The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-03-20
MISS oLNEY'S VALENTINE.

ga beautiful morning." Miss Olney
thought, AZ she carried her bird cage to
the window, and threw open the shut
ters to let in the full flood of light.
Across the way a fresh young voice was
singing. Little Miss Olney paused to
listen, and q dreamy smile curved her
lips, and as she tended her flowers,
pausing now and then to inhale their
fragrance, a sigh escaped her lips. Old
memories We're stirring her heart as she
went about her work to-day, for this
sunshiny 14th day of February seemed
SO like another in the long GO.
Long? Yes, the time was long count
ed by years; and yet, as memory went
back, it seemed but as yesterday. She
was only sixteen then-"sweet sixteen
Jack Brown called her-and they often
called her a%!"little flirt" in those days.
did she deserve the name ?" she won
dered; and then she fell to criticising
her W conduct and thinking over those
old days. All, memory was "bitter
sweet" as it often is, and as she thought
of her conduct to Jack on that neyer-to-
be-forgotten night, q sort Of self-pity
stirred her heart-pity for the young
self that was no more. No, it was not
the same "Lida" that, loving Jack with
all her heart, was yet bound to torment
and tease, just to show her power over
him and see how we'll he loved her. She
had never meant to jilt him-never-and
when on that night, at the valentine par
ty, she had allowed Ally Brimmer to
take her home, leaving Jack, who had
escorted her there, to find out at his
leisure that she was gone, and she fully
expected he would come over tho next
day and make it all up. To he sure, she
expected to be very penitent, and Of
course it was real mean, but then he
ought to know it wa just q joke.
But Jack did not come the next day,
nor the next day after that. And then
she heard that he had gone away. Gone
away without seeing her! It was dread
full; but, alas it was true, and Ida
Olney actually cried herself sick. Then
she resolved she would learn his address
and would write to him; but before she
could carry her plans into execution a
terrible shock came to her. Jack was
married! And, following close upon
the news, Jack sent her u letter telling
her of the fact she had already heard,
and inclosing her letters, requesting her
to send. back his own.
Grieving was useless, but Miss Olney
could not help grieving, and as she sent
back his letters and all the dear little
souvenirs of their broken compact she
felt as if life was hardly worth the hay
ing.
But though her own folly and Jacks
rash haste had marred the lives of both,
Miss Olney grew into n nobler, better
woman for the sorrow she had endured.
Doing with all her might" every duty
her hands found to do, living a life Of
quiet usefulness, she found herself at
thirty if not positively happy, at least
content. An old maid they called her
now, but little she cared as she went
her quiet way. She lived in rented
rooms, where she had lived now for
years, for the spirit of change did not
often visit the quiet little village of Lo-
raine, and the quiet old couple who
owned and occupied past of the dwell
ing We're her dearest friends. The
modest sign over her door proclaimed
her o dressmaker, but it was hardly
needed, for every one miles around
knew little Miss Olney" we'll.
To day her landlord and his wife
were away. and her assistants off on
their holiday. She, too, was keeping
holiday all alone, sitting with idle
hands for this one day, and letting
memory bring the "face of her Douglas,
tender and true" Poor Jack!" Only
dust and ashes now; and yet he never
seemed dead to her. How the tears
would steal down rs she thought of his
blighted life; his early death. All, if
she only knew how he died, this young
hero of ours" He had proposed to and
married his wife all in one day--married
in mad haste and "repented at leisure"
though no human soul ever heard from
his manly lips either complaint or re-
greet. He bore the consequences of his
mad folly with a heroism which was
part of his nature. Matte Barnes the
the girl he married. had literal
ly Jumped at the chance" when he
offered marriage, and consented without
much hesitation to an immediate mar
IMAGE. Not because she loved him-oh,
no; that never entered into her caicula-
lions. Their acquaintance was slight,
but she was sure he could give her a
home, and she was o dependent on rela-
tives, and twenty five years old. She
had been taught to believe that to be an
aold maid" was the worst and last dis
grace q oma could endure. She was
not very attractive, and Jack was not
hindered in his plan of Furnishing Ida.
Alas! though the punishment was hard
for her, yet Jacks punishment wa ten
fold the harder to bear. A marriage
without love, even without esteem, and
he had brought it on himself. Mrs.
Brown was not disposed to make the bur-
den any lighter, end her constant repin-
ing because some of their neighbors had
things 81 much nicer" than they could
afford added the last drop to his cup of
misery. The breaking out of the civil
war brought tohim a CLEAN of hope.
Naturally patriotic, he was among the
first to enlist. For two years he served
his country well. and in a regi-
ment known for its bravery he stood
among the first. So far he had escaped
with slight wounds; but he was not al
ways thus to escape-he was wounded
and taken prisoner. Then after long.
lreary months, ahl such months to the
prisoners at A~ndersonville and Libby, y
such months of anguish to the loving
hearts at home, he was reported dead