The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-02-16

| 'Go ahead, II you are oetermlneo 10,
cried Philip. ''Only remember than
, | warned you.'
She had already begun TO ''go ahead
Just as his last words reached her, being
occupied in scaling the stairs en- route to
the valentines, wrapped up in a dainty
package, as they had come from the
stationer's, and reposing in her upper
bureau drawer.
Philip rubbed his head, thought bit,
pushed aside his book, scrubbed OF some
thing that looked very much like ten
names on bit of paper, then, with a
smo:Eered laugh, hurried himself into his
cap and coat, and took himself of 10 that
region that always engulfs boy when he
Is not TO be found-"outdoors."
Nathalie, although publicly sneering at
Loves devices, had privately lent herself
to them, buying largely of most attractive
Cupids and blazoned hearts, gilt and lace
bordered flowers, and all the seasons be-
witchments that could be put into ten val
entines
Il hope they will like them" she said,
spreading them oct daintiIy over the
bureau top. Though they do look awfully
silly. Still, one must Keep in fashion with
the day, so l think they're all right Now
I'll give the biggest Cupid and those pink
roses to Flo. That is rather the prettiest,
and want to tell her that have noticed
that her tingernails aren't so perfectly ex-
quisitely nice as they used to be; and that s
hard thing to say to a girl, especially
when she had a manicure set given her
only last Christmas. However, 1 must do
my duty" Nathalie brought up with a
sigh.
The biggest Cupid" soon smiled down
| nlyy le n1nd IN n
wreath Of wonderfully pink roses.
DEAR FLO.-I think ought to tell you that
I saw spot OF ink on your middle finger last
| week. in geography class and only two days ago
l thought you hadn't polished your nails as you
| might, low you have that cunning little mani
cure set your Aunt Grace gave you.
This Is all written in love by your Valentine,
| NATHALIE CARR
THAT really looks quite kind and NICE"
declared Nathalie, regarding 1t with salts
faction. What splendid idea it is to
send the notes on st. Valentines Day! The
girls will be so surprised. Now Pill write
Maria Smiths next. She's everlastiugly
saying amt and got when she don't need
any thing besides i have | didn't realize
before how she has annoyed me- It's really
dreadful" So Maria's sweet valentine
read this wise. folded into the protecting
embrace of bunch Of violets as surprising
| in their way as the roses were:
| DEAR MARIA-I wan: to tell you that think
We should all be careful what words we
! and not say amt for aren't or am not; aad
as for got it's perfectly dreadful TO keep say
| ing I have got any thing when I have any
| thing would do just well.
| With the greatest love. your Valentine
NATHALIE CARR"
at looks little harder than Flo's," COM
muned Nathalie with herself. when she had
| finished, but had to say If, and l guess
| the viOletS Will make up; they're lovely.
Now I'll get Trixie's off my mind-she's
always shutting subsequently,. Ideclare,
when l think of it, wonder Pve kept so
long from telling her of it. I'll give her
this girl going down to the spring with
basket of flowers; it's too pretty for any
thing. l don't know why should hate to
tell Trixie she snuffs almost every word
she says: ever so many of the girls com
plain Of it" So Trixie's st. Valentine mes
sage ran this way, written By pen getting
quite in spirit with the idea of keeping
sharp LOOKOUT for the failings of friends:
DEAR TRIxIE-I know ought to tell you
| that you getting worse than ever at snuff
| fling. The other day, when you tried to tell me
about Flora Briggs new dress. you kept that
| disagrceable habit up every ten words Here
| changed the ten" to five And if 1 don't
tell you OF it you'll Just go on snuf1ng and SNUFF
| fling until you get TO be young lady, and that
| would be perfectly horrd
with the most devoted love, your Valentine,
| NATHALIE CARR"
| When Nathalie turned her back upon her
! ten completed valentino messages of love,
it was to carry an exhausted face and man.
ner TO the family supper-table. Philip cast
glance of ordinary interest at her as she
took her place, and, beyond the silent pity
of father and mother, who thought their girl
studying too hard, the pale cheeks were
unnoticed.
st is a very hard piece of work to do"
whispered Nathalie, as she passed Philip
the bread, ''but l know they will thank
me. Pm sure l should if ! were in their
! place"
'Umi" said Philip, in his unresponsive
fashion; and then he began to talk about
new tobOggan slide the boys were making
on Collins Hill, directing his conversation
al efforts TO his father, so that Nathalie,
left out in the cold, fell back to listless
replying that she did not want any thing
to eat. to all her mothers attempts that
were now set in motion toward that end.
"You must be sick, daughter" at last
said Mrs. Carr, land can't think of any
thing better than for you to get into bed as
early as possible" All the pleadIngs that
! Nathalie now began being of no avail the
sturdy writer of the ten St. Valentine epis-
| ties was ignominiously set free from the
supper-table, only to be put to bed at seven
O'clock like child.
! 1t was probably this. however, that made
her arise betimes the next morning, bright
as bee and bonny as a bird, with rare
| delight in the new idea SO successfully
worked out the previous evening, and Just
| as soon as the hearty breakfast was over,
| that tasted so good after her fast of the
night before, she few into her sack and hat,
! grasped her ten misSives with a confident
hand, and started to drop them, with ST.
Valentine pull at the door bell, at the house
i of each friend.
''Gong to be the letter cried
Philip following her to the door, "Why
in time didn't you post the thingsl"
20, it's twice the fun to tuck them under
| the doors and then rum" cried Nathalie,
with cheek like the heart of wild rose,
and laughing gayly as she hurried down the
| street.
"Why don't you wait and see if you get
any valentines!" shouted Philip after her.
and craning his neck to get last view of
the flying 6gure-''it's nearly time for the
postman."
"Save them all for me- Don't YOU dare
to open one. Pilb home sooa," came hack
on the wind, and Nathalie was of
Philip came carefully in, shut the door,
put his fingers in his mouth, and gave that
terrific whistle that only boys can, that
emits tearing, ear-splitting sound, once
heard never to be forgotten; then he felt
better. Just at this moment click and