Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1891-02-14

who hoped to lind her valentine hand
somer than that of her bosom friend.
There was a beautiful little hand-paint-
ed sachet, tied with asbig bow of white
satin ribbon, and-herein lay the cause
of Jacks mysterious rapture-a letter!
partly printed, partly written in won
derful hieroglyphics, but all his own
writing and composition:
"dere darlin val. luv u so mush do waite till
am man so we can be marid. / will be as
quick as can, u no am quite big now luv u
wild all my hart, u ar mi only darlin, ure luvin
jack"
Now, I am very fond of children, and
never having had brother or sister, or
niece or nephew, or little one brought
heart went out to my baby lover, and
fool when 1 own that tear-I scarcely
know if it was sweet or bitter one
fell on that little smeared and blotted
scrawl. The next minute, however, I
laughed heartily, and, although 1 had
already sent Jack pretty valentine, I
resolved to write him an answer to his
letter. and, to make it more legible to
him. used my typewriter.
This is what l said:
my DARLING: I will wait for you until you
are quite man, and you shall always be my
only sweetheart. Who could help loving such
q dear pet: Certainly not your own VAL"
This / addressed to
Mr.. JOHN POSTLErHwAITE, JR.,
Madison Avenue.
I ran out and mailed it myself, and
then waited all day in expectation of
Jacks visit in the afternoon to ratify
our contract By some chance he never
came. I saw it was no use stopping
when Mr.. Postlethwaite passed out of
the office without waiting for the car
riage, and as 1 went home I bought a
box of candied fruit, SO that when he
came the next day we might have Il
feast to celebrate the occasion.
The same evening about eight 1 was
in our little parlor, playing dreamy
melodies for my own delectation in the
dark, when ring came at the bell and
a minute after the colored damsel who
rules our household opened the door
with:
"A gemman to see you, Miss Valerie" :"
l sprang to my feet. turned up the
gas and found myself face to face with
Mr.. Postlethwaite. To say that l was
surprised would give no idea of my
feelings. I could just command voice
enough to offer him seat, which he
accepted and, as l sank into chair. 1
noticed that he had type-written note
in his hand-one which seemed IA
miliar to me. / raised my eyes to his
and found them bent on me with a
curious but not ungentle expression,
and, without knowing why, the blood
rose to my cheeks in hot bushes.
Il ought to apologize for disturbing
you at this hour. Miss ClaXton,' he said
he had pleasant voice, and it
I.l 1.,e., 1,nr al
but am afraid l have intercepted a
letter that was not intended for me. 1
am John Postlethwaite, Junior-my
father lives in the same house with me. =
l saw it all now; but. good Heavens.
could not the man understand? Why
need he come to ask me? His baby
could have explained.
Really" l stammered, scarcely
knowing what l said. Il didn't know
1 should have thought
"Oh. don't apologize" he replied. and
his eyes laughed, though he still kept
his countenance. Nothing can be said
to relieve my disappointment. For a
moment I indulged in wild hope that
it was a valentine for me: but l quite
understand that I can not expect to
rival my son. However. though neither
you nor he seemed to consider my con-
sent necessary. l thought would just
call up and express my entire approval
of Jacks choice"
We looked at each other and both
laughed heartily. Who would have
thought that the grave Mr.. Postle-
thwaite could laugh so merrily? Then
he drew his chair a little nearer.
Miss Claxton,' he said, Il know you
a great deal better than you know me.
l have watched you often when you lit
tie suspected it, and besides. my boy s
constant theme is Val Children are
close observers. and he couldn't be so
fond of you without good reasons. Now
suppose we laid our heads together.
don't you think we might devise a plan
by which poor Jack wouldn't be kept
waiting SO long,
MIR. Postlethwaite-'' interrupted
attempting to rise: but he restrained
me by placing his hand gently, but
firmly. upon mine.
Miss Claxton,' he said. earnestly.
months ago l began to love you for my
boys sake. l soon learned to love you
for my own sake. Don't suppose that
l wish to startle you into an answers:
but tell me that there is no one dearer
than Jack to rival me, and, if it is so,
let me have chance to WIN you Tor
myself
What will Jack say?" I murmured,
with a smile I could not represS.
"Will you take his verdict?" he cried.
eagerly. He is outside in the carriage,
waiting most impatiently to be allowed
to see his Val. You see didn't venture
to come without providing myself with
a champion
4 20
ward returned with Jack in state of
intense excitement, who, being depos-
tied on my lap. smothered me with
kisses, and demanded an instant reply
to his letter.
o. i; f,,1 h,f