Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1885-04-11
A Strange Valentine
Which Could Not Be Accepted, Unless
With the GiYer.

I.
In the dusky light of a fragran
and richly adorned drawing-roon
two people were in animated con
verSatiOn.
One, a woman Of fifty, handsome
still, and with toilet suggestive o
much care and thought, was speak
ing not only with decision, bn
with positive anger although hel
Self-control was great enough tt
keep her voice from rising, it was
not able to prevent q trcmulous vi
bration which she v;linly tri d te
stihe. She was sitting on a high
backed, embroidered chair in al
attitude as faultless as the fit Of
her satin gown.
The other, u girl of twenty, with
great clear brown eyes and fluffy
brown hair and graceful figure
stood as a young child might have
done at receiving reprimand.-
Her eyes were cast down, the lash
eS dropping till they nearly touched
her cheeks, and her fingers were
nervously picking to pieces a sprig
of heliotrope from a magnificent
basket OF flowers beside her.
"Iti is the most absurd thing
ever heard Of" said the elder lady,
with a Scornful smile. II really
can not waste any more words upon
it. You always were quixotic, Ter
eSa: and this performance caps the
climax. In nearly one and the
same breath, you tell me you love
him, aud that you have refused
him. Oh! it is too Disappointing"
"Aunt."
''Please letit drop-forget it,"
The tone was pleading, tile voice
sweet.
"Forget it, indeed! Do you
think | will allow you to oppose me
in this styei Have | not daugh-
terS of my own, and cares enough
without being longer burdened
with one 30 obstinate and self.
willed as You, Teresa7"
81 did not know mean-Dsaid
the young girl, deprecatingly. But
she was quickly interrupted.
Snow don't plead ignorance;
don't tell me that you do not know
my wishes. and did not mean to of
tend me-"
81 really did not think of you at
ALL"
"Worse and worse! Well this is
plain speech. And whom do you
think ot-only yourself7 Selfish
child!-is this my reward for educa
ting YOU, and allowing you every
luxury, spending time and money
OH you as freely as on my 0wni"
"Aunt-Aunt Geraldine, please
forgive me-
The young voice faltered; the
pink flush gave way to pallor; the
brown eyes tiled.
mo, Teresa; it's mcckery to ask
that; and l want you clearly to I'M
derstand that this is to be no long
er your home; you have exhausted
my patience, and now the end has
come. / have rented this house,
and am going abroad. Sibyl and
Gladys are both delicate, and need
the change"
s.But, aunt, where am I to go?--
what am I to dot"
"a pretty question to put to me
now, after such behavior! Consult
your friends. have no further in
tereSt in YOU"
The cruelty of these " ords seemed
to freeze the young girl. Her brown
eyes opened widely, her color came
and went. She stared at the speak
er as if not able to believe the
words just uttered, and then, rush
ing from the room, found her OWL
apartment, and flung herself down
in an agony of grief and selfre-
proach. TO whom could she turn
for sympathy or pity when the one
she had learned to regard as her
natural protector spurned her and
willully misunderstood hers What
had she done that was so grievouS3
Had she not battled against her
own feelings, and conscientiously
doue what she thought to be right
Meanwhile Mrs. Geraldine Gan
sevcort, having spent her anger
and Indignation, rang the bell aud
ordered her coupe.
She had to drive alone. Shy
and Gladys, her delicate daughters,
had gone TO reception. Frank
her son, a young physician, was
never able to go with her, "office
hours" preventing.
Her thoughts were far from
pleasant. 1t disturbed her circula
ton to be thus excited. Teresa, in
the PLAIN terms she used to herself
was a fool, and why should she al
low fool so to annoy herf But
the girl should be punished. The
idea of a portionless orphan refus
ing such All offer as that of Leroy
Jones!-a millionaire, a fellow
whose horses and yachts were The
envy Of all his comrades. And why
fnrrantL2 Ronnnxn sha chasa Il