St. Landry democrat., 1884-02-16
..What is thts2,, demanded the crusty

Squire, knitting his DrOWS.
"A waluntine.'' said she, not without
a small pang, as she thought of the
beautiful doves and flowers, now lost
to her forever.
"What's a waluntine?n he asked,
looking down at her bright little face.
"a waluntine is a softener,' she said
instantly, rather proud that she had not
forgotten Billy's definition.
"A Wbat2'' exclaimed the Squire,
frowning fiercely.
"a softener." said Lady Ann, not at
all afraid, and sure that the word must
mean something very nice. And then
she added, in q coaxing tone: ''Read
it.
God seldom closes every channel to
an old mans heart. Proud, unforgiV-
ing, even cruel sometimes, the old Squire
still had rare sense of the ridiculous,
and he read aloud:
81 will not part from thee, will not let thee
free,
Till thou dost promise me my Valentine to
When he had read these lines, and
looked over the top of the valentine,
and when he saw the small Lady Ann
sitting before the fire, he wondered if
she meant to sit there until he had
promised. He thought he saw q pa
tent determination in every feature,
not excepting the stubby rubber boot
which persistently pointed at him, on
account of it's owner being obliged to
hold it up across the other to rest the
little short legs which had trudged so
far to give him pleasure. He never
could tell just how it was-he only
knew he laughed as he had not laughed
for wears, which opened the one chan
mel to his heart SO wide that, almost be-
fore he knew it, the little Lady Ann
went drifting in, coarse red hood, rub
Der boots, and all!
g What name do you bear?'' he
asked, as he wiped away the tears that
followed the laugh.
My name?" she said, laughing, too.
Yes what name does your-what
do they call your
Ann"
Just Ann, plain Amp" he said.
No les nor e-y's?'
" Billy calls me Lady Ann," she an
swered.
Aye! that beggar Billy. I know
him-driyes Stones grocery-wagon.
When 1 see him he shall feel my cane
on his back"
:. What, Billy! my Billy! Why he
gave me the waluntinen
"Oh, he did, did hep Told you to
fetch it to me, may be. y
ssNo, he didn't, but he told me you
wouldn't have any, and he told me
about the key
''What key, child? Billy seems very
well informed about me--knoWs more
than myself .
He said you locked all your doors
and swallowed the key, and it hurt you
but [ guess now that he just said it
for fun-but b'Iieved him-at first. y
She shrugged her small shoulders,
laughed and looked up at the Squire as
if she felt quite willing that he, as well
as herself, should enjoy her simple con-
fidence in Billy.
tsWell, I almost believe the young
scamp was half right, Lady Ann; for
when we turn the key against our own,
it rusts in the heart in spite of ourselves,
and that makes pain. I
Lady Ann smiled cheerfully, and
rubbed her boots, polishing first one
and then the other with her bright NIT
ten. Whatha she todo with anything SC
old as pain in the heart?
The winter sunshine flooded the room.
The old dog slept by the fire, and did
not even talk in his sleep.
$50 home, little Ann, said the Squire,
'sand take this bunch of keys to-to
Mary, your mother, and tell her they
unlock every door of her home. But,
Lady Ann-hanag goatr father! Yet hold,
child, moment; you need not say that. =
mo" said Lady Ann, with the same
cheerful smile; Il won't say that. "
When the merry sun went down
Lady Ann was sleeping in the great
house. Two queer looking rubber boots
rested, after their days work, before
the fire. When one fell as if it missed
q little round foot and stout leg and
could not stand without them, the
grandfather set it right again, and
laughed in spite of the pain it cost hin
! to move. The house-dog opened his
! eve Just enough to see that Lady AIMS
crushed s.waluntine'' still lay in the ole
Squire's hand.
81 tell thee, Peedee, I had it all from
! the dog all straight from the dog, ane
not in his Sleep
'.Then tell me again, il thou wilt
Peeree. for if the spot be pure and free
from selfish anger, I should like naugh
so well as that thou shouldst build neal
me,
f.Nay our children be friends
Peedee. "
You say the Squire forgives all, ant
peace dwells in the house; but will yot
not tell me, Peeree, what made all thii
trouble at first?''
..Aht Peedee! Peedeel When the SUI