St. Landry democrat., 1884-02-16

two, and | send you a waluntlne. NO, |
that isn't quite right. because might
be violently attached to you, and you
not be able to resipercate my affections.
as some of 'em say, but still /. might
send YOU waluntine-see?n
'.Well. what is it, Billy?'
sIt's softener,' said Billy.
"a softener!" she repeated "Let
me see it.
He handed her valentine he could
i'll afford to buy.
s'Why, it's a pretty letter, with flow
ers and birds omit! Oh, you good Billy
II hope the sentiment as they call
it, is all right. he said II hadn't time
to read it. I'm off now to carry sugar
and flour to Squire Johnson's; may the
flour make heavy bread, and the sugar
sweeten less than sand. Your grand
father is double-dyed villain; did you
know it, Lady Ann?''
'I-v-i-l-l," said Lady Ann, spell
ing out the words on her valentine.
''He is q scoundrel, Lady Ann!''
lis he?n she said, mildly. "a little
girl told me he would chase me away if
[ went to his house; but don't want to
90 to his house. -
HE Wouldn t.
ssWhy not?n she said indifferently.
'Cause he couldn't
'Can't he run?''
ssNo.n
ssHas he broke his foot?' Lady AIMS
tone had slight touch of sympathy,
NO SAID Billy as The took up the
reins, shut he is sick. When folks lock
| their doors on their own children,
and then swallow the key, it most
generally makes EN- sick
s.Billy!a exclaimed Lady Ann, ''has
grandpa swallowed a key?"
Eyes, and it lies heavy said Billy,
s.and good enough for him. Rich as
he is, no one will send him waluntine
to-day, Lady Ann. y
But the red pung with its heavy bells
had gone on its way.
Left alone Lady Ann gave up the
spelling and kept thinking to herself:
.sBilly says my grandpa has swallowed
a key, and no matter if his pocket is
full of money nobody viii send him q
VALENTINE even if he is sick!'
Looking through the snow-laden
trees she could see the great house
where her grandfather lived She
i opened the valentine, smelt at one of
/ the painted roses, and kissed the two
doves that looked out at her. Simple
| little Lady Ann! At the same moment
i there came into her thoughts the few
words her mother had taught her to say
every night in herprayer for her grand
father, whose hand she had never
touched.
s'He shall have waluntinen' she
said, firmly, and the stubby little boots
started I'D the hill as fast as her fat baby
legs could propel them.
s.Dost thou suppose, Peeree, that
yonder horrid boy can call that musicea
said Peedee, as the birds flew back,
after the red pung was well out Of hear
aBilly's ears are so big" said Pee
rec, .sthat fine, bird-like sound might
be lost in travelling through them; but
his heart moves as quickly as a birds.
There would have been no valentine for
| little Lady Ann to-day if Billy had for
i gotten her.
ssSee!'' said Peedee. "The Lady
Ann is trudging fast away, and she has
not thrown us q crumb. =
.sAnd hast thou earned thy crumb,
Peedee? Come, let us fly fast before
] her and tell the house-dog she is com
4 ing, that he may have a care of her.
s'Why need we haste, Peeree2 Short
| legs travel but slowly through deep
snow
save: but warm heart breaketh q
path like the sun, Peedee. =
i By the time Lady Ann reached the
great house, her breath came very fast,
and she was obliged to sit down on the
| stone steps to rest. AS she sat there, a
huge doc came and rubbed his cold
nose on her red cheek and wagged his
tail most politely. When she was rest
ed, she walked up and down the wide
piazza and looked in through the long
windows. There, at last, the house
keeper saw her, came out, and told her
gently to go away. 'tAre you not little
AnnP'' she said. .'The Squire is in
pain to-day. and if he should see you
he would be very angry.
The key hurts him very much, =
thought Lady Ann, but she said: :" Here
is Waluntine for him; will you put it
in his hand?''
e.I dare not, little Ann said the
woman.
sWhyP'' said Lady Ann, in wild as
constituent. 'sDon't you dare give him
a waluntine, big though you are! Then
let me go in. =
"Well. then, come in, said the
i. housekeeper, kindly, adding under her
breath, ,.may be, good will come OF it,
With the house-dog close following at
her heels, and her VALENTINE so
tightly clutched that the doves and
flowers within were sadly mixed, little