Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-03-11
"All's Well That Ends We'll" "

"A valentineP" cried Julia, coming
upon the scene Just as the letter futtered
to the floor, and picking it up and read
ing it. "a mighty queer valentine.
must say! An outrageous one-an in
sulting one. / can't think what Osric
lovers In each others arms. But let
Julia or Osric say what they would,
never was valentine so welcome before
as the letter that came to Evelyn on
that snowy February morning, and no
gilded and embossed wreaths of roses
and Cupids surrounding little looking
glasses, set there to show the reader the
smiling face of the writer's true-love,
ever told half the good news that this
did, insulting and outrageous as Julia
called it when she spoke of it to Mrs
Black-singular and unheard of, as Mrs.
Black called it when she spoke of it to
Mrs. White.
Lovers, however, might well have
sent the standard valentines in all their
glory to Evelyn, for she was one of
the sc sweet brunette beauties that they
tell us are to be found nowhere but in
America, and that touch all hearts
alike; the tea rose-tinted skin; the hazel
eyes; the hair just singed, as one might
say, from brown to chestnut by the sun !;
the 1.-THE and rounded figure; the dainty
little foot; the whole face lighting with
its smile rs il sunset flame shone over
it. and never half so lovely as in tears.
But this beauty of hers had hard
time of it in all those things that
heighten and diminish effect, for, n poor
little teacher on half-paid lessons in
few houses, and Obliged to dress herself
and her mother, and pay druggists and
doctors bills and other little incidentals,
she never had such thing as n com
plete outfit at once. She had been the
happy owner of but one silk dress in her
life, and that had been turned and
turned again, turned wrong side out,
turned bottom side up, and was still
doing service rs her best. in condition,
she was wont to say, that would have
brought her premium for patchwork
at any county fair. There never was
any one so unlucky as me-" she said.
And do like pretty things so! But
always, if my bonnet is Just to nv
mind. my shoes are sure TO he shabby,
and by the time | get new cloak my
gown is sight to see. Why haven't
we any rich uncle in No Mans Land,
mother mine? Why doesn't the last
will ana testament of some old lover
of yours turn up, and bless us with the
wealth no longer of any use to him?"
g never had any lover but your dear
father" the mother would reply; and
then, sitting in the freight, she would
go over the old, old story of her early
love, in which, although Evelyn knew
it by heart. she always seemed to find
something new.
1--WE have n pretty good time. don't
we, darling little womanP" Evelyn
would say, as they made ready for bed,
still by the re-light only-"we two to-
gether-if Osric is as close as n nut. and
Julia doesn't dare say her souls her
ownP"
''Ob yes,n her mother would sigh,
doubtfully. It's-it's-- ] don't COM
plain. suppose it's well enough now;
but the future! Oh, Evelyn, my dear,
IL you should lose your classes, If you
should fall i'll, just think what It would
he to be entirely dependent on Osricl
He would make poor Julia's life bur-
len tn her."
He does now"
He would make US feel the bitter
ness of every morsel of bread we eat"
Well. he does that now, too"
No; for your parlor- dusting and
china-washing and brieEcopying, and
music and painting lessons TO his chill
dren, are some equivalent. He would
turn away the other girl, and you would
have the whole work TO do.n
Well, it wouldn't kill me. Don't
let US borrow trouble, little mother. I
know " hat you mean, and I'd rather do
all the work forever than marry Mr..
Bryce"
don't see how you can be so
wrong headed - murmured the anxious
little mother. "Tm sure Mr. Bryce"
weighs $50"
"Well. what If he doesf How fool
ish y, are! He's very"
Gross eyed"-with her worst grim
acs.
mot the least that ever was. It's
only little cast that is pecul ar and
pleasant"
And at that Evelyn went off in a peal
Of laughter which she sudden ly checked
On hearing the manly foot OF her
brother-in-law mount the stairs, prob
ably TO inquire the cause Of the commo-
tion, for little went on in his house into
which he did not inquire; and If there
Was one thing more than another that
bIr. Osric Carlsen hated it was the
sound Of Evelyn's laughter. lie had
never liked IL, tn fact, since the day that
ff proposed to her, and his false teeth
came down, and In bis awkward pre-
dHameDt he had struck bracket and
Iils wig came OF, ana her sudden and
lTeprt~sihle laughter had sent him
hastily and indignantly from the loem,
to BE- consoded by Julia, who met him