Show tf- tf 1 j A t. t J. rINI Io liet a t I UELLA tramped down to th the r i mall box through snow that tha k had Imd drifted as high as he hex p knees The postman was late S 4 This was her her- third trip and I Iwas it It zv was almot ark There was good goon reason for tho 1 lateness te ess Luella knew for It was Valentine day am and I more more than likely the dozens of pink and blue sentiments he be left along hi his route bad had caused the delay Her own heart beart was beating hard not hard no noso not so much with the delicious joy jpy of an an- for for she hardly expected a valentine from anybody anybody as as with ex ex- ex S What If after all somebody S hn had thought of her I As she drew near to the box she stopped for an Instant What if It w was i empty Oh well weIl she was used to no not getting things and life wouldn't be any different than before She went werft on oc down lown to the box lifted the lid and I peeked InOh In tn Oh Ohi h I Luella's gray eyes widened I with Bonder For there in the box lay another cubical in hi shape violet in iii L eol color r and ti tied d fl with 1 silver cord Oh Ob Ohl i she said a again aln standing on her tiptoes to get a atter Jetter setter view view She touched It it cautiously lest it van vanish I s b. b Its a j mistake I know w No one in the world would send m me something like that She thought of ot all aU the people she knew and made a rapid retrospection retrospection re re- re- re of the theone theone 0 one n e stationers stationer's shop In town and its possibilities In Inthe Name and Address Ad Ad- the way of sentimental senti sent dress Were Hers mental souvenirs Tb There re was no one she could think of who would send her er anything and nothing that she could remember that thai would come come In a box like that And Anc Mr Marks she knew had never seen string He used red and white cord that looked like peppermint t candy and since paper was so high hIghbe he be had bad even eve charged extra for en el She laid back the the- lid of ot the letter letterbox letterbox box and took the violet box ten tenderly tender er- er ly in both hands as she would have lifted a sick baby Yes the name und address were bers hers She had received received received re re- re- re a valentine She laid her cheek against Its damp cold old top where the snowflakes were already doing their best to obliterate the address You darling she whis whis- You dear Then she folded It carefully under her ber shawl and turned turned back o 0 o the house bouse Well Il pad iId Miss 1 Mathilda looking S up from the stove where she was frying fryIng fryIng fry- fry Ing eggs for th their lr supper was was was' he be here bereT Luella shut the door still keeping her treasure out of sight Yes she sheI I answered J slowly Then Thea producing the box bor He left this TIm Hm I 1 Who's it for tor Me le Who Vho from S I dont don't know If It I catch any of these young sillies hangin round after atter you Ill I'll get rid of them In short in-short short order But auntie no one one is hanging round And theres there's s no harm in a valentine valentine val val- val val- entine is there It depends said the older woman i grimly Open Ito it Luella laid the box on the white tablecloth beside her own plate and untied the cord with trembling fin fin- gers get Inside In a nest of or ord d damp mp tissue paper nestled a a a. gorgeous bunch of double violets With a little cry of Joy she burled buried her face in the fragrant mass On Oh Aunt Mathilda a are r e nt I I they beautiful i iI S I suppose L j they're from that young oung fellow In IQ int t I I New York ex examining ex- ex th the wrapper wrapper wrapper wrap wrap- per for the post post- I mark Yes I 1 Itro tro thought so New so-New New NewYork York I Luella started and her face w went nt crimson lie He keep aee- aee tip up that gratitude Told Him to Mind business forever 1 I His Own Business her aunt went onIt on It was all right after be he got hurt burt In his automobile flat we nursed him back to life for him Wm to write trite a couple of ot times But I answered both letters and told him Mm as much as to mind his own business That should have been beeD an nn end to It I know this sinful old world and when I 1 was told told- to take care carp of you I promised to do It it and I have The ideal 1 He Tie must must must-be be away tip on the top of In New