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

| In the hbrary-came in the post. you know.
Let's go down and look at them"
''Only lot Of Stiles, / suppose" said
Nathalie, with her most grown-up air, yet
speeding with intense delight for the stairs.
Still. we might as well look at them and
guess who sent them"
That's So" said Philip, hurrying after.
'Ohl all! OH Nathalie's eyes spsrkled
at the pretty heap, and her girl-heart
swelled at the Importance to which she
was suddenly lifted. "Teni Who could
have sent them allr'
"Look and see," advised Philip; "that's
the way boy does when he gets letter,
but girl oh's over an hour, and then spells
out the postmark and guesses who it is
| from, another hour. Here's my knife"
''rd rather take hair pin, !" said Nathalie.
II can do it twice as 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support was Withdrawn.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 if you don't LOOK out" said Philip,
regarding her head in alarm.
''Never mind twill hold together till
get these open," laughed Nathalie, deity
doing duty with tine hair-pin, in the way
| only girl and a 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 L; 'ough them again.
| There" she said, with satisfied breath,
snow 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withdrawn from its white cover, in the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
bloomed around these two beating as one"
| hn viz
! thalie. sIt's pretty, isn't itl Why, here is
perfect lot of writing inside" whirling
over the page. philip Carr, Flo Williams
sent thisr'
'How do YOU know!" asked Phil
There, just see therei" Nathalie pointed
to u punched signature off in the farther
corner. "What does she find to say to spin
such lot?"
Read ahead and see," cried Philip.
DEAREST NATHALIE" began the valentine
receiver, in tremor OF delight that Flo, whom
the girls always thought a bit cold and I'M
demonstratiye, should have finally developed
an afcctionate nature, Il think L ought to tell
you that have noticed lately that the buttons
on your boots are falling off 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 lore, am your Valentine,
'FLO WILLIAMS"
s'-Uy Valcntine''' shrek Nathalie, her
rosy cheeks trying to turn pale, and dash
ing the two hearts and the lacework to the
table. ''The ideal 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 off near
the top, and l was in q hurry to go town
for some caramels. So! And she's mean
enough to pretend that always 60 around
with my boots hanging"
30, no, Nathalie; L guess she doesn't
mean that" said Philip, soothingly; "she
only does it for your good.'
'But l wouldn't care if it was true"
cried Nathalie, stopping suddenly. 'l'd 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.
Nathalies eyes shone with their own
pleasant light dancing in the brown depths
as she saw Cousin Sues handwriting.
DEAREST NATHsLIE-I feel quite sure that
ought t. tell you that Your unpleasant habit OF
giggling seems to be growing upon you. Now /
shouldn't mention this, but, as am a 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 Valentine!r cried Ma
thalie, sharply; '1ndeed Iwon't. The idea,
Philip Carr, of her doing this thing because
she is relative!"
.'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 laugh.
81 could take i. and love her all the
a 10 a Dri
she didn't seize the chance to tell me she Is
doing it because she is my relative. That
makes it 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 say?" asked Nathalie,
family, with one eye on the smart epistle
rafting in her brothers. hand.
Pm rather afraid to tell" said Philip,
maintaining a grave face; sits pretty
hard"
Il think / can bear it," said Nathalie,
drawing herself up stifily, and wildly essay
ing 10 stop the quivering OF her lip. $50
on, Phil; let me know the worst"
"She says you are saying things behind
her back" began Philip. slowly, ''and--''
"Sayitg things behind her bactn' broke in
Nathalie, with a sad wall, "when Love
her-too! Oh-oh-ohr" and she dropped in
miserable little heap to the floor, sobbing
as if her heart would break.
s'Never mind, Nat, old fellow" cried
Philip, in dismay, throwing the valentine
after the first two, and bending over her:
don't cry; there's a good chap. Those
girls amt worth minding; they always
were a silly lot"
But Nathalie walled on.
And it's only what yod have written to
them, or Just as bad, l suppose. You know
you promised to do your duty in this way,
in your Mutual go-at-each- other s-faults So
ciety" said Philip, pounding her back in
brotherly sympathy, $50 bear it like a
man"
"But 1 only wrote one to each girl" said
Nathalie, family, land I've ten. o, dearI
dearr'
That's only one apiece" said Philip, en-
couragingly, "and you can pitch back, and
! keep the fight going all the wear, don't you
see, and get your pay back"
Nathalie shuddered herself into sitting
posture, with eyes flashing and the reddest
of cheeks Il shall never, never say an
other thing about their faults so long as l
live" she declared.
Hey"
81 couldn't, and live. I'm just as full as
l can be of the hatefulest, ugliest feelings
! against every one of those girls, and L m
afraid I'll never get back where l was be-
fore. o, Phil, l feel like an odd black
snake"
"Weil, you aren't" said Phil. you're
supposed to be batter than you were be-
fore. It's an Improvement Society, you
know"