The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1886-03-11

And at your throat pretty bow,
~ A flower Of some kind In your hair 81
NoR, darling, what has changed you soi"t
ST, VALENTINE AMONG ,THE SMITHS.
BY FANNIE E.. NEWBERBY.
1t was almost stoo bleak a day to
thinksof Cupids and mating birds. that
18th Of February, and Jamie Smith
drew his oyercoat up about his ears,
nearly concealing his uniform cap, as
he plunged forward through the whirl-
ing snow quite regardless of conse-
quences. ii Jamie was;a New York mes
senger-boy in the regular service, and
he knew from past experience that he
would have his hands full this Valen-
tines day carrying sweet missives, bon.
bon boxes, and flowers about, SO there
wasn'ta bit Of use in fretting over the
weather. AS he tore around the cor;
ner, head bent forward and eyes on the
!, ground, he felt a sudden shock and
found himself sitting down very hard
on the. sidewalk, while directly oppo-5
site, in the same posture, and making
great ado over it, was a lady of un-
certain age and contorted yisage. 55s.
$"You hateful, ha-ateful boyr' she
cried, clutching. at tie empty air in
her, frantic efforts to rise. ~ .sWhat do
you mean, running into people SOP o
dear!'' and she seemed about to cry.
Full Of laughter as he felt, Jamie
was little gentleman, SO he sprang to
his feet and, holding out a hand to the
struggling lady, said very politely:
II beg your pardon ma'am, but I
didn'tsee you at all; won't you let me
help you upp'' .sss: 3ss sas@
# Alittle Modified, she permitted him
to assist her. after which he brushed
the blackened snow from her sealskin
cloak and watched her travel on, think
ing. what a grabbed ooking creature
she was, but without an idea that he
should ever see her again. All the
morning he darted back and forth, now
boarding a street-car, now on the ele-
waited road, once springing up the
gangwaysof q steamer, just before she
cleared her moorings, with some last
missiye from home to an outbound pas
!. senger--. till noon found him in q cheap
restaurant swallowing his lunch, ana
gEc9ndacHke, at stand-up, ready 20 pc
& OF again without Washing a minute.
But all through the busy day, one
{ thought kept him satisfied and cheer
ful----the thought of the dainty, scented
valentine he was carrying in his breast
4 pocket for Celia. 4, IS
He had planned dozen times just
how he would steal up to the door and
ring the bell, leaving the envelope on
the steps, then run quickly around the
corner and hide, soon to come in care
( lessly whistling, as if just from the
street car. How to keep back long
enough not to excite her suspicious and
yet come soon enough to see her sur
p prised face was a quandary- but Jamie
b could solve it if any one, for he was
used to planning pleasures for Celia.
The little Smith S were orphans, and
kept house alone in a doll-baby way, in
two rooms Of a small cottage, tenanted
bysa young laborer and his wife, who
took an interest in the children, anA
straiphtened3 out the hous keeping some
times, when things got into d stangle.
8 Celia went to school " hen she was well
enough, she was not very strong, so
Jamie took his lunches downtown,
\ she was always home to have a coy
little supper ready bys 6 o'clock, and
then, how their tongues would clatter
as they told each other all the remark
able events Of the day. 5.., /.
Il was quite dark as Jamie hurried
On his last errand the delivering a
large envelope, oddly enough address
Il ed Is Miss, @. III. Smith,-not that the
4 surname surprised him, asshe delivered
I, quantities Of Smith matter every month,
but thee II. were Celia's own initials.
which certainly was 4 q little STRANGE.
III He ran sup the steps Of: "a handsome
q house and. though ii III o hurry. stopped
* n instant to watch q man.seryantw With
] ir.Ywho could be plainly seen through
H the lace-hung windows as he lighted
II the chandler in an elegant drawing
room, when, to his uttor surprise, an
4 inner door opened to admit LADY
5i they yerly, lady whom he had upset that
\ N orning!
Excited and laughing at the recollec-
ton, he rang the bell, and, as the man
NJ promptly appeared. handed the enylel.
o o, as be snppo sed, and ran down the
steps. Is ss553
Il $50 that's Miss O. 81. Smith,, he
said. as he hailed q car. ~ thought
she was an old maid when ! tipped Rcr