The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-10-30
MISS OLNEY'S VALENTINE.

to the window and threw open the
shutters to let in the full flood of light.
Across the way n fresh young voice
was singing. Little Miss Olney paus-
cd to listen, and dreamy smile curry
ed her lips, and us she tended her
flowers, pausing now and then to in
male their fragrance, n sigh escaped
her lips. Old memories were stirring
her heart as she went about her work,
to-day. for this sunshiny 14th of Febru-
airy seemed sc like another in the long
ago. 9
Longp Yes, the time was long
counted by years; ana yet, rs 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 n ..lit-
tie tlirt' in those days. Ibid she de-
serve the n"me?' 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
that Acknowledgements night a sort
OF self pity stirred her hcart--pity for
the young self that was no more.
No, 1t 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 it was real mean; but then
he ought to know it was just Il Joke.
But Jack did not come the next day.
o 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 a terrible shock came to her.
Jack was married! And, following
close upon the news, Jack sent her a
note, telling her of the fact she had
already heard. and, enclosing her let
tiers, requested her to send back his
own.
Grieving was useless; but Miss o.
ney could not help %grieving; and as
she sent back his letters and all the
dear little souvenirs of their broken
compact, she felt rs if life was hardly
worth the having.
But. though herown folly and jacks
rash haste had married the lives of
both, Miss Olney grew into a nobler,
better woman for the sorrow she had
endured Doing "with all her might
every duty her hands found to do, liv-
irg Il life of quiet usefulness, she
found herself at thirty, if not posi-
lively happy, ut least content. An old
maid they called her now; but little
she cared rs 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 coupe who owned and occupied
part of the dwelling were her dearest
friends. The modest sign over her
door proclaimed her Il dressmakcr;
but it was hardly needed for every one
miles around knew little Miss Olneyn
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 bringback 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 as
she thought of his blightcd 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 s'repented at
leisure" though no human soul even
heard from his manly lips either com
plant or regret. He bore the conse-
quencc of his mad folly with a 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
an immediate marriage. Not be-
cause she loved him-oh, no; that
never entered INTO her calculations.
Their acquaintance was slight. but
she was SUI he could give her a
home, and she was a dependent on
relatives. and twenty-five wears old.
She had been taughtto believe thatto be
an cold maid was the worst and last
disgrace Il woman could endure. She
was not very attractive and this was
her frs: offer. She accepted and Jack
was not hindercd in his plan of pun
ishing Ida. Alas! though the punish
ment was hard for her, yet jacks pun
ishment was tcnfold the harder to
bcSr. A marriage without love. even
without esteem, and he had brought it
ION himself. Mrs. Brown was not dis
posed to make the burden any lighter,
and her constant repining because
some of her neighbors had things so
much "nictr' than they could afford
added the last drop to the cup of mis-
cry. The breaking out of the civil war
brought to him a CLEAN of hope. Nat
urally patriotic, he was among the first
10 eullSt. ToI Two years io seINeu his
country well. and in aregiment known
for its bravery he stood among the
first. So far he had escaped with
slight wounds; but he was not always
thus to escape-he was wounded and
taken prisoner. Then after long,
drearv months, al. such months to
the prisoners at Andersonyille and
Libby" such months of anguish to
the loving hearts at home, he vas re-
ported dead" Dead, and then the
wall of an nnbroken silence. Ida
mourned with n bitterness of anguish
that found no relief save in hard work,
and caring for other stricken hearts.
Alas! there were plenty to care for in
those sad days. Mrs. Brown mourned
loudly, and wore the deepest mourn
ing-for six months. Then she was
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