Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-02-15

'She's missed them by a hairs breadth"
he cried. zone, two, three. four, five, six,
seven eight, nine, ten. Jollyl every girls
come to time as good as il she were boy,''
dragging out handful Of smart valentines,
each and every one addressed to Miss
Nathalie Carr, ~ Clement avenue.
These he carefully placed on the library
table, and then executed for his own diver
sion, around this center of attraction, D
series of hops that would shame a Digger
Indian OF the best developed muscle, ut
last tearing himoelf away to occupy the
time elsewhere, with both ears on the alert
for Nathalie whenever she should come
running in.
"1'm home," she cried, suddenly appear
ing In the door with the rosiest of faces.
1T was royal fun, Philip
"How did you get int" he cried, bound
Ing forward in dismay.
Game In the basement door; the market
man was just ringing, and slipped In be-
hind him and his basket"
"Have you been in tho ibraryl" asked
Philip, nervously. =.
mo; didn't stop. Twas in such hurry
to tell you. 1t was just the loveliest fun
ever had. I guess enjoyed it more be.
cause did what should want done to me.
and wrote the girls just what know is
true"
Eyes, yes; we'll come on" said Philip,
lnterrupting. you've a lot of valentines
in the library-came in the post, you know.
Let's go down and look at them.''
"Only lot of stiles, I suppose" said
Nathalie, with her most grown-up air, vet
speeding with intense delight for the stairs.
"Stlll, we might as well look at them and
guess who sent them"
''That's So" said Philip, hurrying after,
"Ohl al OIL" Nathalle's eyes sparkled
at the pretty heap, and her girl-heart
swelled at the Importance to which she
was suddenly lifted. "Tenl Who could
have sent them allp
"Look and see" advised Philip; "that's
the way u boy does when he gets a letter,
but girl obs over an hour, and then spells
out the postmark and guesses who it is
from, another hour. Here's my knife"
I'D rather take hair. pin," said Nathalie
II can do it twice az quickly" and she
pulled at that necessary article, tumbling
down half of her loose coils as the chief
support was withdrawn.
Take care! the whole thing will be down
upon US II you don't look out" said Philip,
regarding her head in alarm.
get these open," laughed Nathalie, defttv
DONG duty with the hair-pin, in the way
only girl and woman can, till the ten
sealed envelopes were all laid open and
ready to yield their contents, when the
coils were shaken into place, and the little
hair support run in through them again.
There" she said, with a satisfied breath,
"now I'm ready to enjoy my Valentines"
The loveliest bit of paper lace-work was
withdrawn from its white cover, in the
center revealing two hearts held fast by
the arrow OF fate, while all sorts OF flowers
doomed around these two ''beating as one."
NV no could have sent ttis?" cried Ma
thalie. "1's pretty, isn't it? Why, here is
perfect lot of writing inside" whirling
over the page. philip Carr, Flo Williams
sent thisp'
"How do you know7" asked Phil.
"Ihere, just see therei' Nathalie pointed
to plnched signature off in the farther
corner: "What does she find to say to spin
such lota''
Read ahead and see," cried Philip.
DEAREST NATHALIE" began the valentine
receiver in a tremor Of delight that Flo whom
the girls always thought bit cold and un-
demonstrative, should have finally developed
IN afcctionate nature, Il think ought to tell
you that have noticed lately that the buttons
on your boots are falling of in weakness. Now
you know that nothing so marks the lady as a
trim boot, and really needle and thread would
help the difficulty ever SO much.
with the greatest love, am your Valentine,
FLO. WILLIAMS"
"1Ny Va'entine!" shrek Nathalie, her
rosy cheeks trying to turn pale AMI DASH
ing the two hearts and the lace.work to the
table. 1.-THE idea! What does she think
Pm made of, to endure this? And it isn't
so. Phil Carr; at least it was only once she
saw me with just one little button OF near
the top, and was in q hurry to go town
for some caramels. Sol And she's mean
enough to pretend that always 20 around
with my boots hanging"
20, no, Nathalie; guess she doesn't
mean that" SAID Phillip, soothingly; 'she
only does it for your good"
"But wouldn't care il it was true"
cried Nathalie, stopping suddenly. cpd be
willing and glad to have her tell me; but it
isn't true. She only saw me once"
swell, open your others; perhaps they're
BETTER" suggested Phil.
a'halie's eyes shone with their own
pleasant light dancing in the brown depths
as she saw Cousin Sle's han lwr,tiny
"DEAREsr TATHALIE-I feel q ito sure that I
ought t. tell you that your unpleasant habit OF
glggNng seems 10 De growing upon you. Now
shouldn't mention this, but as am relation,
can say things that the other girls might not
like to. So believe that love you very much
and take me for your Valentine.
COUSIN SUE"
'Take her for my Valentinep' cried Ma
thalie. sharply; ''indeed won't. The idea,
Philip Carr, of her doing this thing because
she is relativev'
''She only does it for your good" said
Philip, taking refuge in the old remark,
and only wishing that he might be pre-.
served from bursting into q laugh.
Il could take it aud love her all the
same" cried Nathalie, with a grimace, iii
she didn't seize the chance TO ell me she Is
doing it because she is my relative. That
makes 1t impossible for me to love her."
'Pull out number three" said Philip
"here, I'll do It," for Nathalie seemed to
have little heart for further investigation,
This is from Trixie."
"What does she sayl" asked Nathalie,
family, with one eye on the smart epistle
rafting ia her brothers. hand.
'l'm rather afraid to TELL" said Philip,
maintaining q grave face; sits pretty
hard"
Il think ] can bear it," said Nathalie,
drawing herself up stif1ly, and wildly essay.