Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-03-11
A VALENTINE CHARM.
AN IDYL OF A WINTER SPENT IN FRANC
HOW MISS JESSICA TRIED AN OLD FASHIONED
CHARM, AND HOW THE CHARM WORKED.

From the Boston Courier.
The Arden family, spending the winter in
France, wholly for pleasure, were sitting in the
private salon of a small pension in Oman
| 1t was cold, raw, windy day, with no snow
to keep the dust from blowing. and with no sun to
make things CHEEKY. There was neither warmth
nor comfort in the narrow salon. with it's shin
ing parquet, ugly sofas and chairs of yellow
Utrecht velvet and its fireplace filled with red
paper roses. Mr.. Arden had objected to the
paper roses. and Madame Robbie (who was ap-
pangly large. with the mustache of O grena-
der ana the voice OF drill sergeant had as
| sured III ST. that the day was of a warmness to-
tally surprising. for the season: and that by noon
| 1t would undoubtedly be sultry. II it was not
! (here Madame Robbie shrugged her shoulders
pfodlglousiy) why she supposed she could have
Jean destroy the superb ornamentation of the
/ fagOt. though of course M'sr knew this would
! undoubtedly be OF great expense.
! NJ ST would have gathered up his family, and
! lett the pension if he had been possessed of Or
| binary spirit; but as it was he returned to the
/ salon like very craven and told his wife that
/ Jean would build fire. as soon as he came in
W it'll the fagots.
In the meantime Mrs Arden, huddled in a
| large white shawl. was trying to knit with
i Chilly ivory needles: Mr. Arden reading a Eyn1ro
| by the window. wore his Russian travelling
Cloak; and Jessica, their orphan niece and ward.
| sat wrapped i'm fur-lned cape, reading aloud
| a knitting-rule to her aunt,
knit three, said Jessica balancing her feet
carefully on the round of her Chair, to keep
them from the chill of the icy parauet.
Knit three, over. narrow, over, narrow,
| knit three, purl one"
why, don't read so fast Jessca." said Mrs.
Arden plantiVeiy- Positively you confuse me
| 80 that l don't know at all where am l shall
really have to begin all over again."
! My dear. said Mr.. Arden, Il think I'll 90
out and have cigar. 1t may be warmer walk
ing"
/ ''Wel, be sure you shut the door" said his
| wife. AS he left the room she continued rather
peeviShly: II never saw anybody SO restless as
your uncle is JesSica. He acts exactly as if Our
beng In this miserable place were all my fault,
when I'm sure everybody knows that didn't
want to leave Paris in winter"
well" said Jessica, Certainly YOU don't
tnlnk poor Uncle Charles wanted to leave; and
I'm sure, with q wicked glance in her aunt's
direction, nobody could accuse me Of wanting
mo" said Mrs. Arden with dignity "von
! were infatuated, If we had not come away as
insisted. there is no telling to what lengths YOU
would have gone with Henry Wood, positively
you might even have married him.
! 81 think it extremely likely" said Jessica
| "An artist" pursued Mrs. Arden. warming to
tLe subject, IAN artist and beggar, and you
/ with snug twenty-five thousand dollars in
your own right; of course he was attentive"
Now If had said that, Aunt Ahce," said Jes-
Harry Wood wants the money, I'm sure wish
| he had it, it is no good to me"
! sometimes, Jessica." said Mrs. Arden. "L
/ think you are actually possessed. / cannot un-
derstand the influence Henry Wood had over
you And now here is Monsieur LANCE; his mo-
! theirs family are all in the silk way at LYONS.
/ immensely rich, and he is certainly fond of
/ you"
Monsieur LANCE" said Jessica. sis bour-
geoise to his very marrow: he wears blue neck
tie covered with yellow baby elephants. and he
/ sucks the knob of his cane like Toots. Let us
change the subject. Why don't you leave this
stupid knitting, and begin your satin screen,
! Aunt Alice?"
Il can't" Mrs. Arden replied disconsolately
! day. - ~ ri'-
why, Aunt Alice" laughed Jessica 81 didn't
know you were superstlti0us"
- am not superstitious at ALL" remarked
Mrs Arden with dignity, 'but of course do not
wish to begin piece OF work on FRIDAY, and
know that never shall finish it."
Nei am not superstitiOus either" said
Jessica graveiy, land yet this morning, Aunt
Aiice. you know that this is st. Valentines Day.
and so this morning just for fun, looked ont
! OF the window before was dressed"
| "Jessical" calculated Mrs Arden severely
"Oh. nobody saw me. 1t is an old charm
/ yrou know, Aunt Alice" explained Jessca. son
! ' ".eA'ihc nioihil9 you mop out OF bed and GO
10 the window with your eyes shut and then
you say overa verse to ST. Valentine, and open
your eyes. and the very first person you see. (of
eonrse mean the first man will be yonr future
husband"
; Il wish. Jessca, that you really would not
! speak in just that way for you must know that
l would never have done SO odd thing"
VERY well, said Jessica, then it was who
did it myself ] opened my eyes and saw moth
Ing at all, at first. but the empty street. then I
saw Nanon going to market in her sabots and
then a charlotte with donkey, and peasant
/ driving"
''Not man. / hope;" asked Mrs. Arden with
! some anxiety.
Yes" answered Jessica, heartlessly. sa
man, and young man. strapping Young
peasant In blouse and a horrible lambs wool
| jacket"
| Mrs, Arden laid down her knitting work.
| Of course, she said resolutely, there is
nothing at all In it, Jessica, positively nothing;
but really don't ask why YOU should want to
try such thing. 1t is SO unpleasant never
did such thing in my lfe Why, OF course.
there's nothing in It. but confess should be
sorry had tried it. If were you."
Mrs. Arden looked at her unfortunate niece
with sort Of shamefaced sympathy. She Was