The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-02-23
MY VALENTINE.

Valentines day, and am sitting in the
bay-window of my front room in the
little semi-detached house which is now
my home. The little maid has laid the
breakfast things, but it is early, and
sit on the horsehair sofa in the window,
looking out for the postman.
Not that his coming this morning has
any romantic interest for me- Those
days OF romance are past and gone.
| am now arrived at the sober age of
thirty-five. and it is time to have done
with such folly. And yet. as sit here.
and the postman delays his coming, my
mind wanders back TO other Valentines
days long ago, when it was q matter of
such deep interest to me.
One fourteenth of February in particu-
lar remember, ten-let me see, sixteen
years ago it was, How the years fly |!
and how short time it seemsl Those
few bright years of a woman's life seem
to go by magic, and when they are gone
what remainsp Always at one time or
other an aching sense that they are
gone, and sometimes, alasl the knoWl-
edge that she is doomed to loneliness
for the years to come. l felt that at
one time myself, but / am used to it
now.
At thirty-five these romantic regrets
should be done with. And especially
when one lives the life of daily Cover
ness (as | have done for some year
past), the realities of life press too con-
stantly and too unplt ssntly on ones
mind to leave room for day-dreams.
But on the fourteenth of February
Just referred TO my governess life had
not yet begun. i had then as fair
future before me as most young girls OF
my acquaintance, with equal chances of
an advantageous and happy marriage,
and a life of independence. At that
time l was on visit to some old
friends, the Coventrys.
The family consisted of father, moth
er and two daughters-iine, hearty,
good-looking girls, tall, strong and high
spirited. In that respect rather con-
trast to myself, for was small. suiet-
hammered, and (as was painfully con-
scious) rather plain in appearance. They
saw plenty of company, for their father.
'Sqnire Coventry as he was called, kept
a most hospitable house; and, especially
curing the winter, the house was con-
tinualy filled with young people and
amusement ofall kinds was the order of
the day.
In most of these amusenents l took a
part, and though ] had neither health
nor animal spirits equal to nv Young
friends, their kindness and heartiness
made everything pleasant. They had a
most especial fondness for practical
Joking (I mean a harmless kind), par
ticularly the younger one, Kate, who
was ably assisted in this line by her
cousin, Charles Braintree, who CON
stantly formed one of the party.
Kate and Charley were in every kind
OF scapade-companions in mirth, and
frequently companions in misfortune,
when the evil effects of their Joking
came home to their own door.
WhAle was at the Coventrys we at
tended a village church close by, where,
the rector being absent, there ofiiciated
at the time a curate who had lately
come to the place. He was tall, slight
mar, rather good-looking; but he had a
tully-stilted, ,self-conscious manner,
which quite did away with the prepos-
sessing effect of his appearance. / at
first attributed it to conceit, afterward,
when | knew him hetter, to shyness.
He seldom came 10 the house, although
the CoventrYs quickly made his ac
duaintance, and pressed him TO 90 so,
but invitations Of all kinds he refused.
During my stay, however, be gradual
ly acquired the habit OF walking home
with US from church, our road lying
partly in the same direction; be would
part with us at the park-gates. with the
stifIest OF bows. refusing all entreaties
to enter, and proceed to his lodgings
ip the village.
By degrees his visits 10 the house be-
came more frequent, and of course the
change was attributed to me. | could
not help becoming cOnsciOust hat during
these Sunday walks his place was gem
orally at my 81 e; and / suffered much
from the sly looks and mui tered remarks