The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-04-12

had gone away from her into the next
country-and Nelly's grief had made her
gentle heart yet more gentle and her
helpful spirit yet more helpful.
Toward night, one summer day, she
had gone to see ar old woman who had
been her nurse once, and had found her
very ill-quite too ill to be left alone, and
certainly in need OF q physician. So
Nelly tore leaf from her memorandum
book and wrote on it a few lines, begging
DR.. Greene to come at once, and then
called to the first passer-bY and entreated
him to take it to the Doctor.
1t was scarcely half an hour before
DR.. Greene came in quietly and gravely.
He attended to his patient with that
careful consideration which made all
those poor souls whom he visited adore
/ him, Then he turned to Nelly.
"Who will stay with her to-nightp he
asked; "for indeed she hardly ought to
be left Alone"
81 shall stay" was the quiet answer,
"Then come to the door with me,
please, and let me give you your direc-
| tiOns."
Nelly followed and stood there in the
soft summer dusk-a pretty creature
with the wild rose flush dawning in her
checks and new light kindling in her
blue eyes. She listened carefully to all
his injunctions, and then turned as If
to 90. But he put out hand TO detain
her.
"How very much 1 owe to you," he
said.
"You, how?" and a deep, deep GRIM
son died Nelly's face and throat. In
that moment she thought OF her "bump-
tious" valentine, which had not crossed
her mind before for a long time.
| He looked at her with smile in his
eyes, but with a face that preserved all
its respectful gravity. He took his RED
leather case out of his pocket, and from
the case he took the very old valen-
tine which Nellie remembered so well.
Then ne produced the brief notes she
| had written that afternoon, and Sill
there was light enough left i'll the day
TO see them by as she held them side by
side.
| "Your hand has matured somewhat
since this valentine was written," he re-
marked, quietly; "but some OF those let
ters / should know anywhere. NO one
could deceive me-"
| ~ did not suppose you had kept that
foolish thing" Nelly said, with piiiul
little culver in her voice, as if she were
just on the point OF bursting into tears:
III am so ashamed"
DR.. Jack looked at her moment, as
she stood there in the waning light, a
lovely, graceful girl, from whom amy man
might be proud TO win even passing
interest. So this was the woman the
thought of whom he had carried in his
heart tor years. Ii he had ever done any
good thing, he was paid Tor it in the sat
isfaction of That hour.
"Are you sorry," he asked slowly,
"that you have helped one man TO be his
best sell? Those words OF yours were
| ln tho ypira n iumpSt |.
Since then this paper has never left me,
nor have l ever ceased to strive to be
worthy OF the esteem Of my unknown
valentine If ever have been gener-
Il Gus instead OF selfish, brave instead OF
cowardly, strong instead of weak, 1t has
been because l have remembered the
words written here, and meant to live In
their spirit. Are you-sorry Ior thatY or
do you grtidge me the dear pleasure OF
thanking your
"No, Pm not sorry, nor do grudge you
anything; but it was giri's freak and
am not worthy OF so much praise and
honor"
..It was good girls good intention,'
he said almost solemnIy. "Let US be
thankful that it succeeded"
One night the Doctor had left his horse
, at home, and ne and Nelly walked away
, together. They talked about the linger
ing sunset and the soft south wind, ant
even the old woman, for Nelly, woman
like, was struggling desperately to keel
DR.. Jack from saying what she desper
ately wanted to hear. But at last 4
came-a hali-blunt, halfawakenet
speech, yet with DR.. Jacks honest hear
in it:
"Pve lived all these years just to earl
!, YOUR esteem. and now find don't car
thing about that unless can win ais
, your love-"
| think Nelly's answer must have sal
., is1ied him, tor she is Mrs. Jack Green
v now; and that valentine-worn and old
but choicely framed-always hangs owe
. the doctors study-table.