The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1895-02-13
WON BY A VALENTINE.

Bells ringing, girls appearing In the
halls and public rooms, forming groups
with a general mir Of suppressed exotic
mcnt, marked St. Valentines lay at Low
iston school. Charma Sidney was wander
ing Idly up and down the lower hall with
hor chun,, "Goosic, +" hanging on her arm
"Goosic" won her nickname through her
gentle disposition and artless, straightfor-
ward manner. Charma said plaintively,
How wish there was valentine tor
me, but know Of certain one likely to
remember me In that way whom don't
want to nevertheless l Wouldn't accept q
valentine from him-no, not II he brought
it himself Jack Lnndon may marry who
ever he wants to. lIe can't hnye me- +"
"Goosie" looked up admiring1y and
thought that any ono who declined chances
with such readiness must lie great indeed
and wondered II she could ever do the
same
A little sharper tingle than usual of the
bell below aroused Chnrma from the rev
erie into which she had fallen; then SONS
one called from the hail, Miss Sidney!"
She flew down the broad staircase, assured
that valentino had como for her, and In
decd was soon knccling in the midst Of a
crowd Of girls over box Of fragrant roses
reposing snugly In their cotton bed, the
white satin streamers half hiding a tiny
card that had slipped down among them
unnoticed. Charma rescued the card some
what triumphanuy and read, Mr.. Jack
Lantlon." But thia was not all. As she
knelt above them. lifting them out and
inhaling their fragrance, "Goosie" picked
up diamond ring that had fallen to the
floor and held it out with flourish, cry
ing: Look, look, Charna Sidney, what
your valentine mcansl You'll have him
now, won't you'' But Charmn was spell
bound for the moment by the message on
little slip of paper found under the roses
and which she read with flushing checks.
Must l go backs" 1t said Love, !
love you. Cannot I come to you, sweet
heart miner My love for you is as pure as
tho roses send, precious as this little dia~
mond and us lasting as all eternity. Let
me come"
Charma was our only postgraduate for
the ycar-that is, after regular gradua-
ton she had returned to school to "brush
up" in elective studies. Her temperance
ON opening day had made US both glad
and sorry-glnd because she was good
companion, sorry for the rcason-but
therein lies the key to my st. Valentine
romance.
Lewiston holds before Its pupils the old
fashioned idea Of woman's sphere as the
head Of homo with all the term implies,
and If graceful, stately Charma, with her
speaking gray eyes, wavy brown tresses
and not at all of student nor bluestock-
ing temperament had been obliged to re-
turn to school to cover up her failure III
woman's natural role, what would become
of MS girls, score Of seniors, when we
came to 60 trooplng out to conquer, or,
alas, to be conquered by tho fate that pur-
| sues old lnaids9 Yes, we did love her, and
we couldn't understand why the rest OF
our kind, particularly mankind, didn't
love her too. The secret Of 1t she had
guarded well, but we forgave her that
when she shared with us tho secret Of hel
valentine gift.
Jack Landon Is my dearest friend, "
she said, hot with bushes. when we had
caressed away the tears
"How is it you never told us?'
"You see, we wcren't cngaged-that ia,
he hadn't really proposed, but 1t wasn's
his fault" pleaded Charms. 1T was
mine"
lyon loved him and wouldn't own 1t.
even to us girlss"
"Yes; I did love him. but every time be
wanted to shy something to tho point
turned 1t of. pretended 9pt to understand,
or to he interested in astronomy or botany
or music or any subject Mt hand that
could turn to as foil Girls, I confess
bluffetl him simply because was fasci.
mated with the game"
| The confession cleared the atmosphere
for all concerned. Jack soon followed hit
valentino in person and gave Cbar,na ne
chance to turn Cupid's shaft away again
Like o good soldier, when beaten in siege
he had adopted ruse de guerre, for which
tho day had given q capital excuse. Oul
star pupil remained with us until com
menceu.snt, and as she went away from
Lewiston the echoes Of schoolgirl goodbye
wcro mingled with those Of wedding bell!
and congratulations to Jack Landon'i
bride, wooed and won by a valentine.
| EDlNE HOWARD.