Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1904-02-12

Aunt Madeline from her mother. She
must not deprive her brothers of Rufus
aid or Minnie of the safe refuge she
could command for her if she gave up
Herbert. With pale lips, the girl said:
wait a moment, mother; I'll speak to
Aunt Madeline; only let me sit alone q
while"
The mother, frightened at the girls
looks, yet knowing how good and true
man Rufus Clark was, left the room,
though longing to uphold her girl in her
| first decision, and Kitty sat alone, not
wavering now, only waiting until it
should grow dusk that her face might not
betray her.
Meanwhile Mrs. Joyce was packing
her trunks and boxes, for she was de-
termined woman, and meant to keep her
word. A friend had repeatedly urged her
to come and keep "old maids hall" with
her, and sometimes when the boys were
particularly Quarrelsomo and noisy Aunt
Madeline had felt inclined to accept, and
had limited as much to Miss Mills, who
often said she would expect her lat any
time" So now she telegraphed to Bos-
ton that she was to come by the night
train, and went to work at her packing
to keep down the feelings of regret and
conjunction that threatened to over
whelm her. She decided she would not
pack all, but send or come for the rest.
and thought with relief that she need
not sort over her old mementoes of for
mer days; but there was one paper she
must get at and take with her. AS she
turned over a box full of papers she
came across a pink envelope, worn and
faded, but one that in its day was evil
IDENTIFY chosen for its beauty to hold some
dainty message.
"Harry's valentine! poor fellow, poor
fellow. My own loving Harry" and she
opened the faded envelope with fast
falling tears. 1t was not Henry Joyce.
the drunkard. of whom she thought; it
was her bonnie lover Of those long years
back. She seemed to be standing again,
loving, trusting girl of eighteen, and to
see his blue eyes so full of love, so beau
tiful and true to her, beamins upon her,
as he said:
~ wrote 1t myself. Pet, and l want
you to keep it always-from your Val
entine."
"Always-forever" she had answered,
with blush. All, there is always one
that gives, and one that takes, in love
affairs. If she had been the giver, pour
ing out her very life in devotion and
sacrifice for him. had she not found n
wonderful secret happiness, even in her
pain? Would she even now have her
past life different? She pressed the fad
ed valentine to her lips.
"Aunt Madeline, have come to say
,,Ir ,,i,
up-l'll marry Rufus Clark. Herbert
will understand, poor fellow. DO stay,
Aunt Madeline"
"Stay! who talked of going? What
nonsense! Just because | choose to look
over my things on rainy afternoon lit
was perfectly dry outside, but the old
lady was hard put to i'll, ito take it for
granted am going. And as for Rufus
Clark, let him go. my child. let him 90.
/ suppose you want Herbert, for better,
for worse, and if it's for worse, dear"
and the old lady's voice grew tender and
solemn, God will help you. us he has
helped many another. The happieSt
marriages are not always the trucst-
some one must bear with and sustain
Tie feeble ones. Keep your Herbert, as
I You love him, and God bless YOU
The girl longcd to say, but Herbert
is not feeble. and there won't be any
worse but all better in our maria -
hut she was wise, and let the old lady
have the floor.
"rhcre, this old valentine conquered
mc--mcre doSgercl, | suppose, the lines
seem to YOU and Aunt Madeline reud
the verses to Kitty. which were dpggcrel.
and probably only slightly altered from