St. Landry democrat., 1883-02-17
z''.:r al+Ts
AN UNUSUAL VALENTINE.

AN UNUSUAL VALENTINE.
Jane said Aunt David, do you
know that you are twenty three, and
have been bridesmaid three times?''
- Yes, aunt, but what of that?''
:. was only nineteen, when I mar
ried your Uncle David, and had been
bridesmaid but once.''
Jane paused, and laid down the piece
OF crewel embroidery which was almost
ready to be rejected by the Decorative
Art G ub. She was bright, handsome
girl. pining to death in the duliest old
mouse, the most taste.ess house, which
the word ever saw. Uncle and Aunt
David had evidently furnished when
charge frescoes, bad wall papers, vic, ent
carpets and black walnut With green
reps" or brocatele furniture. were the
fashion. Jane had been born to an
aesthetic inner lance. Her father, the
poor artist, brother to Uncle David, had
been to Aunt David the embodiment Of
folly and impecuniosity. All he had
left to his little daughter was his own
great bump Of Ideally, his refined soul,
his correct eye, two plaster casts of the
Venus of Milo, and three Torsos, sever
al bits of brocade, and a Venetian tap
.estry, some brass lamps and his bless
ing. The whole amt worth five dol
lars. said Aunt David, making mem
tai inventory. However, she had al
lowed Jane to arrange her own room
with this trash. ard had supplemented a
good solid education as she called
it. with a sincere love. and care for the
girl s welfare as she understood things
"Good food, good clothes, good
schooling more can girl wantpn
asked Aunt David. She knew thatthere
was something yet that she did want.
Only beauty, My variety, only hope,
love; only graceful surroundings; only
sympathy-that was all that Jane want
.ed-9'and yet she was not satisfed!''
Aunt David looked at this inexp1i-
cable and ungrateful girl, with fresh
grievance in her face. ..And so you
have refused Mr.. Hart, I hear,'' she
went on to say.
Jane started. and the piece of crewel
work fell to the ground.
He should not have told YOU" said
Jane, blushing with shame over the dis
grace OF having. had an offer. Offers of
marriage were not common in Urania.
Indeed, you should have told mei''
said Aunt David, angrily; ...your only
friend and relative that can do any
thing for you.''
Aunt David was apt to emphasize
those words which gave an illustrious
radiance to her own benefactions.
What was your objection to Mr.. /
Hart, 7 should like to knoWp" asked
Aunt David 81 VI sss..s.
He is too old. do not love him.
said Jane. picking up the crewel, and 1
blushing like one of her own peoples. \
He amt as old as your Uncle, David
was when / married him. And I was
younger than you are; and as for love,
Jane, there is a. great deal of nonsense
talked about that. never saw any
good come of marrying for love. Why,
your own father and mother married |
for love, and should like to know if /
they were happy! Nothing but sick
ness, and poverty, and death, and--,'
The poppies and wild lcornswere be-
ing rapidly frightened by a shower
from the eyes, those lovely gray eyes,
which bent over therns as hard old Aunt
David touched upon these facts III the
history OF the lonely orphan, who sat in
.one of those atrocious green rep chairs.
Aunt David did not like tears, however:
she did not intend to draw them fourth.
but in her intense disgust of James follv1
she had gone further than she intended. /
8 You know my money dies with me,
Jane, = said she. 1T all goes back to
the Rettertons. and young George has
this house. when am done with it..''
This thought had some thing consolatory
in it to Jane. For young George Better
ton had been one Of her most devoted
He was her especial, and
peculiar and most detested adherence.
She was glad that he was to have this
very ugly and most dismal house; tt.
enchanted castle of dullness, and that I.
she was not to have it. :g .{,. :5
81 can't live forever, you know.
Jane said Aunt David, apologet.cally.
Jane threw down the crewel work
and bent over with her damp face I'd {
kiss the mahogany countenan g of Aunt
David. S 4
81 Let me live with you. and serre 1
ycu, and take care of you as long as
you do live, dear auntie; and don't |
make me marry anybody pleaded /
Jane. 3s- ssss sss5ssf
Aunt David shook her head. II may HI
i've Just long enough to leave you q | i
Faded old maid. said the far-s seeing /
Yankee la ~. 81 notice that girls like {
tou grow more particular and less
attractive every year. Now there was
Emily Barry; can remember when 1
The was pretty girl! Ie