Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-02-12

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 quarrelsome 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
compunction 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 box full of papers she
came across a pink envelope, worn and
faded, but one that in its day was evil
dently chosen for it's beauty to hold some
dainty message.
"Harrys valentine! poor fellow, poor
fellow! Ny 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,
a loving, trusting girl of eighteen, and to
see his blue eyes so full Of love, so beau
tiful and true to her, beaming upon her,
as he said:
II wrote it myself, Pet, and I 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
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, I have come to say
you need not pack your things. I'll give
up-I'n marry Rufus Clark. Herbert
will understand, poor fellow. Do stay,
Aunt Madeline!'
"Stay! who talked of going: What
nonsense! Just because l choose to look
over my things on a rainy afternoon" Gt
was perfectly dry outside, but the old
lady was hard put to it,, ''to take it for
granted 1 am going! And as for Rufus
Clark, let him CO. my child. let him go.
l 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. as he has
helped many another. The happiest
marriages are not always the truest-
some one must bear with and sustain
the feeble ones. Keep your Herbert. as
you love him, and God bless you
The girl longed to say. But Herbert
is not feeble. and there won't be any
worse but all better in our marriage"
but she was wise. and let the old lady
have the floor.
me-mere doggerel, suppose. the lines
seem to you;'' and Aunt Madeline read
the verses to Kitty, which were doggerel,
and probably only slightly altered from
some old book. to suit the lovers pur-
pose. Mere doggerel: but keep your
valentines, dear. when they come from
your true love; they may keep you from
being a heartless, meddlesome old
wretch, and separating two true hearts,
as l came near doing"
Kitty's mother went down to the tea
table with bread. 1t would be almost as
bad to learn that Aunt Madeline was to
stay and dear Kitty sacrificed. as to bid
good-by to their one well-to-do relation.
To her surprise, Kitty and Aunty entered
the dining room together, the young girl
beaming and blushing, the old lady with
tender light in her eyes, and delicate
flush on her withered cheek.
Its all right, Motherdy," said Kitty,
joyously. "Aunty isn't going away, and
I needn't marry Rufus. He'll have to
wait for Minnier'
"But-I-" began Mrs. Price, wonder
ingly.
Mother, st. Valentine shall be my
patron saint hereafter!'
At which speech Aunty's flush deepen
ed, though she tried to come down grace
fully from her former attitude.
II still think Kitty is foolish, but time
will teach her her follyv and no one
argued to the contrary.
The wedding came of on st. Valen-
tines day. Kitty declaring that the saint