The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1875-05-13

COno udCh tueIo any HOIe. NO uOuDI
Nelly Hunt would have forgotten
his very existence but for that valentine
which she could not forget. She used to
blush as she grew older to think how
"bumptious it was, as she used to call
it to herself.
Nelly was twenty when Jack Greene
came back to Chester again. And now
he came a physician, just through his
studies and anxious to build up a prac-
tice. Soon his fame grew. His patients
were among the poor at first, and he
cured them. And then richer people
heard of it and sent for him. But, while
he took all the patients that came to him,
he never gave up the practice among
those who most needed him. His
praise wa in all their mouths. There
had never been any doctor like this
ne.
Nelly was Miss Hunt now-for Bertha
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 an old woman who had
been her nurse once, and had found her
very il-quite too i'll to be left alone and
certainly in need of a physician. So
Nelly tore a 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 entreat-
ed him to take it to the doctor.
It was scarcely half an hour before DIR.
Greene came in quietly and gravely. He
attended to his patient with that careful
consideration which made ali those poor
souls whom he visited adore him. Then
he turned to Nelly.
"Who will stay with her tonight 2"
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-
TONS"
Nellie followed and stood there in the
soft summer dusk-a pretty creature
with the wild rose flush dawning in her
cheeks and a new light kindling in her
blue eyes,. She listened carefully to all
his injunctions, and then turned as if to
go. But he put out a hand to detain
her.
GLOW very much I owe to you," he
said.
"You, how" and a deep, deep Grim
son dyed Nellie'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 a smile in his
eyes, but with a face that preserved all
its respectful gravity. He took his red
leather s. out of his pocket, and from
the case he took the very old valentine
which Nellie remembered SO well. Then
he produced the brief notes she had
written that afternoon, and still there
was light enough left in 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 these let
tiers I should know anywhere. No one
could deceive me-"
81 did not suppose you had kept that
foolish thing" Nellie said, with a pitt
full little quiver in her voice, as if she
was just on the point of bursting into
tears. 81 am so ashamed"
DR.. Jack looked at her a moment, ai
she stood there in the waning light, {
lovely, graceful girl, from whom any
man might be proud to win even a pass
ing interest. So this was the woman
the thought of whom he had carried il
his heart for years. If he had ever done
any good thing, he was paid for it il
the satisfaction of that hour.
"Are you sorry" he asked slowly
that you have helped me man to be hi
best self? Those words of yours wer,
to me like the voice of my inmost soul
Since then this paper has never left me
nor have I ever ceased to strive to b,
worthy of the esteem Of my unknown
valentine" If ever I have been gen
erous instead of selfish, brave instead o
cowardly, strong instead of weak, it ha
been because I have remembered tn
words written here, and meant to live il
Their spirit. Are you sorry for that
Or do you grudge me the pleasure o
thanking you?"
"No, I'm not sorry, nor do L grudg
you anything; but it was a girls freal
and l am not worthy of so much prais
and honor"
"1t was a good girls good intention,
he said almost solemnly. "Let us b
thankful that it succeeded"
One night the doctor had left his hors
at home, and he and Nelly walked ava
together. They talked about the lingel
ing sunset and the soft south wind, an
even the old woman-for Nelly, woman
like, was struggling desperately to kee
DR.. Jack from saying what she desper
ately wanted to hear. But at last
oonnn ho1f h1unt ho1f o-o6arn
, speech, yet with DIR. Jacks homes
, heart in it:
give lived all these years just
earn your esteem, and now I find that
don't care a thing about that unless ] ca
win your love Also"
think Nelly's answer must have sa
isfed him, for she is Mrs. Jack Green
now, and that valentine-worn and ole
but choicely framed-always hangs Owe
the doctors st~udy-table.