Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1903-02-07
Aunt SeIina'S Valentine
EDHE postman's whistle was clear
and shrill that morning, the 18th of

CDHE postman's whistle was clear
and shrill that morning, the 18th of
q 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 Ithrew aside the brush she
was using and, shaking the dust from
her long print apron, opened the door
with a pleasant smile.
The smile vanished, however and a
look of surprise took its place rs she was
given large square envelope, pure
white, and tied with dainty pink ribbons
and quaint little bows, which even her
nimble fingers found it hard to unite; but
a little later 1t 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 Sclna's face was Il study. In
deed, she made a picture sitting there by
the old Preside 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 a mes
sage Of love"
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 housekecper for her father
and one brother, older than herself, and
when this brother married she was Aunt
Selma, not only to his children, but to
their little friends as we'll, for her sunny
nature made her q favorite with them
aN When her father died she was left
with the cottage and little garden and
enough money to live comfortably in Il
quiet way.
But, though 80 years of age. she had
never had a lover, so now as her mind
ran over the gentlemen whom she kew
she could think of no one who would
send her valentine Still there was the
Haysvillc postmark, the town where she
lived and once again she went through
her list of acquaintance.
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,
taking a wife"
For, some way, Aunt Selma felt that
1t meant that, else why should one send
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
vile.
Aunt Selma thought that his manner
bore out this statement, as he had made
1. i 4
the cheerful Good morning" which she
gave him whenever he stopped at her
door.
1t 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 freshencd
up with a new satin bow, for she felt
sure that her valentine friend would be
nj 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
kius. her fathers old friend. had in
Quired for her health.
As she went pack to her quiet home
she wondered if q 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
cutine 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 ro-
nance of Aunt Salinas life.
One day a boy came running to her
door with q message, which read
Il am very sick; will you come to me?
Your postmau. JOHN MOORE.
Bleak House, BaysviHc.'
hes, Aunt Satina would go, she was
"iways ready to help the suffering. but
when she entered the room where John
hoore 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 a wreck the fever
had 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 gon-
tie ways, for John Moore did not die
although it was many weeks before he
eould travel his rounds again. and dur
he that time Aunt Selma learned how
Guch he had cared for her, and that it