Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-02-12
Aunt Maje!ine's Valentine.
~~~~~~~~~

R ND the girl clings to this silly no
| N\ ton? It's preposterous! If you
! SS don't make her give up that poor
no more to do with any of you. I go
tonight unless the girl gives in. She's
your daughter; make her obeyw And
Aunt Madeline walked out of the room,
leaving her niece-gentle, helpless Mrs.
Price-in despair, for we'll she knew that
her persuasions were powerless with 10y
al Kitty Price.
Kitty, the eldest Of the widows four
children, had been Aunt Madeline's pro-
tege for years. Ever since her fathers
death the child had been clothed and edu-
Gated by this aunt of Mr.. Prices, child
less widow, who, to be near her darling
Kitty, had for the last three years board
ed with Mrs. Price, her liberal payment
and well-chosen gifts helping out the
widows straitened income in a way all
Of them appreciated. That Aunt Made
| line ''should go'' meant that Jack must
| leave school and go to business, that the
little ones could have no new suits that
winter, that only bare necessities could
be bought, perhaps not even these. Yet
Mrs. Price felt afraid to interfere fur
ther with Kitty's choice of husband.
1t was true that the rich Rufus Clark
seemed to others fully as good a man.,
kind, steady and devoted, as Herbert
Huntley, who had a small salary and no
bright prospects. But Kitty unfortu-
nately loved Herbert before Rufus ap-
peared on the field, and she did not be-
lieve her aunt Madeline, who assured her
that Herbert would take to drink" or
let her support herself and her family
after a few years.
Aunt Madeline had made a love match
herself, and it had not turned out well.
She, too, had been loved by a rich man,
and by one who, if not poor, was not
blessed with much Of this worlds goods.
She persisted in marrying her choice, re-
verses had come, and he, weak charac-
| ter, could not bear trials, resorted to
stimulants to cheer him up, and at last
was for years dependent upon his wife
| for his home and support. The rich low
er never married, and just when Mrs.
Joyce (Aunt Madeline) was preparing to
go to work to earn her own support, he
died, leaving his one love his large for
tune. Judging by her own experience
Aunt Madeline had some excuse for ad-
VOCdllHS IudTTyluS IOF IuOHeN luStcdu Ol
for love; but "all lovers don't turn out
so," Kitty argued, and was sure that
manly Herbert, who had supported his
sister for years and was thoroughly tried
by repeated disappointments and re-
verses, was very different from weak,
vacillating Henry Joyce.
II won't give him up. I ought not to.
can't the girl was just repeating,
I1uho hnp nI hor
door. Mrs. Price was one of those wom-
en- who never entered a child's room with
out knocking. She respected each ones
privacy, and perhaps it was for that rea
son that her children confided so fully in
her, taking her as their one confdant.
"Come in, Motherdy. l can see Aunt
Madeline has been tormenting you again.
Why doesn't she come to me instead OF
worrying you? l think it mean, and I've
good mind to tell her so.''
''You won't have q chance, my dear:
your aunt is going to leave tonight
Leave! for good? o mother! and I
have done this when you need the help
she gives so much! 1 wish" and Kit
tvs voice sounded so hesitatingly that
Mrs. Price ventured one last appeal.
kitty, dear, it is sacrifice, and one
cannot ask of you, but If you make it OF
your own free will you are doing a great
and unselfish thing. Rufus Clark would
take Jim into his employ. your aunt
would see Jack through college, Minnie
would have a luxurious home with you.
moving in the best society, if anything
happens to me-and Rufus is as good as
HERBERT cannot but think your liking
would soon grow as warm for him as for
your early love-.
The girls face was white and fixed.
She loved her brothers and little sister
devotedly, and then, too, had not her dy-
ing father begged her to be a true elder
sister to them? He might have fore
seen some trial like this, for only day
or two before he died he said to Kitty,
when she sat alone with him.
MY girl, you have a hard lot before
you-the eldest daughter of a poor
widow-you may have to sacrifice
bright future for the sake Of your orphan
brothers and sister: but do it cheerfully,
bravely, and unselfshly and God will
make such sacrifice work out for you a
far more exceeding and eternal weight
of glory"
These words seemed ringing in the
poor girls ears. She must not drive
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 moment, mother; I'll speak to
Aunt Madeline; only let me sit alone
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
wayering now, only waiting until it
should grow dusk that her face might not
betray her.