The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1880-04-01
of the last Valentines day she had

spent in America.
The ride in the moonlight, through
the keen, frosty air, enveloped in buffalo
robes, and tucked away so carefully that
she could scarcely move her arms !;
watched over by Il calm, quiet fellow,
who anticipated her slightest wish, IN d
over whose quiet face smile stole
every little while in answer to her pretty
little sayings.
Then the little note in the morning,
brought by the hired man, from the
farmhouse on the hill.
But over this bright picture shadow
fell-a shadow of uncertainty and un-
rest.
Rose could not tell why this picture
seemed so dismal to her this evening,
unless it was because John Allen was
so sober and old-fashioned; and, some
how, she was tired of such prosy tel-
lows.
Now Fred Haywood was bright and
cheerful, and so polite! She was posi-
tive he loved her better than matter-of-
fact John Allen did. And so her eyes
took softer look, and brighter glow
came over the fair young face as she
built castles in the air of the near future,
when she should have the pleasure of
saying Eyes" to the question she longed
to have asked her by Fred.
But somehow, as the evening shadows
crept in, and the picture of that far r-awa7
Valentine eve was o'ershadowed with
the somber hucs of John Aliens ghost,
the present picture and the castle build
ing seemed not half as pleasant rs. the
castles builtin the far-away farmhouse
among the hills.
Mr.. Mathews looking on in silence.
He knew the worth of her old friend,
and was positive that he would attain
some high position worthy of his energy
and application, and would never have
stood between him and Rose if he had
found she had loved him as she was
capable of loving. But this new friend,
this bright, cheerful, dashing Fred Hey
wood, seemed more suited to Roses
taste, and 50 he looked on, watching the
end, fearing to give his influence 0n
either side.
Valentines Day came, freighted with
soft winds and golden sunbeams, so diff
ferent from the long ago frosty day
among the hills of Massachusetts. In
stead OF the little note, in q great, ugly
yellow envelope, brought by the hired
man, and soiled by his dusty bands, two
beautiful, filmy, lace envelopes, en-
bossed with roses and honeysuckles,
were handed Der, on silver tray.
Rose openedthe first, and found moth
ing within but simple line:
"Will you accept me for your Valentine?
JOHN ALLEN"
Rose sat speechless for moment, gaz-
ing at the familiar writing of long ago,
listening for familiar footstep that she
thought must follow this writing, won.
dering where the writer could be at
present, and what he would say at the
c11ange III rrerv -..--------"-~-----E =
After many wonderments and mis-.
givings she stilled the beatings OF her
heart, and the half-regretted thoughts
of the past, and opened the other.
A beautiful picture of Fred met her
gaze, and beneath it, in his bold hand
writing, "Your Valentine" Then a
nice little note, sealed with his own seal.
She sat for a long time toying with it
before she could make up her mind to
open it, and then as she gazed upon the
page her eyes seemed to dilate, and her
face flushed with anger. Throwing the
picture on the floor, she stamped upon
it, saying, "How dare he write in this
manner about me?" until the picture
was crushed to atoms; then, seating
herself on the sofa, she burst into tears,
and cried until she heard her fathers
footsteps in the library couple of hours
after.
She went into the room, and seating g
herself on his knee, held the note before
MS eyes.
"What i, it, Rose? What is the
matter?"
Read it, papa, and see how fortu-
nate I've BEEN"
Mr.. Mathews took up the note and
read:
"DEAR AL: Send me five hundred
dollars as soon rs you receive this, for I
am dead broke
You'll have it back in few weeks,
for the little country girl is dead in
love with me, I'm sure, and is only wait
ing to be asked.
"I'll make it ali right with her to-
morrow, rs it is Valentines day, and
in few weeks have grab at the old
mans money-bags.
"Mr. Mathews thinks I'm ali hun
kew and I think he is about right