The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-02-15

ready been mentioned IL ia perhaps I'M
necessary to hint of pumpkin pies and red
raspberry jam. Oh, that jam OF Miss
Sally'sl Even now, ut tho mere thought
Of 1t, my mouth waters and my lips invol
unfairly smack
There were, however, several young
imps In this country town who would not
be won by Miss Sally's kindness or cook
ing. They stole her apples and trampled
down her flower beds They made faces
at her on the street and hurt her by jeer
ing remarks about her condition in life
Young brutes arc to be found In every
community.
1t was from one of these hobbledehoys
that blow, destined to hurt and injure
the inoffensive woman, came the morning
on which this story opens. Miss Sally
eyed her three letters with rapture un-
known to those with whom a large mail
Is q daily occurrence. She held them up
and carefully scrutinized the postmarks.
She felt of them to discover their thick.
ness. She hesitated for some time before
opening them. 1t was such a treat to
have three lettersl
At last she opened one which bore the
postmark Of O distant western town and
read a letter from second cousin who
had recently moved toward the setting
sun. Miss Sally read Cousin Elvira's let
ter with relish. There wero many bits of
family news which greatly interested her.
AT last she came to this line: You never
could guess who is living here. Do you
remember your old beau, John Terry"
Miss Sally dropped the letter with O
quick exclamation. Did she remember'
A tempest shook tho lonely soul. Tho long
buried past camo back. Youth, beauty,
love, hope, passed in hasty and mournful
procession before her. The poor, plain old
maIu was once again aiIll, gracerui slip
of a girl. She saw face at onco hand
some and tender; she heard a loving voice.
Poor Miss Sally! 1t was too much for
her. She could not finish the letter. The
tears were falling down her thin checks as
she hastily returned 1t to tho envelope and
laid it one side to be rercad when sho was
more composed.
I'm just glance at the others" she
thought as she wiped her eyes on her ging.
ham apron. The second letter was merely
a note regarding some sewing. Tho third
--ah When Miss Sally opened that onvel.
ope and saw the contents she felt indeed
that her CUP was full.
A hideous, coarsely painted comic val
entine met her eye. A frightful old wom
an, with corkscrew ringlets, huge beak,
cross eyes, gaunt form, scrawny neck and
mincing attitudes, was portrayed upon
the cheap paper. 1t was labeled "Old
Maid" and some wretohed doggerel under
tho picture stated that this object, with
cred, grizzly, ugly old bag, was In search
of husband and was terror to all single
men.
The vile caricature slipped from Miss
Sally's trembling hand to tho floor. The
shrinking sensitive soul was wounded to
the quick by tho insult. Possibly she
might not have felt the stab so kecnly had
1t not come directly upon the letter which
had spoken q name sho had not dared to
breathe to herself these many years.
This, then, was her ST. Valentines day.
Miss Sally had forgotten it was the 14th Of
February Why should she remember it?
But these two rude shocks brought the
day forcibly to her mind.
Rising, she CROSSED the room to an old
fashioned secretary, and opening drawer
took out an envelope, yellow with age.
From this she drew bit of paint and lace
and rosobuds-a valentine, tho only one
sho had ever received, sent her years ago
by John Terry. 1t horU two hearts trans.
fixed by one arrow, and th2-e were some
simple rhymes inscribed which breathed
of love and fidelity. Its Lace was frayed,
Its paint dimmod. Only faded leaf dron