The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-13
Mss OLNEY'S VALENTINE.
By sIMILDK E FORBES.

"A beautiful morning" Miss 0lney
thout ht as she carried her bird cage to the
window and threw open the shutters to let
IN the full food OF light Across the way q
fresh young voice was singing. Little Miss
Oney paused to listen, and a dreamy smile
curved her lips and as she tended her flow
eTs, pausing now and then to inhale THAR
fragrance, a sigh escaped her lips Old
memories were string her heart as she went
about her work, to-day, for this sunshiny
18th of February seemed so like another in
the long ago.
Long2 Yes, the time was long counted by
years; and yet, as memory went back, it
seemed as but yesterday She was only six
teen then-'sweet sixteen" JACK Brown
called her-snd they often called her a
little airt' IN those days Did she de.
serve the name?n she wondered; and then
she fell to criticising her own conduct and
thinking over those old days All memory
"bitter sweet" it often is, and as
she thought OF her conduct TO Jack on that
never TO be forgotten night Z sort of self pity
stirred her Seart-pity for the young self
that was 10 more. No, il was not the same
Ida" that, loving Jack with all her heart,
i,
Just 10 show her power over him aud see
Low well he loved her. She had never
meant TO jiit him-never, and when on that
night, at the valentine party, she had
allowed Ally Brimmer to take her
home, leaving Jack who bad escorted her
there, to find out at his leisure that she was
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 IL was real mean; out then ne ought
10 know it was just joke
But Jack did not come the next day, nor
the next day after that. And then she heard
ne had gone away. Gone away WITHOUT see
ing her! II was dreadful-but, alas, it was
'rue; and Lida Olney actually cried herself
slck. Then she resolved she would learn his
address and would write to him; but before
she could carry her plans into execution q
terrible shock came t. her. Jack was mar.
rleo! And, following close upon the news
Jack sent Der a note, telling her of the fact
she had already heard, and, enclosing her
letters, requested her to send back his own.
GrieviDg was useless but Miss Olney
could not help grieving; and as she sent
back his letters and all the dear little SOU
venirs of their broken compact she felt as if
life was hardly worth living.
But. though her own folly and Jacks rash
haste had marred the lives of both, Miss Oh.
Dey grew into nobler, better woman for
the sorrow she had endured. Doing with
all her might" every duty her hands found
TO do living q life OF quiet usefulness. shs
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
roors. where she had lived now for years
for the spirit CT 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 O. er her door proclaimed
her adressmsker; but 1t was hardly needed
for everyone miles around knew "little Miss
0lney" well.
To day ber 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 jack"
OEly dust ard ashes now; and yet ne never
seemed dead to her, How the tears would
steal down IS 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
enc day-marriedi in mad haste and ''repentsd
at leisure" though no human soul ever
heard from his manly lips either complaint
or regret. He bore the consequence of his
mad folly with q heroism which was a part
OF his Dature. Matte Barnes, the girl he
bad married. had literally dumped at the
chance when ne offered marriage and
consented without much hesitation TO
an immediate marfisge. Not because she
loved him-oh. no; that never entered into
her calculations. Their acquaintance was
slight, bat she was SIRE he could give her a
home and she was a dependent on relatives,
and twenty. five years old. She had been
taught "a believe that TO be an "old maidr
was the worst and last disgrace q woman
could endure She was DOT very attractive
ard this was her first offer. She accepted
and Jack was not hindered in his plan of
furnishing Lids. Alas though the punish
meDt Was hard for her, yet Jacks punish.
ment was tenfold the harder to bear. A
marrisfe without love. even without esteem,
and he bad brought IL on himself. Mrs
Brown was not disposed to make the burden
any lighter, and her constant repining be.
cause some OF their neighbors had things 90
much "ni err than they could afford add ed
the last drop to his cup OF misery. The break
ing out OF the Civil War brought to him q
gleam OF hope. Naturally patriotic, he was
among the 6rst to enlist. For two years he
served bis country well, and in q regiment
Known for its bravery he stood among the
first. So far he had escaped with slight
wounds but be was not always thus to
escspe-he was wounded and taken prisoner.
Then. after long. weary months. All such
months to the prisoners at Andersonville
and Libby" such months Of anguish to