The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1886-05-08
OPHELIA'S VALENTINE,
Which She Pretended Came From
Another Woman's Husband.


1t was a dreary night, dark. cloudy
and windy. Bertha Westervelt sat be-
side the window looking out upon the
passers-by, envying them their erect
carriage and strength as they hurried
along. Then, with piteous sigh. she
cast her eye downward upon her own
frail form.
At that moment the door opened and
lady swept into the apartment. To
very near where Bertha sat, the lady
drew a chair and dropped into it.
.How very melancholy you look in
this dim twilight" she said, softly.
s'Do IP" questioned Bertha, absently.
"Yes, indeed. do wish you would
be more cheerful for am sure it must
be very depressing to Godfrey. ! know
he feels it, he wears such somber air
when he leaves you. 1t is very unfOr-
tunate for him that you should become
an invalid so soon after marriager
..Very," responded Bertha, tremu-
lousy. Surely / will get my strength
soon nowp"
For moment, in profound silence,
the lady regarded Bertha.
'Do YOU believe so, Bertha Wester-
veltP Why, lthoughtyou knew better"
'I-I-what do you mean, auntp"
she queried, piteously. Her heart
seemed to stand still; what new horror
was to descend upon her nowp
"Why, am sure Godfrey knows it.,
and thought, of course, you did. You
have always been delicate, and now
the physician thinks you are troubled
with hip disease. There is no perma-
nent cure for that complaint; you 90
from bad to worse, as it is vulgarly ex-
pressed. Poor Godfreyr'
Bertha threw up her thin, white
hands as if to ward off blow; but she
uttered no word, gave vent to no cry.
Uncomfortable, from the death-like
silence that her speech had produced.
the lady, after fidgeting a moment,
arose and left the room.
At that moment Bertha's eye fell
upon her husband walking brisklv up
the street, his cousin, Ophelia Brent,
beside him. She was radiant brunette,
sparkling and vivacious in manner,
though there was something in the ex-
preston of her greenish-hued eyes and
around her mouth that made Bertha in
stinctively distrust her.
''She is the one he loved before he
met me, she groaned, ''and whom he
would have married. And now l am
. cripple-perhaps, for life. God help
mers
Her head dropped upon her hands;
her emp of grief was full to overlooking.
Il have just left Bertha asleep" said
Mrs. Brent, in low tone, to Godfrey.
II think you had better not disturb
her"
Godfrey opened the door softly and
peered in. The room was so dark that
he could only see the outline of his
wife in her chair by the window; as
she did not speak he concluded she
must still be sleeping, and so closed
the door softly.
II am in hurry to return to my
Office" he observed, $50 win have din
ner now. Explain to Bertha when she
awakes why did not wait for her."
He ate few mouthfuls in silence
and then left the house. His wife
heard the door close behind him and
watched him hurry up the street.
mo wonder he avoids mel" she
thought, bitterly. what am I to
dop'S
The next morning dawned clear and
bright. 1t was Valentines Day and
the postmen were darling hither and
thitber with their precious missives.
Ophelia and her mother sat in the
room with Bertha, toying with some
worsted work. The very sight of the
two women made her nervous and
wretched, but they told Godfrey how
much care they took of his dear wife
and kept her from thinking of her ILL.,
ness, SO they were welcome guests.
Miss Ophelia Brent" the postman
said at the door, and the maid brought
the missive in.
"A valentine for mer' Ophelia ex-
claimed, with delight. s.See, Bertha,
what il is not be marriedr'
She tore the envelope open, read the
contents; then with a profound sigh she
replaced it and put it in her pocket.
Bertha thought no more of the little
scene, until few hours later she saw
Ophelia's little pug playing with it
under chair. She went over to rescue
it from him. In taking it from his
mouth she recognized her husbands
well-known chirography. She looked
u the envelope moment; . great de.