The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-05-19
Two Valentines.
FANNIE ISABEL suERRrcK.
Her Valentine.

She STOOD holding lt up 10 the lighl
curionsly. turning 1t over and over In
her white hands.
II wonder who it can be froma" she
said, keep ng herself in q state Of pref
ty agitation and suspense which she
might have ended at once. by breaking
the seal.
But who of MS has been just as fool
lish. 1t is a perfectly stupid fashion
but after all it seems n natural one.
this scrutin zing of ones letters before
opening them.
And I believe a woman would lose
half of her pleasure il che did not
have this little excitement OF wonder
and cur osity beforehand.
Aud she made quite fascinating
picture as she stood there. the warm
glow coming and going in her dimpled
face. the blonde hair tossed back care
lessly from a white brow which was
just now wr nkled with pretty
thoughtfulness.
She had on one of those quaint old
fashioned tea-gowns that women have
worn in these last few years. striking
combination of old gold-blue. soflened
and made beautiful by clouds of soft
lace and knots of dainty ribbon that
fell about her in a careless. artistic
fashion that was peculiarly her own.
She wore her clothes with grace that
few women can claim.
In the laces at her throat few rose
buds nestled just fresh from the con-
servatory. She loved flowers with an
intense passion and seldom was with
out them.
Somebody in the room was watching
her with envious jealous eyes. her cous-
In Stella Hayward.
They were both society girls. but
Mamie O'Neil was the favorite every
where. Her sweet face, her gentle
ways her kindly heart endeared her
10 every one.
From babyhood Stella had been jeal
Gus of her. and now that they were
grown. the jealousy ranked in the
heart with tenfold fervor.
So now she sat watching her cousin
with dark and curious looks.
For goodness saker' she exclaimed
impatiently, "'why don't you open the
envelope and see who it is fromP What
is the use of acting like goose over
valentine, just as If it was the first
one you had ever receivedp"
In her heart she had guessed who
it was from and il made her still more
angry. for if there was n man in town
whom she secretly worshipped it was
w II Harding.
Mamie laughed in confused fash
ion.
"Why of course l am goose. she
said. blush ng rs she broke the seal.
ooh. how lovelyv' she exclaimed the
next moment. And it was lovely, that
exquisite valentine. not one Of the elab
crate affairs that are in vogue these
days, but simple. old-fashioned card,
with bunch of real pansies, splen-
in Their gold and purple beauty |
pressed upon it. and in the corner a
knot of gold ribbon just matching the
hearts of the pansies. The card was
rough edged and shaded.
Thoughts of you"-that is what
the pansies mean. she thought to her
self, and her heart fluttered little.
for she too guessed from whom came
that precious gift. He was the only |
one that knew that pansies were her IA
vor ties of all flowers. Just few nights
before they had been talking about
flowers and she had expressed her
preference for those royal beauties.
How kind it was of him TO think of it.
'Did you know Will Harding was en-
gagedP'
Stella asked presently quiet careless
ly. as though she were not thinking of
the valentine at all. but by some piece
of news she had recently heard.
Mamie started and closed her hand
tightly over the valentine. but her face
was turned away from Stella. She was
thankful for that for she knew that the
color had faded from her cheek. She
had not dreamed before that Will Hard
ing was anything to her. Now she
knew the regard had been growing in
her heart day by day. and week by
week. Yet even with this sudden flush
Of pain. she hardly dared to call it love.
NO." she said calmly to Stella. II
did not know it. Is he-and to
whom"
Eyes. to Eva Noble. Haven't You
noticed the diamond she W ears upon
her finger. and the marked attention
Mr.. Harding pays her even in public.
Why, everyone in our set must know
it."
"No" Mamie said simply, II knew
nothing oft"
swell. what a little innocent you are
% be sure. But must be going. Dear
ne! had no idea it was so late.'
Mamie asked her to remain to tea.
but Stella refused. Having sped the
arrow which she knew would rankle in
hat tender heart she went her way.
And Mamie-dear girl-she was
taught too readily in the trap. q When
Stella was gone she threw herself in a
,llair near the Are and buried her face
n her hands. the tears stealing through
he white fingers.
Never before had she acknowledged
% herself the love that she felt for
his man. She had held herself so in
eserve that even in her own heart she
lad never yielded him allegiance. And
low she blushed for very shame lest
INV unconscious act or word of hers
lad ever revealed to him that her re-
.ard was more than the merest friend
hip.
But she soon dried her tears. for call
RS came and as they remained for af-