Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1881-01-27

ucllevo n6 AeQ 10 me (qWCe, SaQhte and
harmless as / was) as refuge from
their sallies. Whether that were SO OF
no I know rot, but by degrees / became
quite used to bis society. and from toll
Grating got to like it and to miss him
when he did not come; and when the
jokes ragged, invariably took his part.
Valentines day drew near, and ol
course Kate Coventry was full OF
bus mess. There were valentines of ali
kinds to be dispatched and expected
in return. Numerous Ahoaxesn de-
signed for particular friends, and the
plots and schemes as to places of post
age and disguise of hand writing, were
truly wonderful.
"What fun it would be to send val
entine to Mr.. Bargillp' exclaimed
Charley. What would he do with itP
Put it into the fire, | expect. and never
let any one hear Of it. He would feel it
an Insult
Mr.. Bargili p exclaimed Kate, sud-
denly boxing up from her work of di-
recting and stamping envelopes. why,
of course, he shall have one. How
stupid of me to forget! It's important,
though. | must take time to think oil
it. Of course we know who the sender
W II ber'
She glanced at me as she said this.
:" Kate, please do not" l said, i'm
ploringly, blushing up to the roots of
my hair, for knew that was doomed
Do not what pp replied Kate. s'Oh!
! by-the-by Ethel, you're sure toreceive
some this year-one at least"
Yes,' broke in Charley. Directed
in very stiff. upright hand. Now, who
would think that such a very modest,
retiring person would write such very
decided hand ? You know who l mean,
Miss Vane -
So the remarks few round, and |
knew that remonstrance was vain, and
that Mr.. BargilI and myself were to be
two OF the victims on Valentines day.
Not only that. but l greatly feared that
they intended sending either valen-
tine to Inc in his name, or, Tar worse,
one from me to him.
For some reason this latter idea was
torture to me. OF course what I re-
ceived myself was q matter of little
consequence. l should know whom to
thank for it; but ifI only could know
how they meant to make use of my un-
fortu late name in playing their jokes
upon him.
So time wore on. and / comforted
myself by thinking that Mr.. Bargiu.
come what might, would believe that /
had sent him valentine, more espe-
cially such one as feared they would
send him.
s' 1t will be as Charley said,"
thought. He will most likely put it
IN the fire. and no one will bea whit the
wiser"
And then / caught myself wondering
whether it would make him shy of our
company, and whether he would cease
the walks from church, etc. And /
must allow that The idea vexed me.
How very tiresome they arel'' said
to myself. And what bad taste it is
to play these jokes on people, forgetting
for the moment how often had my
self been party to jokes of the kind.
At last Valentines morning came.
There was n uch excitement round the
breakfast table when the post-bag, full
10 bursting, was handed in.
s / waited patiently for my share of its
com ents. They were three. First.
ing; secondly, q large document, di
been led to expect; thirdly, a letter di-
lected in handwriting perfectly un
known to NE. | operei Lhe second
u ent:oned first.
Now, Ethel, let us hear" assailed
ne on every side.
That's the writingi knew it would
comep shouted Charley.
Thank you, i am much obliged to
you all - replied. 1t is admirably
written; but this one is much better
done"-as spoke held up the third
meatioLet, written in the unknown
hand. That larg c one is too elaborate.
Mr.. BaTgill, / am sue, would never
send such a fowery composition as
that. Now, this is sober, and to the
point"
had just read it, snd was surprised
to find only a short, simple, earnest
offer OF marriage-not much like
valentine, except that the writer slight
ly referred to the character of the day
as kind of apology for addressing me.
1t was signed only -. B."
Sc see,n ! said. You thought by
sending me two that should certainly
be caught by one of them. This last
one is certainly the best. Some of your
work, / suspect, Connie. It is not in
Katie's STYLE"
Constance protested her innocence;
but in vain. Indeed, a general chorus
disclaimer was raised round the table;
but 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 ne on
my homeward journey, depressed at the
thought of my fathers illness, aud full
of regrets at leaving my friends.
Then began season of calamity and
trial. My father died, after a fortnight's
illness, leaving myself, q brother and
sister almost unprovided for.
The following year my sister, who
had been engaged for some time, was
married. My mother died soon sitter
ward, and I was lett alone-almost abb
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 aff1uent circumstances.
Thus began my governess life, which,
am thankful to say, has been such q
succe IS that am Low able to live in
comfort and to put by mite for rainy
day. / have not spent much in travel
| ing, though ny kind friends, the Gov
entry's, sent me many invitations. Per-
| haps am little proud, for / think I
could not mix in their society with just
1 the same pleasure as in former days.
Howe ever, they are unchanged to me, ,and
always will be, feel sure.
The clock had just struck nine. What
a time have sat here ruminating on
past timei and the postman is not come
lyet, Valentines day that is the reason