The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1882-03-18
GRACE's VALENTINE.

of purest blue overhead, and mantle of
snow-white ermine underneath the feet.
At an easy walking distance sheet of
frozen water, so faultlessly smooth that
Jack Frost must have swooped down up
on it and concealed its surface during a
complete calm of the disturbing elements.
What could have been more propitious
for skating partyP
1t was pretty scene, Warmly clad
and daintily booted-fying along over
the sparkling surface of the lake went
the merry skaters-red cheeks growing
redder, and bright eyes shining brighter
clear, young voices ringing out in
chimes of tinkling laughter-b6n naots
and repartees, aad-mastS Il say it?--oc-
casionally shaft of malicious meaning
yelled under honeyed-sounding words.
Such is life-bitter must mingle with
the sweet, and suspicious, grabbed ma
lures are ever to be found among the
sunny, glad spirited ones who do SO
much to fill our lives with happiness.
1t was the day preceding the one which
Is marked with the white pebble upon
the calendar of every child, and also up
on that of many children of larger
growth. Is there maiden who does
not greet the coming of st. Valentines
Day with an expectant thrill at her
heart as the postman' ring is heard, and
the white-winged messengers delivered
to her whose bold chirography tells at
once the secret of its sender's namep If
so, she is an.anomaly among her Find,
and must have been aged Cat hearty
from her cradle. ss
4
But to return to my story. One swift
footed fairy of girl was the cynosure
of all eyes as she circled around, as much
at her ease as though she had been born
and bred upon skates. She was as pretty
picture of youthful maidenhood as one
could find in days journey.
She had no lack of attendants. 1t is
one of the peculiarities of male nature to
set value upon what is most difficult to
obtain, and Elsie, great favorite, was
one of those rare young misses who, as a
usual thing. prefer girls society to boys.
And here let me whisper secret. Such
friend is the incest to have. One who
is at all times lovable. and bright, and
charming, and whose vivacity does not
depend upon the masculine element in
society as fully as the brilliance of a fire
does upon due amount of coal.
81 l will not deny that Elsie was very
much pleased when she saw Harry Vail
make his appearance upon the ice; for,
although fine, manly fellow, who could
hold his own with the best at game of
baseball or at trial with the boxing
gloves, still there was an absence in him
Of that vainglorious boastfulness with
~ f,.xrf .s
their sisters or their girl-friends; and
then, too, he was SO sensible and helpful
in all emergencies, that Elsie could not
any more help liking him than the sun
flower can help turning its golden leaves
toward the sun as he takes his diurnal
pilgrimage from east to west.
Owing to this prepossession i'm his favor
he was considered a privileged person
age among the rest of the boys; for Elsie
allowed him to fasten the skates upon her
little feet, and to hold her muff, and
well. if he had been her shadow, he
couldn't have been in more constant at
tendance upon her; and it occasioned
some heart-burnings, for ''the best skater
on the pond, and the prettiest girl, ought
not to be monopolized," said one party,
in an injured tone; and another neglected
lad made grumbling answer that at
was adeuced shame, and he meant to put
stop to that racket" though it remained
to be discovered how he would first begin
TO set about it, as he was too shy to speak
, in girls presence, and blushed to the
roots of his hair if one of the pretty sis
terhood addressed even the simplest re,
mark directly to him.
''Are you going to send any valentines
tomorrow, Elsieg' asked May Osgood,
skating up beside her friend.
Yes; shall put one in the post to-
night for little Micky in the infant class
at Sunday-school. You've seen him, May,
and he's the cunningest little thing-and
SO patientr'
s.May be I'll send him one, too, now
that you've put me in mind of it. But
aren't you going to have a little fun on
your own account l am. Mamma say.
I'm getting too big for such things, but
i don't think So"
II haven't quite made up my mine
yet," answered Elsie, with warning
glance at her friend. for Harry was evi
IDENTIFY paying interested attention {,
what they were saying. ''What do yo,
think about 1t, Harry! she added, turn
ing smilingly toward him."
Its splendid fun to send comic ones,
he answered, s'that is, if you can hit upol
a good one"
II hate the ugly thingsr' exclaimed
May, vehement1y. "rd never forgiv,
any one if 1 got one"
"But you wouldn't find cut who sen
it." said Elsie.
ssWe've visitor at our house, sal,
Harry, ''and he's a perfect gem of fel
low He can draw the cutest things.
believe I'll get him to scratch me of
something nice, and I'll send it to tn,
girl I want to have for my valentine al
through the year" ''iH' 60. '''.-
People can't always get what the.
want" was Mays sententious answer
May be the one you like don't Xix
you"