The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-02-27
lfrom the Massachusetts, Ploughiuan.J
ACNT MABEL.
y Story OF u Valentine.
~ ELIZA 4. MoRIARlTY.

never received Dlit one valentine III
my life" said Aunt Mabel. quietly.
"Oh, Aunt Mabel You are joking!
Kate aud Minnie, do you think il posi-
hle that one of Ewes daughters could
dance thro' her spring, glide gaily thro'
her summer, and arrive at the verge oi
her autumn, with hut one heart throb OF
pleasure at the reception of solitary
valentine, sent 10y so,nr faithless
SWAMI"
The color flushed for moment over
the pale face of Aunt Mabel. and slight
trembling of the lips might have shown
one more observant than her youthful
questioner, that underneath that calm
exterior lay hidden deeper feeling.
Aunt Mabel was seated near window in
IN apartment luxuriantly appointed. and
her eXquisitor was standing before her
examining valentine ri exquisite finish.
Kate and Minnie, her Younger sisters,
were similarly engaged. Various were
the ordinations of delight that burst
from their lips III they drew forth from
their lace envelopes the pretty tritles
over which they blushed and smiled with
girlish pleasure.
Aunt Mabel Was usually quiet. Per-
haps that day, If all others, revived some
painful memory oi which her happy
nleces were unconscious. Excited over
their valentines, they certainly did not
notice her detection. \ silence followed,
during which May Derwent read for the.
twentieth time the rhymcd etfusion adj
dressed "To my Valentine" At length
that young lady looked mp, speaking
more seriously now:
But surely, aunt, You who ar, Vet 81
handsome must have had more than one
admirer. What kind of lovers were the
beaux of twenty-five years ago? Why,
il is the prettiest and easiest way in the
world To 10: lady know she is admired,
and they say that Saint Valentine himself
looks down Indignantly Oh the lover who
fails To send one of these tender missives
on this his natal day. Now, aunt, do
confess that Won have had more than
one cavalier at your feet. know that |
have heard father say more than once
that you remained single from choice,
and that you preferred being
IAN old maid, smiled Aunt Mable,
seeing her ueice hesitate. Go on, May:
1 am far from being offended nj the IT'LL. "
=" All old maid, then, sail her neice
give heard father say that you would
sooner live forgotten and ,he forlorn,
like Tenuyson's hapless maiden, than
marry where Your heart Was not en-
gagged.
"Your father spokr the truth, and |
should advise my nieces To remain single
forever rather than we'd where they did
not love truly and faithfully"
"Ol | maid, indeed laughed buc-eyed
Kat, making a deep courtesy in mock
revere. Thank YOU, dear mlntie, for
the advice.
"Old maids :" echoed Minnie, waving
valentine on which sparkled frosted
silver hearts and cupids. Come, Kate;
mamma is waiting to take us To drive in
the park" And the ight-hearted girls
hurried away.
May had not yet changed her position,
and laying her valentine On the work
table beside her aunt, she spoke in II
pleading tone:
Have You forgotten, aunt, that you
promised me some time ago that when
an opportunity occurred yod would give
me an account of your early life? iou
often tell me that | am too thoughtless.
Perhaps | shall learn some beautiful
truth from yOur eXperlancc that may
guide me through the unknown trials Of
the future.
So Aunt Mabel allowed herself to be
led to the low c0uch drawn up before the
fire, that burned cheeriully behind the
polished CRATE, and with her niece nest
ling down lovingly beside her she com
mpnced the recital so eagerly desired.
Many, many years ago my mother
was left widow with two young chill
dren, your father and myself. Our pow
rrty came suddenly upon us. My father
was one of New York's wealthy mer-
chants, hut successive losses and i'm tx
travagant style of living soon diminished
his means. Anxiety If mind and depres-
sion Of spin its hurried him into an early
grave, leaving his little family without
any means Of support. Remorseless
creditors had no sympathy for the widow
and orphans, and my mother was too
proud To seek aid from the summer
friends who had 50 often partaken Of hcl
hospitality. Forgotten and unknown
sbe rented two wretclIed rooms in mis-.
cradle locality. Here she gained scantS
subsistence for herself and little ones 10y
Tuvearied toll with her needle. Fol
years We struggled on with barely enough
10 sustain u.s. Young as We were, w
Rslt the Grunge III
and chiefly on our poor mothers account
1 can hardly bear 10 speak Of such thing
now. We remembered well our elegant
home III the suburbs, the luxury that
surrounded us, and the servants that
came and went at our bidding. NJ
wonder the sal change threw shadow
over our young lives, hut even that darl
cloud, 30 long hanging over us, had it'
silver lining, and sorrow and want unitet
us in a love that consccrated our lives Il
acts of mutual help and sympathy. How
often afterwards did recall my brother
words as we hurried on our way to schoo
together:
"a Mabel, he would say, poor moth
.r IL toiling for us now, 30 that We ma,
not grow up in ignorance. / feel tina
when ] grow up shall be able TO Civ
her and You, my sister, pleasant home
and money enough to supply all you
needs.
ellis words sounded prophetic then
and had faith in his ability TO accOmplis
his loving intentions.
"Tinle passed ON. At the age Of siA
teen nv brother was taken into one {
the largest importing houses in the cit,
This was our first step of adyancemef
toward better fortune. His PROMOTE
followed by rapid degrees, and possess
ing fine business talents and strict il
tegrity, he won the confidence and ester
of his employers. Before four years i
fulfilled his promise and gave his moth'
aud sister comfortable home. Blu
Alas, our poor mother was now col
tirlned invalid, and seldom left her room
I was constantly with her, and as
gazed upon her altered features, / fe
that could never repay all that l owe
10 her love and care. To look ut her,
hear her voice was happiness enough Il
ne. All, May, l had no thoughts
"a,entines and love then. Living
stIct retirement, / had few gentlem,
scouaintances, and tho my brother
friends were pleasant and entertainin
there was not one among them that
Another year passed with little chang
aud the day that my brother attained
msiority he was taken into the firm %