Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1903 — Aunt Selina’s Valentine [ARTICLE]

Aunt Selina’s Valentine

postman’s whistle was clear II and shrill Jhat morning, the 14th of 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 threw 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 as she was given a large square - envelope, pure ■white, and tied with dainty pink ribbons and quaint little bows, which even her nimble fingers found it hard to untie; but . a little later it was spread out on the table before her, a valentine, all lace and flowers and satin bows, with two angels bearing up a line of love. Aant Selina’s face was a study, indeed, she made a picture sitting there by the old fireside trying to solve this mystery. 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 message 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, ■he had been housekeeper for her father and "one brother, older than herself, and when this brother married she was Aunt Selina, uot only to his children, but to their little friends as well, for her sunny ' nature made her a favorite with them all. When her father died she was left -with the. cottage and little garden and enough money to live comfortably in n quiet way. ” But, though 30 years of age, she had never had a lover, so now as her mind ran over the gentlemen whom she kuew she could think of no one who would send her a valentine. Still there was the Raysville postmark, the town where she lived, and once again she went through her list of acquaintances. "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, but he is really too poor to think of taking n wife.” For, some way, Aunt Selina felt that it meant that, else why should one send •o costly a valentine to an old maid? • Once she thought of asking the postman. kiul then laughed nt the idea. As if he would know. He was a bachelor of middle age, and rumor said lhat he hadfeiio liking for ladies’ society, owing to some experience before coming to Raysville. ,

Aunt Selina thought that his manner bon* out this statement, as he had made few friends and seemed not to care for the cheerful “Good morning” which she gave him whenever fie stopped at her door. It must be confessed that when the next Sunday came. Aunt Selina was unusually 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 freshened up with a new satin bow, for she felt sure that her valentine friend would be at church that morning, and as she entered the color rose in her fair face, for she felt that the deacon had spoken more kindly than usual, ns she came up the gravel walk. Mr. Brown had taken her hand in greeting nnd ’Squire Watkins. her father’s old friend, hnd inquired for her health. As she went back to her quiet home she wondered if a brigliter future were in store for her, something besides the loneliness that hnd been her lot for many years. , Time passed, and nt length, henring nothing more from the sender of her valentine, she decided that either he did not wish to be known, or had not the courage to carry the matter farther, so the little token wns laid nway, the one romnnee of Aunt Salina’s life. One day a “boy came running to her door with a message, which read: “1 am very sick; will you come to me? Your postman. JOHN MOORE. “Bleak House. Baysvillc.” Yes. Aunt £a!inn would go. she was ' "Mis* r*it<fy to help the suffering, but when; she entered the room where John Matte Iny. the nunc came quickly tov.Xrd her, telling her that he had not long to five, and she thought the same when site mw what a wreck the fever had made of the once strong man. Perhaps it was his constitution that brought him through, or It'mil y have been Aunt Selina’s cheerful face and gentle wnya, for John Moore did not die, although it was many weeks before he could travel his rounds again, and during that time Aunt Selina learned how (Buch he had cared for her, and that It

was he who had sent, the valentine, hoping the little message would, in some way, help him to gain her love, for it was not true, the report which the gossips of Baysville had brought against him, but more a reserved nature which had made him seem indifferent to those who would like to have been his friends. AuntSelinaeoon found that die-was a noble, true-hearted man, one she could trust with her whole love and life, and when he asked: “Will you share the home I have made ready with the thought of you?” she did not refuse, but a little later went quietly into the church which the children had filled with flowers, and when she saw the sweet blossoms and realized that all this had been done for her, tears of happiness filled her eyes and she thought: “How fair is life and all "changed for me by the aid of a valentine.” —Indianapolis Sun.