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

ready been mentioned. 1t Is perhaps un-
necessary to hint of pumpkin pics and red
raspberry jam. Oh, that fam Of Miss
Sally'sl Even now, at tho mere thought
of it, 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 OH 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 hobblcdehoys
that blow, destined to hurt and injure
the inofensive woman, came the morning
on which this story opens. Miss Sally
eyed her three letters with a rapture un.
known to those with whom largo mail
is daily occurrence. She held them up
and carefully scrutin!zed the postmarks
She felt of thcm to discover their thick
ness. Shc hesitatod for somo time before
opening them. It was such treat to
have three letters!
At last she opened ono which bore the
postmark Of a distant western town and
read letter from second cousin who
had recently moved toward the setting
sun. Miss Sally read Cousin Elvira's let
ter with relish. There were many bits OF
family news which greatly interested her.
At last she camo to this line: You never
could guess who is living here. DO you
remember your old beau, John Torry?'
Miss Sally dropped the letter with
quick exclamation. Did she remember?
A tempest shook the lonely soul. Tho long
buried past came back Youth, beauty,
love, hope, passed in hasty and mournful
procession before her. The poor, plain old
maid was once again a slim, graceful slip
Of a, girl. She saw faco at once hand
some and tender; she heard 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 the envelope and
laid 1t ono side to be rerend when she was
more composed. @
III just glance at the Others" she
thought MS she wiped her eyes on her cling
ham apron. Tho second letter was merely
notc rrgnrding>some sewing Tho third
-ahl When Miss Sally opened that envel-
ope and saw tho contents, she felt Indeed
that her cup was full.
A hideous, coarse1y painted comic val
entino 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
tho cheap paper. 1t was labeled "Old
Maid, {" and some wretched doggsrcl under
tho picture stated that this object, a with
cred, grizzly, ugly old hing, was IN search
OF husband and was terror to all single
men.
The vile caricature slipped from Miss
sally's trembling hand to the foot The
shrinking, sensitive soul was wounded to
the quick by the insult. Possibly she
might not have felt the stab so kcenly had
1t not coEze directly upon the letter which
had spoken name she hid not dared to
breathe to herself these many years.
This, then, was her ST. Valentines day
Miss Sally had forgotten 1t was the 14th Of
February Why should she remember 1t:
Bat these two rndo shocks brought The
day forcibly to her mind.
Rising, she crossed tho 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 rosebuds-a valentine, tho only one
she hnd ever received, sent her years ago
by John Terry. 1t bore two hearts trans
fixed by ono arrow, and there wero some
simple rhymes inscribed which brcathetl
of love and fidelity. Its lace was frayed,
its paint dimmed. Only faded leaf drop