The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-03-06
MISS OLNEY'S VALENTINE.

"a beautiful morning." Miss Olney
thought, as she carried her bird cage
| to the window and threw open the
shutters to let in the full flood of light.
Across the way a fresh young voice
was singing. Little Miss Olney paus-
ed to listen, and dreamy smile curv-
ed her lips, and as she tended her
| flowers, pausing now and then to in
hale their fragrance, sigh escaped
her lips. Old memories were stirring
her heart as she went about her work,
to-day. for this sunshiny 14th of Febru-
arv seemed so like another in the long
ago.
Long, Yes, the time was long
counted by years; and yet, as memo
ry went back, it seemed but as yester-
day. She was only sixteen then
"sweet sixteen Jack Brown called
her-and they often called her a "lit-
tie fiirt'' in those days. ''Did she de-
serve the namep she wondered; and
then she fell to criticising her own
conduct and thinking over those old
days. All! memory was ''bitter
sweet" as it so often is, and as she
thought of her conduct to Jack on
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 him,
just to show her power over him and
see how well he loved her. She had
never meant to jilt him-never, and
when on that night, at the valentine
party, she had allowed Ally Brimmer
to take her home. leaving Jack, who
had escorted her there, to find out at
his leisure that she had gone, she fully
expected he would come over the next
day and make it all up. To be sure
she expected to be very penitent, and
of course i was real mean; but then
he ought to know it was just Joke.
But Jack did not come the next day,
nor the next day after that. And then
she heard he had gone away. Gone
away without seeing her. 1t was
dreadful; 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 plan into
execution q terrible shock came to her.
Jack was married. And, following
close upon the news, Jack sent her
note, telling her of the fact she had
already heard. and, enclosing her let
ters, requested her to send back his
own.
Grieving was useless; but Miss Oh
ney 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 having.
But, though her own folly and Jacks
rash haste had marred the lives of
both, Miss Olney grew into nobler,
better woman for the sorrow she had
endured. Doing "with all her might"
every duty her hands found to do, liv-
ing life of quiet usefulness, she
found herself at thirty, if not posi-
lively 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 Lorraine, and the quiet
old couple who owned and occupied
part of the dwelling were her dearest |
friends. The modest sign over her
door proclaimed her 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 of on
their holiday. She, too. was keeping
holiday all alone. Sitting with idle
hands for this one day, and letting
memory bring back the 'face of her
Douglas, tender and true" "Poor
Jacksr' Only dust and ashes now;
and yet he never seemed dead to her.
How the tears would steal down as
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 mar
ried 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 COM
plant or regret. He bore the conse-
1uence of his mad folly with hero
ism which was part of his nature.
Matte Barnes, the girl he married.
had literally dumped at the chance"
when he offered marriage, and
consented without much hesitation to
IN immediate marriage. Not be-
cause she loved him-oh, no; that
never entered into her calculations.
Their acquaintance was slight, but
she was sure he could give her a
nome, and she was dependent on
.elatives, and twenty-five years old.
She had been taught to believe that to be
m sold maid" was the worst and last
lsgrace woman could endure: She
vas not very attractive and this was
Ter first offer. She accepted and Jack
vas not hindered in his plan of pun
shing Ida. Alas! though the punish
nent was hard for her, yet Jack pun !
sbment was tenfold the harder to
...o--;,. .ra ,,,;thout love even I