The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-01-27

bined to make him UNDERGO torture
when in my friends society, and verify
believe he fled to me (quite, sedate and
harmless as | was) as a refuge from
their sallies. Whether that were so or
no know rot, but by degrees | became
quite used to his society. and from toll
Grating got to like it and to miss him
when he did not come; and when the
Jokes ragged, l invariably took his part.
Valentines day drew near, and of
course Kate Coventry was full of
bus mess. There were valentines of all
kinds to be dispatched and expected
In return. Numerous "hoaxes" de-
signed for particular friends, and the
plots and schemes rs to places of post.
age and disguise of hand writing, were
truly wonderful.
What iun it would be to send val
entine to Mr.. Bareilll" exclaimed
Charley. What would he DO with ite
Put it into the fire, | expect. and never
let any one hear Of it. He would feel it
an Insult"
=" Mr.. Bargilir exclaimed Kate, sud-
denly boxing up from her work of di-
rect'ng and stamping envelopes. "Why,
OF course, he shall have one. How
stupid OF me to forgetl It's important,
| though. ] must take time to tdink OF
it, or course we know who the sender
W Ii ber'
She glanced at me as she said this.
Kate, please do not" / said, im-
| ploriDgly, blushing up to the roots of
my hair, for knew that | was doomed
Do not what ?" replied Kate. "Oh!
by.the- bye. Ethel, you re sure to receive
some this year-one at least"
Yes" broke in Charley. Directed
| in a very stiff. upright hand. Now, who
would think that such a very modest,
retiring person wOu d write such a very
decided hand You know who mean,
Miss Vane P"
So the remarks flew round, and
knew that remonstrance was vain, and
that MIR. Bargill and myself were to be
two OF the victims on Valentines day.
Not only that, but | greatly feal ed that
they intended senGing either valen.
tine to Inc in his name, or, far worse,
one from me TO him.
For some reason this latter idea was
torture 10 me. Or course what l re-
ceived myself was matter of little
consequence. | should know wrom to
thank tor 1t; but if | only could know
how they meant to make use of my un-
torlu ate name in playing their jokes
upon him.
so time woIe on, and l comforted
myself by thinking that Mr.. BArgiiI.
&c me what might, would believe that /
nad sent him a valentine, more espe-
cially such Il one as l f. ared they would
5end him.
1t will be as Charley said," I
bought. "He will most likely put it
IN the fire. and no one will bea Whit the
wiser"
And then I caught myself wondering
whether it would make him shy of our
.omp&ny, and whether he would cease
the walks from church, etc. And i
must allow that he idea veXed me.
How very tiresome they arem SAID
10 myself. And what bad taste it is
oplay these j"kes on people" forgetting
Tor the moment how often | had my
,elt been u party to jokes OF The kind.
At last Valentines morning came.
There WAS Il uch excitement round the
breakfast table when the post bag, full
70 bursting, was banded in.
! waited patiently Tor my share of its
con ents. They were three. First. a
lelter from home in II y mothers writ
ng; stcJndly, n large document, oi
rected in tue stiff, upright hand had
heen led to expect; thirdly, II letter di-
co.ed in hand writing perfectly un
snown to ne. opelel Tic second
Il ent:oned first.
Now. Ethel, let US hear" assailei
Il C on every side.
"Tnats the writing! knew it would
con e!' shouted Charley.
Thank you, l am much obliged to
you ALI" | reolied. "It is admirably
written; but this one is much better
done"-as spoke he'd up the third
n entioret, writ en- in tbe unknown
hand That lars one is too elaborate.
Mr.. Bargill, l am sue, would never
so1d such a fowery composition as
that. Now, this is sober, and to the
point"
to find only a short, simple, earnest
offer OF marriage-not much like a
valentine, except that the writer slight
ly I, ferred to the character OF the day
IS ii kind of apology for addressing me.
1t was signed only u. b
81 see," l said. You thought by
sending me two that l should certainly
be caught by one of them. This last
one Is certainly the best. Some of your
work, / suspect, Connie. 1t is not in
KatIe's style"
Constance protested her innocence;
but in vain. Indeed, q general chorus
disclaimer was raised round the table;
but l simply ignored it, put the two
valentines in my pocket, and began to
read my mothers letter. This was of
another kind. My father was seriously
i'll. My mother wanted me home
directly; and the next day found me on
my homeward journey, oppressed the
thought OF my fathers illness, aud full
OF regrets at leaving my friends.
Then began a season of calamity and
trial. My father died, after fortnight's
illness, leaving myself, a brother and
sister almost unprovided tor.
The following year my sister, who
had been engaged for sone time, was
married. My mother died soon after
ward, and was lett alone-almost alb
solutely alone, my brother having gone
abroad to seek his fortune, and chose
rather to seek an independence for my
self than to accept kindness from sister.
who was not in aflluent circumstances
Thus began my governess lile, which,
| am thankful to say, has been such a
succ, IS that l am low able 10 live in
comfort ano to put by mite for rainy
day. / have not scent much in travel
ing, though ny kind friends, the Cow
entry's, sent me many invitations. Per-
haps l am II little proud, for l think
could not mix in their society with just
! the same pleasure as in former days.
| How ever, they are unchanged to me, and
always will be, feel sure,
The clock had just struck nine. What
a time | have sat here Illuminating on
past time! and tie postman is not come
vet. Valentines day that is The reason
| of the delay, no douot.