Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1881-01-27
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 l
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-6ve, 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 10 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 seems! These
few bright years OF womsn's lite seem
to go by magic. and when they are gone
what remainsP Always at one time OF
other an aching sense that they are
gone, and sometim 8, alasi the knowl-
edge that she is doomed to loneliness
for the years to come i felt that at
on7 time myself, but / am used to il
now.
At thirty-five these romantic regrets
should be done with. And especially
when one lives the life of daily COVER
Less (as / have done for some years
pasD, the realities of life press too con-
stantly and too unpl santly 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. ! had then as fair a
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 was on a visit to some old
friends, the Coventrys.
The family consisted of father, moth
er and two daugbters-nne. hearty,
good-looking girls, tall, strong and high
spirited. In that respect ther con-
trast to myself. for was small. uiet-
hammered, and Gas was painfully con-
scious rather plain in appearance. They
saw plenty of company, for their father.
Squire Coventry as he was called, kept
most hospitable house; and, especially
during the winter, the louise was cen
tinually Fl led with young people and
amusement of all kinds was the order of
the day.
In most of these amusem ents took a
part, and though ] had neither health
nor animal spirits equal to my young
friends, their kindness and heartiness
made everything pleasant They had q
most especial fondness fer practical
joking O mean a harmless kind), par
: eticularly 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 escapade-companions in mirth, and
frequently companions in misfortune,
when the evil effects of their Joking
came home to their own door.
While was at the Coventrys we at
tended village church close by, where,
the rector being absent, there oficiated
at the time q curate who had lately
come to the place. He was a tall, slight
mar, rather eood-looking; but he had q
painiully-stilted, self conscious manner,
which quite did away with the prepos-
sessing effect of his appearance. at
first attributed it 10 conceit, afterward,
when | knew him better, to shyness.
He seldom came to the house, although
the Coventrys quickly made his &C.
quaintance, and pressed him to do so,
but invitations of all kinds he refused.
During my stay, however. he gradual
ly acquired the habit OF walking home
with us from church, our road lying
partly in the same direction; he would
part with US at the participates, with the
stiffest of bows. refusing all entreaties
to enter. and proceed to his lodgings
in the village.
By degrees his visits to the house be.
came more fri quent, and of course the
change was attributed to me. could
not help becoming conscious hat during
these Sunday walks his place was gen
orally at my 81 e; and / suffered mucf
from the sly looks and mu tered remark.
Of which / was the subject. Our con
versatiOn on these occasions was of thl
primmest and most demure. Sometimes
alter silent walk oi two or three min
utes, feeble request to carry my prayer
book. and that yielded to, q few remark
on the weather, and so on, and we wer
already at our journeys end; neverthe
less this was sufficient food for mischief
loving friends to found joke upon
As to Mr.. Bargill himself, ne VIA
fair game His conscious. conceited
and yet awkward and bashiul manner
made him, must confess, most tempt
ing subject; and while he had quicknes
enough to see that in some way 10
.ssa6s <,-TSzssszsss s $