Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-02-17
heard a cry Of surprise, which he rec

a great deal OF buster over the cold
and snow.
30 Jamie, the queerest thing cried
Celia, meeting him at the door, her
eyes wildly bright and a bit of paper
waving i'm her hand. Someone rang
the door-bell and left this on the door
step, addressed TO me-'Miss &. III.
Smith'-as grown up like as YOU please,
OF course | thought twas "A valentine,
so opened it, and what do you think?
There was "A queer, printed slip of pa
per telling the national bank to pay me
~, 500-did you ever hear Of such IA
thingP'
Mercy cried Jamie, ''struck all of
a heap as he afterwerd expressed it,
and catching the draft from her hand.
''Ive made a mistake, faint yours.
Gracious they may be after M with
the officers for this. How could | be so
carelessP'
There was nothing to do now but let
out the whole secret, and explain the
mistake.
"And to think I've left that sour old
maid your pretty valentine and taken
her money after knocking her down
on the street, too. q dear it ; too fun
N.Y. and overweight jamie burst into
a peal Of laughter; hen checked him
self to add soberly: But it may be
more fun than I'd like if she finds Out
and sends the officers after me before |
can get back
Jamie swung so rapidly from laugh
ter to dread that Celia was quite Devil
dercd, but when she did fully under
stand, her terror was greater than his.
.snI l,,rrr I.n,fn b,,rv,r .,,I tala -
back to her.' she cried. almost push
inc him into the street. "ll keep your
supper warm. but do-dO 20 at once
and. grumbling at his W stupidity,
he obeyed.
Upon asking to see Miss Smith, a few
minutes later, he was conducted to a
coy apartment back of the drawing
room he had seen, and before the serv-
ant could speak, after lifting the por-
there, had an instants glimpse at that
lady. with tear-bcdimmed eyes, sitting
before the tiled fireplace, the lost valcn-
tine in her hand. She turned impa-
tiently. "Well. john and, Jamie
blunderingly explained matters, looked
from him TO the valentine and back
again with a ! puzzled and-cOuld it be?
eve disappointed look upon her face.
1t wasn't possible that she would
rather have that bit of perfumed, per-
forated paper, with its lines about
roses and ''posies' and cloves and
doves" than a draft for 81, 800, but it
certainly looked so.
Her face did not however, regain it,
soure-t look a she asked: Aren't
YOU the boy who ran into me this norm
ing
And now want to rob me- she said.
scowling at him, bu, not so f%crociou~ly
that he ia led to note a suspicious CLEAN
in her eyes. $50 your name j., Smith,
she continue !, not giving him time TO
answer, land your sister has my in
itials. What is her given name and
your>?'
Hers is Celia Herbert. ma'am, and
mine is James Gay. l was named for
my fath-'
"What,' She turned upon him so
suddenly that the boy rctrcated a step
in dismay. Celia Herbert, James
Gay-my name and his?" and dropping
into a chair she gazed at Jamie with
eyes that seemed to burn in her pale
face, 50 piercing and bright they We're.
She motioned Jamie TO a chair. and,
as the man stepped forward TO place it,
turned upon him liercely.
John. what are YOU waiting for?
CO. and John promptly disappeared.
Then followed rapid questions and
dazed answers, for how could this lady
know enough 10 ask:
Nv here il your father? Is he tall.
with brown eyes and mustache? Does
his hair curl? Has he a tiny mole on
the left side of his nose? Are his eye
brows straight and heavy? l. his hand
large and strOne-and Toes he" (herc
her eyes seemed TO look straight into
Jamie's sOuD. docs he wear a narrow,
chased ring on his eft little finger?'
'He he did, ma'am, but
But what
"IIe is dead" Jamie's tone was
low and reverent, but the lady gaspcd
at his words.
And your mother?" she whispered.
"Ye,, ma am-she too. Celia and |
are all alone
She rose and trcmblingly took ia
mic hand in hers, while he was sur
priSed To see how softened her face
seemed.
james. this is "A strange thing. Ny
name is Celia Herbert Smith and James
Gay Smith. your father, was my cousin,
the dearest one | had. We quarreled.
and he drifted away never knew
just what became of him-and to find
his children thus. Yes. yes!' she
unused, gazing into his face with far
away eyes, lit is his very loook-so res
olute and proud-how plainly / can see
it still! And he gave his little daugh-
ter nag name. James, suddenly rec
ollecting herself, where is your sister?
How do you live? Who takes care of
your
81 take care of Us, ma'am, and we
live in two snug little rooms with the
HuffStodts. They're very nice folks
indeed. and he works i'm a brewery and
she makes cakes for parties. We're
very comfortably fixed. ma'am; and. if
YOU please, I'm afraid Celia will be
frightened if | stay so long. She'll
think I'm arrested. sure"
Miss &. III. Smith laughed, and the
strained. white look left her face.
Il must get better acquainted with
my papsius auI tbair friends sha