The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-02-03
ALL'S WE'LL THAT ENDS WE'LL

"a valentine?'' cried Julia, coming
upon the scene just as the futtered to
the floor, and picking it up and read
ing it. GA mighty queer valentine, I
must say! An outrageous one-an in
sulting one. / can't think what Osric
will say and she turned to find two
lovers in each others arms. But let
Julia or Osric say what they would,
never was valentine so welcome before
as the letter that came to Evelyn on
no gilded and embossed wreaths of
roses and Cupids surrounding little
looking-glasses, set there to show the
leader the smiling face of the writer's
true-love, ever told half the good news
that this did, insulting and outrage
Gus as Julia called it when she spoke
Of it to Mrs. Black-singular and I'M
heard of, as Mrs. Black called it when
she spoke of it to Mrs. White.
Lovers, however, might we'll have
sent the standard valentines in all
their glory to Evelyn, for she was one
of those sweet brunette beauties that
they tell us are to be found nowhere
but in America, and that touch all
hearts alike; the tea-rose-tinted skin;
the hazel eyes; the hair just singed las
one might say, from brown to chest
nut by the sun; the 1.-THE and rounded
figure; the dainty little foot; the
whole face lighting with it's smile as
if a sunset fame shone over it and
never half so lovely as intears.
But this beauty of hers had a hard
time of it in those things that height
en- and diminish effect, for a poor lit
tie teacher on half-paid lessons in a
few houses, and obliged to dress her.
self and her mother, and pay druggist
and doctors bills and other little incl
dentals, she never had such a thing as
complete outfit at once. She had
been the happy owner of but one silk
dress in all her life, and that had been
turned and turned again, turned wrong
side out, turned up side down, and was
still doing service as her best, in a
condition, she was wont to say, that
would have brought her premium
for patchwork at any country fair.
-"There never was any one so unlucky
as me-, she said. "And I do like pref.
ty things so! But Away, if my bon.
net is just to my mind, my shoes are
sure to be shabby, and by the time ]
get new cloak my gown is a sight tc
see. Why haven't we some rich uncle
in No Mans Land, mother mine
Why doesn't the last will and tesla
ment Of some old lover of yours turr
up, and bless us with the wealth nc
longer of any use to him."
81 never had any lover but your deal
father the mother would reply anG
then. sitting in the freight, she would
go over the old, old story of her early
love, in which, although Evelyn knew
it by heart, she always seemed to fnG
something new.
"We have pretty good time, dom
we. darling little womang'' Evelyl
would say, as they made ready for bed
still by the fire light only-sswe tw,
together-if Osric is as close as nut
and Julia doesn't dare say her soul
her own?''
'Oh yes" her mother would sigh
doubtfully. "It's-it's- don't com
plain. / suppose it's well enough now
but the future! Oh, Evelyn, my dear
if you should lose your classes, if yo1
should fall ILL., just think what it woul
be to be entirely dependent on Osric
He would make poor Julia's life
burden to her.
'sHe does now.
"He would make us feel the bitter
ness of every morsel of bread we eat.
"Well, he does that now, too.
''No; for your parlor-dusting an
china washing and brief-copying, an
music and painting lessons to his Chi
dren, are some equivalent. He woul
turn away the other girl, and 20
would have the whole work to do
Well, it wouldn't kill me. Don