York 7 and and you youa a quiet little little mouse of n a girl lay away l' l ay off here In In Inthe the country Why you two haven't ha got any more In com common common common mon than a weasel and a settin hennell hen lien Hell He'll marry some rich girl of his own kind no matter what be he says and he needn't be makin eyes at you VIolets Violets Vio Vie lets Indeed I 1 Is there any nay card or lettel letter letter let let- ter tel or anything No N auntie I 1 Luella's lips trembled guiltily as ns she said it for when uhe hind had buried burled her face in the flowers she had hind noticed a little hittie white card d down wn among the leaves But her ber aunts aunt's words hurt fearfully and ed she sho was afraid s she ie couldn't stand any more Ill put put them in water on the the sitting sit sit- ting room table L Luella filling ting room said a bowl ping ling Into the other ro room m. m She slipped sUpped out the card and read Dear little girl I love you Bob lI Her r heart beart hammering so she was afraid afraid her aunt would hear henr it and her lier face face afla aflame ie with s suppressed excitement excitement ex ex- ex- ex she went back and made an attempt to eat her hr supper But as the evening wore wore- on her iler aunts aunt's wo words ds got in their effect Hell marry some rich girl of his own class cla s. s It was true of course And the card was only a valentine and It didn't mean any any- thing TIe He was wag a probably sending similar so souvenIrs venh's I with like sentiments sent send ments meats to all the 1 girls he knew So she went to tobed toe bet bed e and cried J herself her her- er 5 s self lf to sleep with the card tucked under her pillow and dream dreamed d that Bob was flying out Didn't t Mean Any of sight in a silver thing airship with violet wings and w waving good goodby by to a a. a crowd of girls all of whom when she looked more clo closely ely bad had her ber own ie features tures She was wakened wakened by y th the aunt aunt callIn call call- callIns In Ins Inc Luella oh Luella Luelia Do you jou think you you could be be r ready ady to make the eight o'clock train Ive I've been thinking I 1 could get those new curtains made If I had the stuff today You could be beback beback beback back by noon noon All right auntie Ill I'll go I Luella began dressing rapidly The touch of the card ard had bad brought back everything and she was glad of ot a chance to get awa away She ate her ber breakfast and passed the sitting sitting room room without once glancing in at the violets Perhaps she was foolish to feel teel so about a n valentine sent in fun but they recalled her aunts aunt's words too keenly She went straight from the station to the store and took the elevator to the fourth floor where she was directed for tor curtain goods She walked through a a department of ot rich oriental rugs the c colors lors of which glowed glo wonderfully Inthe in inthe inthe the the warm lights fr from m skillfully lIy placed lamps She felt as if she had bad rubbed Aladdin's magical lam lamp and had bad suddenly suddenly suddenly sud sud- denly been transported to the Orient A man came forward to ask If he could be of service and Luella re reo re- re i turning her eyes away I from the scene gave a little cry 7 Bob Bobi I S Luella I It was dear of you 10 to S i c come me 1 I Did you f get my note Yes Yes but but I I-I I I Will you please cr- cr tell leU me me where the I curtain goods is 1 Va Au Aunt n a t Mathilda t sent me in to buy some There was a aThey aThey They Can Walt Wait bl high high backed backed ked bench benchIn and I Cant In a secluded cor corner corner cor- cor ner ncr concealed by palms He drew her toward it they enn can wait walt dear Oear and I cant Come and sit down and i tell tehi u me you care enough t to mn rrY me dear dean I r When u 3 save save am ones any n ones one's life Ue- Ue you jou have to o pay the he the penalty by marrying him you know Arent Aren Areno you o Just g grateful she stam starn- P Perhaps i h he ho And nd dont don't you you think you ought to marry a society ty girl I I 1 dont don't know anything about s so so- so clety mid arid dont don't wl want vant nt to to I want y you you u that's all ali Oh B Bob b I 1 cried r ed edLu Lu Luella happily Then it If was was' wasa a re really Uy truly valentine Copyright 1917 by the McClure Newspaper per Syndicate |