The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1885-01-31

believe in the change in her unless you
could see it, All through the spring and
summer she seemed dropping and feeble
but since the autumn she is better and
buster than ever before. Not busy in the
old way, with triming evening dresses
and arranging jewcly and flowers, but she
is studying, and-would you think it OF
our little Alma-parish visiting amongst
the poor of the congregation. She has
grown so womanly in the past few months
so gentle and consideratC of others, that
l can scarcely reconizc my little butterfly
l have always thought that ifshc would
use her own mind, she would prove to
have II greater grasp of intellect than
would appear to Il casual observer, but
even ! am surprised at the facility with
which she now grasps higher fields OF
thought than most women venture upon
l scarcely know whether to laugh or sigh
when find her curled up in my great
study chair, with volume half rs big as
she is open before her, studying diligent-
ly, or meet her in my walks to and from
the office with Il basket full of wine and
jelly, or bundle of ilannels for some
rheumatic old woman or an ailing child.
tMy little gay girl is certainly gone, but in
her place noble woman is fast develop
ing"
This was not the only letter in the
same strain. Mr.. Crofts loved his
child with fond parents most in
tcnce affection, and second to his
love for her was his affection for his
young friend Leon. What wonder
then, if he wrote of one to the other
talked too, Of the absent one to the
one near him. Perhaps the faint
hope in his heart that these two low
ed ones might renew their broken
engagement, but if so, Alma gave it
no word or look to feed upon.
The winter months came and sped
along till February came, and the
year of separation was almost COM
pleted. Leon was sitting alone in
his office on the afternoon of st. Val
entine's day, thinking sldly Of the
last anniversary Of the day. He re-
called his visit to the greenhouse to
select the flowers for his gift to Alma
and the care with which he had hid
den the betruthed ring in its centre.
He wondered what had become of it
his offering. Was it still in the heart
of the withcrcd bouquet, lying upon
some dust heap, tossed there by an
angry or conrcmptous little hand, or
had she found the offering and kept
it to return mt some future time with
scornful words ofrCjection. He had
drawn the device himself, and hoped
to see it decorating her little hand,
and he remembered now the Jewell
er's comment upon its small circum-
ference, and his inquiry if it was for
a child's finger. Then his thoughts
flew away to the last letter from Mr.
Crofts, and the change in Alma, and
he said, sadly to his heart
81 too am changed. see now
my error in tryinc to force what
could only be mine by coaxing All,
my darling, if you could again give
me your love, | would not drive it
off with fault-fnding and blame.
Who can turn the humming-bird by
force into the scdatc owl? My hum
ming-bird had fitted from flower to
flower too long to be Gagged suddenly;
l should have wooed her gently and
lovingly till of her own free will she
nestled down into the home | would
have made for her, content to forego
gayer scenes, in the happiness of true
home pleasures. In one little month
l must go home for time, to give
an account of my agency. How will
she meet me2 will she see me ut all?n
At that moment his musings were
interrupted by the entrance of "A SER
want with the afternoon mail. Only
one letter, postmarked with the
home stamp, directed in Il delicate
handwriting, only too familiar to
him.
He tore it open hastily. Inside
there was a photograph card, wrap
ped in Il piece of white paper, and
upon the paper was written "St. Val
entine." What was the photograph?
Was it his darling's face wooing him
home again? His strong right hand
trembled us he unfolded the paper.
And this was his Valentine. Upon
cushion of black velvet rested Il
small white hand. There was moth
ing else, save that exquisite hand
filling the space upon the card, but
upon one finger of the little hand
rested the ring whose device was two
hearts joined by II forgct-me-not.
Love was quick to guess the rid
die. Love was strong to grant the
mute pleading for reconciliation.
The next homcward-bound steam
er carried Leon Harris out on the
bounding ocean, over the shining
waters to New York.
1t was quiet meeting, hearts too
full for noisy greetings but when Il