Alaska sentinel., 1903-02-12
Aunt SeIina's Valentine

CDHE postman's whistle was clear and shrill that morning, the 14th of S February, and as 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 it's place as she was given a 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 line of love-
 Aunt Selina's face was study. h. deed. she made a picture sitting there by the old ireside trying to solve this rys- tery, 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 a mes- sage of loveW
 Aunt Selna's life had been 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 orie brother, older than herself, and when this brother married she was Aunt Selina, 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 30 years of age, she had never had a 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 Baysville postmark. the town where she lived, and once again she went through her list of acquaintances.
 There's Deacon Hayes-but he is so old and gray it can't be he. And Carlos Brown, he sits in the pew at my right. but he Is really too poor to think of taking wife"
 For, some way. Aunt Selina felt that it meant that, else why should one send so costly 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 ville.
 Aunt Selina thought that his manner bore out this statement, as he had made l 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 Selina was un- 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 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. Mir. Brown had talk en her hand in greeting and Squire Wat kins, her fathers old friend, had In quired for her health.
 | As she went back to her quiet home she wondered if a 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 not wish to be known, or had not the cour- age to carry the matter farther, so the little token was laid away, the one TO- nance of Aunt Salinas life.
 | One day a boy came running to her door with a message, which read:
 "I am very sick; will you come to me :? Your postman. JOHN MOORE. Bleak House. Baysyille." 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 lad made of the once strong man. Perhaps 1t 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, i although it was many weeks before he could travel his rounds again. and dur 1 ing that time Aunt Selna learned how much he had cared for her, and that it