Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-02-13
Aunt SeIina's Valentine


@HE postman's whistle was clear
and shrill that morning, the 18th of
. February, and az he lifted the
knocker on Aunt Selina's narrow green
door the sound echoed through the house
and reached the ears of the little lady,
who hastily threw aside the brush she
was using and, shaking the dust from
her long print apron, opened the door
with pleasant smile.
The smile vanished, however, and a
look of surprise took Its place as she was
given large square envelope, pure
white, and tied with dainty pink rib bons
and quaint little bows, which even her
nimble fingers found it hard to unite; but
a little later it was spread out on the
table before her, valentine, all lace and
flowers and satin bows, with two angels
bearing up a line of love.
Aunt Selina's face was a study. In
deed, she made a picture sitting there by
the old ireside trying to solve this mys-
terry, and when evening came and when
she went to feed her chickens and dog
Rover, her only companions, she was still
asking herself over and over:
who in all the wide world can care
enough for me to send me such mes
sage of loveY
Aunt Selina's life had been a quiet one;
her mother had died while she was a
child, and, with the help of an old nurse,
she had been housekeeper for her father
and one brother, older than herself, and
when this brother married sheywas Aunt
Selma, not only to his children, but to
their little friends as well, for her sunny
nature made her favorite with them
all. When her father died she was left
with the cottage and little garden and
enough money to live comfortably in a
quiet way.
But, though 80 years of age, she had
never had lover, so now as her mind
ran over the gentlemen whom she knew
she could think of no one who would
send her valentine. Still there was the
Baysyille postmark, the town where she
lived, and once again she went through
her list of acquaintance.
There's Deacon Hayes-but he is SC
8ld and gray it can't be he. And Carlos
Brown, he sits in the pew at my right
iMt he is really too poor to think of
liking a wife"
For, some way, Aunt Selma felt that
Sf meant that, else why should one send
gs costly a valentine to an old maid?
Once she thought of asking the post
man, and then laughed at the idea AS
if he would know. He was a bachelor
Of middle age, and rumor said that he
had no liking for ladies' society, owing to
some experience before coming to Bays
willie.
Aunt Selma thought that his manner
bore out this statement, as he had made
few friends and seemed not to care for
the cheerful "Good morning" which she
gave him whenever he stopped at her
door.
It must be confessed that when the
next Sunday came, Aunt Selma was, I'M
usually careful of her dress. She wore
her new black silk, and her wavy brown
hair was neatly coiled beneath the small
velvet bonnet, which she had freshened
up with a new satin bow, for she felt
sure that her valentine friend would be
at church that morning, and as she en-
tered the color rose in her fair face. for
she felt that the deacon had spoken
more kindly than usual, as she came
up the gravel walk, Mr.. Brown had tax
en- her hand in greeting and Squire Wat.
kins, her fathers old friend, had in.
CURED for her health.
As she went back to her quiet home
she wondered If brighter future were
In store for her, something besides the
loneliness that had been her lot for many
years.
Time passed, and at length, hearing
nothing more from the sender of her val.
entine. she decided that either he did moi
wish to be known, or had not the cour.
age to carry the matter farther, so the
little token was laid away, the one 70.
nance of Aunt Salinas life.
One day boy came running to he1
door with a message, which read:
"I am very sick; will you come to ME
Your postman. JOHN MOORE. :
"Bleak House, Baysville"
Yes, Aunt Salina would go, she was
always ready to help the suffering, but
when she entered the room where John
Moore lay, the nurse came quickly to-
ward her, telling her that he had not
long to live, and she thought the same
when she saw what wreck the fever
had made of the once strong man.
Perhaps it was his constitution that
brought him through, or it may have
been Aunt Selina's cheerful face and gen
tie ways, for John Moore did not die
although 1t was Eany weeks before he
could travel his rounds again, and dur.
ing that time Aunt Selma learned how
much he had cared for her, and that il
was he who had sent the valentine, hop
ing the Nttle message would, in some
way, help him to gain her love, for il
was not true, the report which the gos
sips of Baysville had brought against
him, but more reserved nature which
had made him seem Indifferent to those
who would like to have been his friends
Aunt Selma soon found that he was 6
noble, true-hearted man, one she could
trust with her whole love and life, and
when he asked:
Twill you share the home have made
ready with the thought of your" she die
not refuse, but a little later went quiet
" into the church which the children
had filed with flowers, and when she saw
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