY SCAl
been a party to jokes of the kind.
At last Valentines morning came
There was much excitement round the
breakfast table when the post-bag, full
to bursting, was handed IN.
waited patiently for my share of its
contents. They were three. FIRST let
ter from home in my mothers hand
writing; secondly, large document dl-
rected in the stiff, upright hand 1 had
been led to expect; thirdly, letter, di
rected in handwriting perfectly un
known to me. I opened the second men
toned first.
"Now Ethel, let us hearr' assailed me
on every side.
That's the writing! I knew it would
t come?' shouted Charley.
! "Thank you, am much obliged to
you all!' 1 replied "It is admirably
written; but this one is much better done
| as I spoke l held up the third men
toned, written in the unknown hand
''That large is too elaborate. Mr.. Bar
gill, I am sure, would never send such s
tlowery composition as that. "Ncw, thi
: is sober, and to the point"
: had just read it, and was surprised
} to find only short, simple. earnest offe
| of marriage-not much like valentin,
} except that the writer slightly referred
' tothe character of the day as a kind of a
, pology for addressing me. It was signet
only ~. B."
Y ''1 see,'' SAID I. You thought by send
: ing me two that should certainly b
: caught by one of them.
e This last one is certainly the best
Some of your work, I suspect, Connie. I
a is not in Kate's style.
4 Constance protested her innocence
: but in vain. Indeed, general choru
! of disclaimer was raised round the table
Y but simply ignored it, put the two val
: entlnes in my pocket, and began to rea
}, my mothers letter. This was of anothe
o kind. My father was seriously Ill, M
r mother wanted me home directly; an
Y the next day saw me on my homewar
journey, depressed at the thought of m
d fathers illness, and full of regrets {
d leaving my friends.
il Then began a season of calamity an
ir trial. My father died after fortnight
Illness, leaving myself, a brother, an
t. sister almost wholly unprovided for.
7, Thus began my governess life, which
f. am thankful tc say, has so tar been
d success, that am now able to live
/, comfort and to put by mite for rain
e day. have not spent much in trave
Is ing, though my kind friends, the Cover
le trys Sc Mt me many invitations. PerhaI
I am little proud, for I think coul
Is not mix in their society with just Il
Ie same pleasure as in former days. Hoy
le ever they are unchanged to me, and a
ce ways will be, I feel sure.
ne
The clock has just struck nine. VIII
J. a time I have sat here Illuminating Q
ne past times and the postman is not y
t. come. Valentines day-that is the reast
rt of the delay, no doubt!
st Here he comes round the corner, b
#, what time he stops at each door! II
IT, five little dwellings to be visited befo
he gets here, will take, should thin
e. another quarter of an hour, at this ia
he Of going. Well, you will not be detaint
OF long here, my man. Sarah shall bril-
10 the breakfast.
r. Another ten minutes, he Is here Sar
he put two letters in my hand, and stran
ch coincidence2 one of them is in the han
se writing of my old friend, Constance c
,st ventry.
Tx Constance Braintree, she is now, s
to married Charlie two years after my Ii
ed visit; and bright, merry Kate is dea
so My second letter, being evidently a bu
US ness one, claims nay first attention. 1t
od from the mother Of my eldest pupil.
| a is going abroad and wishes my charge
ras accompany her. MY three other pup
I'd, are at present in scarlet fever. Ny har
er, will be empty what shall I do9 Lo