The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-03-16
VALENTINE VILLA.

Timothy Biggleswade was an old
bachelor of as. He looked older
than he was, partly through the re-
served, lonely life he led, which,
though regular, was monotonous to
degree, and partly because of set
tied air of melancholy which preva-
ded him.
Otherwise, he was upright, with
plenty of dark brown hair, just
sprinkled with gray; but his whole
appearance betokened the lack of the
refining, bright influence of woman.
Anyone could see at glance that
Timothy Biggleswade was a bache-
lor, and that he took not the slight
est interest in female society.
Each morning at 9 O'Clock, with
the punctuality born of long years of
routine, Timothy left his semi-de-
tached villa in the little suburb of
Hoxton, and after carefully shutting
the gate of the modest little garden
which belonged to Acacia Villa, he
bent his way to the station, caught
his usual train, bought his same
morning paper, made the same re-
marks to his fellow-passengers, and
duly arrived at his Office in Eastcheap,
to commence his days work.
Timothy was growing rich. He
was rich enough to live in much
larger house than Acacia Villa.
Business people, who thought they
knew Timothy, called him "close-
listed customer" and his Office boy
stood in terror of him; but there was
a vulnerable point in Timothy's char
acter.
It was because of Acacia Villa that
he was a bachelor. The other villa
which adjoined his was named Prim-
rose, and in it resided a Miss Tabitha
Wilkins. She was a few years
younger than her neighbor-a dainty
old maid. whose careful sheltered
life had left her with ideals, and
whose love disappointment had not
embittered her.
Still nice looking, witt clear blue
eyes, figure growing perhaps trihe
sparse, but trim and taut, wearing
ever her favorite grays or blacks,
Miss Tabitha Wilkins was an ideal
gentle-woman of the old school, and
adored by her domestic, Harriet.
And though Harriet often wonder
ed if her mistress had ever known
loves young dream, she had not the
faintest idea that once Miss Tabitha
had been on the point of marrying
Mr.. Biggleswad, who resided next
door.
1t was true, however, and though
for ten years they had not spoken,
the memory of his sweetheart kept
old Tim from enlarging his mode of
living, and though Miss Tabitha's in
vestments had trebled, and she could
we'll have afforded to reside in more
aristocratic neighborhood, she clung
to Primrose Villa, because of her love
affair with Mr.. Biggleswade.
And strangely enough, Acacia
Villa and Primrose Villa had caused
the quarrel which had finally resulted
in the rupture of the engagement.
Timothy and Tabitha were both
much in love but, like many anoth-
er man, Timothy thought his sweet
heart in all matters of finance and
business should bow down to his su-
perior wisdom, whilst pretty little
Tabitha thought that a mans first
duty was to obey his loves wishes.
Their people had died, and each
had succeeded to the inheritance of
the house in which they resided, and
the quarrel arose as to which of the
houses they should let and which
live in, when they married.
Tabitha pleaded for hers. She
had lived in it all her life it was as
sociated with all Timothy's love max
ing, with all the honeyed sweet moth
ing he had whispered in her ear but
Timothy shook his head.
"No; her villa must be let, and
they must live in his. A Biggleswade
had lived in Acacia Villa for fifteen
years, and Biggleswade must con.
tinue in it. 1t was dear to him as
his fathers house. His father had
built it. and as young lad, he had
watched its growth. No; Timothy
could not let it. Tabitha must lei
hers.
And the little rift spread wider, till
it burst, and for ten long years, though
next door neighbors, the former low
ers had never exchanged one word
If by any chance they met, they care
fully looked the other way.
Seated in his comfortable Office on
Valentine Eve, Timothy felt strange
ly depressed.
He arose, and went to give hi:
office boy some directions, when a
wide grin on that young gentleman
face caught his attention.
"What are you doing there, Smith
Wasting time? What's that rub
bish?" And Mr.. Biggleswade's hanc
seized a picture on which his Office
boy was writ ng.
When he saw what it was, a pans
went through his heart. 1t was
valentine
Yes, it was a valentine ! 1t wa
also the copy of one that Timoth.
remembered having sent to Tabitha
in the days of long ago.
A beautiful drawn bunch of for
get -me-nots encircled two hearts, ant
underneath it was written:
Accept this valentine from me,
My truest love offer thee"
"Please, sir, it's only valentine
was sending to-my-girl. L
stammered the boy, looking very rec
and sheepish. Who would hav'
thought the governor was going t
pounce on him like that? And now
perhaps, he would get the sack.
But TO his great surprise, his mas
ter returned him the gay missive
and walked away into his inne
Office.
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