The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-02-27

for dinner There is the carriage stop
ping Mt the door, md your mother and
sisters have returned from their drive.
"You have not told me all, aunt. I"
Tears glistened in Mays eyes AS she
spoke.
have little more TO say. The sad
sequel can be told in few words. Adele
was married to Major Cotton shortly after
my return hGme." Aunt Mabel sighed
deeply, and after brief pause continued:
"Alas, in one short year after my poor
cousin was laid in her grave, with her
babe beside her. Her death must have
been great blow to her parents, who
did not long survive her."
And Major Cotton, what became Of
him?"
"SOme time after his name was prom
inent among the officers who had won
distinction for military service, and for
what civilization lauds AZ valor. i have
not heard of him since"
"Amt Mabel, do you care for him
vel? ?" asked May earnestly.
At this mOmeut Mrs. Derwent ell
tered, pleasant smile Oh her handsome
face ns she said gayly, ~ have news for
old friend of yours to dine and spend the
evening. Major Cotton, all, ] should
have said Colonel Cotton, for he holds
that rank now. He is on his way to Can
ada where his regiment is quartered."
May listened, her large eyes opening
wider with wonderland something else
besides. Still later in the day that
young lady watched the meeting between
Aunt Mabel and Colonel Cotton, but she
was net surprised ms were her parents at
the formal politeness on either side. No
one indeed, would have suspected that
deep emotion lay hidden under that cold
exterior, and that both throbbing hearts
were young again under the spell of IA
dream that never dies.
The colonel was tall, fine looking he
70, bronzed, handsome and gray, with
manners more sociable and pleasing than
in his younger days. May and he were
soon on the best of terms. She had her
own motives for engaging his attentions
to herself, and during the evening she
drew him aside to table where her aunt
was seated, to all appearances deeply &C.
cupied in overlooking some engravings.
An arch smile fitted over Mays face rs
she said
"Should you like to look at my valen-
tines, Colonel?"
She spoke with that freedom which
beauties of seventeen sometimes assume,
and as she placed them before him, she
added, with another arch smile" Did
you ever send n valentine, colonel?"
Eyes, once" he replied sharply, while
he unconsciously crushed the pretty
tritie he held i'll his hand. But his tor
menter went OH
"Amt Mabel never received but one
valentine, and that was many years ago,
and yet she treasures it as something
sacred"
The pleading look in Aunt Mabel's
eyes silenced her, and had the elderly
lady remained in the room she would
have said no more. But fate willed it
otherwise. The colonel noticed the look
of entreaty accompanied by the blush.
His eyes fondly followed the retreating
form, when May said half penitently:
- can hardly forgive myself for de-
vulging her secret, confided to me this
morning."
"What do Won mean, child ?" the
colonel asked with increasing agitation.
" 1t is too late to retreat now, colonel"
she answered, the arch smile still playing
around her dinpled cheeks. Aunt
Mabel loved the one who sent her that
valentine. But you, yourself must ask
her for an explanation. I've said too
much already"
The colonel did ask for an explanation
that night. The result was that Aunt
Mabel went as happy bride to Canada.