The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-11-25
vALERIE'S THANKSGIVING

1 tALEhIE - luANhSUlt lNU
"What an exquisite day this is.
observed Max Raymond, thorough.
enjoying the keen, fresh wind tina
swept over his handsome face, leav
| ing on his smooth cheeks warm ant
ruddy stains.
| "But rather cool, l think" return
ed Valerie Earle, shivering littl,
within her stylish wrap and cost!
silk, all lined and bordered will
snowy fur.
$50 it is" assented her companion
quickly and kindly, rs he adjusted thu
| wolf robe more comfortably about
her; "the river breeze just now il
somewhat chilly, and yet this Is one
of our few perfect days. he conclu
ded, enthusiastically CHANGING at tn,
deep, pure, most lovely blue of the
sky, touched here and there witt
clouds of pearl and gold, and over
the broad lawns where the thick
short grass was still growing in rich
ly green vigor.
They were driving through the
park at the most pleasant hour of 4
most pleasant late autumn afternoon
and the avenue was just sufficiently
thronged with fashionable equipages
to be agreeable. Speedy thorough,
breds could fly along without endan.
gering the wheels OF sober barOuches,
the occupants of which had plentiful
time to interchange courtesies with
unhurried eQuestrians, or to criticise
leisurely the newest and most distin.
guished appointment Of some unknown
and perhaps enyied passer. The
day, the hour. the occasion were al.
together CHEEKY, exhilarating and
delightful.
1.-THE day is perfect" repeated Max
Raymond, who was thinking Of only
the radiant autumn weather.
LAS nearly perfect lis a day can
be-" remarked Valerie. smiling
slightly; "iilled with the shadowy
mockery Of those bare gray trees
desolate skeletons shOrn Of the sweet
ness and glory of seasons gone, toss.
ing their melancholy branches in this
icy breeze as II trying to moan.
"Where are the flowers, the fair
young fiowersf'
~ am not poetical enough, Max, to
find perfection in anything that is
married by symbols Of change and
desolatiOn.'
The young man WINGED: somehow
the girls words hurt him.
"What u conservative you must bel"
he commented CALAMITY. However,
you will admit that change does not
necessarily imply desOlatiOn. If you
do not, ! shall be miserable"
"Xhyi" she queried, simply re.
s".diuy -" wit: her bright, dark
eyes somewhat wonderingly.
"WhyT he iterated as would one
who scarcely knew how to neatly
phrase an assertion that might give
pain. because everything must
change sometime-fortune, affection,
even such friendship rs is ours. may
be subject to mutation, and If ever
you will care less for me, Valerie, !
shall surely be most unhappy"
This speech was altogether incom.
prehensible to Valerie, as it would
naturally be to any one listening to SD
philosophical beginning and SO in
consistent and fervent an ending-as
it would naturally be to any one who
SO suddenly detects something cold
and hidden where all had been warm
and unreserved confidence before.
by many sweet courtesy-al,
though wordless, perhaps-he had
taught her to believe that his devo.
ton meant something more than
friendship, and his curious new mood
panied her.
"What has he done, or what is he
about to do that he fancies l might
care less for hint" was her pertinent
mental speculation. He speaks as
if our friendship might become only
a memory, and as If he would be mis-
cradle only because such a change
would make me desolate. His words
almost imply that he would be un'
happy If l should care less for him,
simply because | am to know that he
has never cared for me-"
Decidedly, Valerie's unuttered
thought was not pleasant. But sht
lifted her small, dark face bravely
and smiled.
"YOu appreciate the value Of last
ing friendship" she said, quietly.
Just then, close beside their car
riage, passed an equestrienne, ont
lined for one moment against a rocl
that, with its wall Of gorgeous vines
made q picturesque background FOL
the beautiful gray horse and tn,
stylish black habit, the yellow hair
the jaunty hat and the handsome pro
lile.
Suddenly, and for an instant, tn,
elegant rider turned toward them. A
smile was on her chaming lips, ant
fastened in tiny knot of white rib
bon at her throat was large ant
curious crescent of gold, set will
supphires that scintillated like blu
stars.
| Valerie regarded her companion il
unexpressed surprise, for as Ma,
Raymond touched his hat, acknowl
edging the equestriennels witchinl
smile, he threw aside his silken neck
erchief, disclosing beneath its fiutteI
ing silken folds very counterpart o
that marvellous crescent of sapphire
and gold.
| But the next moment the beautiful
gray horse and handsome rider van
ished down bride path, leavin
behind a small cloud Of gravel an
Trusting fallen leaves.
| Valerie for the first time in llf
has assumed the deceptive and seemed
neither to have seen or heard any
thing singular and unexpected, an
in u confused and absent way he
companion resumed the broken dii
lOgue.
"We should all value lasting frien'
ships" he said trying to spea
brightly, although he was rattle
anxiously watching that dusky, prou
and passionless face, "for most of ,
/ onpoo tip,a ;n nt,r livaa haya folt ~