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Show Helpful Valentine "LeeJfiippcy FELDON had found the one girl-Nellie girl-Nellie Hastings. Nellie had great, lustrous eyes. When Fel-don Fel-don recited his own poetry she would gaze Intently Into his face with a rapt expression, as If thinking of a new list she would like to buy. And probably she was. When he finished reciting she would be silent a moment and then murmur : "How exquisite I" She didn't say what was exquisite, but Feldon thought he knew. But I would wager a little ou the hat. Feldon's family and I looked on his romance with extreme disfavor. But he would brook no criticism from his relatives. That was why he happened to be lodging with me in the studio, temporarily. Being only a friend I knew Feldon much better than his family did and was wise enough not to -how my disfavor for his suit. I knew Nellie, too, and felt sure her inlon with Feldon would not be best for nil concerned. Feldon was really a fine chap. He was original. He did not even Imitate other men In their vices, as most otherwise original men do. He hud a fine scorn for philandering philander-ing and excesses. He did not love to eat and drink or indulge in uny other common uppetite. His appetites were spiritual. I felt sure the girl for him would have to be a modern Pallas. But that is JUBt what he thought Nellie was. "She has a wouderful soul !" he would cry. "It looks out of her eyes. Every glance Is a lyric, every steadfast gaze a perfect poem I" When a inun who tells you his love is too deep for winds gushes forth like that about thirty times a day It usually usual-ly ends in a life sentence. There's no saving him. Still we tried hard, the family and I. The family pleuded, stormed and threatened. I tried sundry strategic moves. But till proved futile. Feldon und Nellie decided to marry In .May. They wouldn't bo married In June be-cuuse be-cuuse so many people get married then. It was early lu Februury when they definitely decided on the date, und then the family and I lost hope. But a few days Inter he come In looking so agitated I felt hopeful of calamitous news. His hair wus disheveled, di-sheveled, his collier awry, his tie bump backed. He paid no attention to me, but began at once to pace the floor feverishly, muttering unintelligibly as he walked and stopplug frequently to claw his hair frenzledly. I waited patiently pa-tiently for the floodgates to burst, but nothlug happened. Occasionally he would stare at me, but did not seem to see me. Finally he sat and began to write. I could not restrain an exclamation ex-clamation of profound disgust. "So It's a mere poem you're working mi 7" I sneered "1 thought something hud happened." He looked up dazedly a moment. Then he seemed to recall where he was and that I was a human being. Then his excitement flooded back. "A mere poem?" he cried. "This poem should be 'an echo and a IlKht unto eternity.' It should symbolize the uost perfect love which, ever existed B -g-jj !sBBasSsBk between human beings. St. Valentine's day is coming, you dolt. That day I am to pour out my heart In n poem to Nellie and she hers In a poem to me." "The deuce you say I" I exclnlmed. "I didn't know she wrote such stuff." "Her every thought Is a poem," he declared. For a week, Feldon labored incessantly inces-santly over that poem. He would hop out of bed In the middle of the night to change a word or put in a comma. He revised it a dozen times every day. It was a truly beautiful Jilng when he sent It away by messenger the morning of St. Valentine's day. The same messenger brought bac!i Nellie's valentine. What founded like the gasps of a dying man called me to Feldon's side five minutes later. He had fallen buck pale and limp, on a couch. I propped up his head ind ran for a stimulant, but he waved me away. "Don't save me," he pleaded. "Life Is all too taunting a mockery. I thought I had found a sonl perfect! responsive to harmony and melody and beauty and symmetry. But Just look what she wrote !" He held up Nellie's valentine, and 1 read : This valentine To you doth say I'm yours all ths Mm For evr and for ays; Bo when this you Do not forget To remember me Tour own Nel-lee. I read the valentine through twice, believing I saw possibilities In it. Feldon Fel-don groaned stendily the while. -vldon shamelessly deserted Nellie, leaving for an extended trip through I Jim i BTFTl Would Gaze Intently Into His Face. the West without stopping to say good-by. good-by. Both his family and I felt greatly lelleved. Shortly afterward I married Nellie myself. And ever since then the dear girl has made a handsome living for both of us by writing "ly rlcs" for popular songs. |