Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-02-14
con those lines were really chopped

have some suspicious. Jennie might
know my handwriting, in spite Of all the
pains I'd taken with 1t, and II she did,
was afraid might not live to see the
fun In the evening. So took the mail
for the family and went off and had
SNOWFALL battle. Jim Hewitt gave me
part OF his supper, according to an ar
rangement we have In case one of us is
afraid something is waiting for him at
home, and l didn't show up at the house
till after 7 o'clock.
l gave Jennie the valentine Just as
Algy rang the door bell. She put it
into her pocket and ran and crawled
under the sofa In the parlor, where /
could see the fun. It's easy enough to
hide In that parlor. because they never
have light enough to see fellow with.
At first they didn't say anything
about the valentine; they Just talked
nonsense. A gy appeared to think that
1t was special occasion and he must let
himself loose. He talked sentimental
stuff and quoted poetry till our cat got
cine closet and pulled the stopper out Of
a bottle of Jamaica ginger with her
teeth.
Finally Algy said ''Did thep post bring
Yes" said Jennie, and I could see
that abe didn't feel easy about it. She
was afraid to confess that she hadn't
read them.
The poet hove sigh with question
mark after it.
They were so sweet" said Jennie,
$50 like you; SO full of soul"
"Ah, yes" murmured the poet, that
Is it; brief but full of soul How sweet
is appreciation"
They were sort of brief" said Jennie,
catching at this scrap of information.
why didn't you make 'em longer"
1.-The muse, the muse" said Algy, she
oade me whisper only one soft word into
your shell like ear"
The shell Like ear tickled Jennie nearly
to death, but she didn't understand
about the one word. Could it be possible
that Algy had written poem with only
one word In it That was the question
she was thinking of SO hard that could
almost hear her brain go. didn't Won
der that she was in doubt, because Algy
70 capable OF anything when he gets
started.
1T was a-a-very-soulful-
she stammered, finally, 1.-The soulfullest
word l almost ever saw"
1t was getting too warm for her, and
she had to excuse herself for minute. /
knew what she was after. She went out
and read my soulful poem under the hall
lamp. There wasn't much light, and
Jennie was pretty well muddled in her
mind, SO that she didn't notice that any
thing was the matter with the verses.
She got an idea how long they were and
that there was poet mentioned in the
first part of it, and gun in the last.
II thought my idea of Cupids arrow
and the fateful shot vas rather clever"
said Algy, as soon as she got back.
Yes, it was clever, awfully clever; SO
Like you," said Jennie, more confused
than ever. Il noticed right off that
somebody got shot, but thought 1t was
with gun"
The poet evidently took this for bash
full maiden's joke, and he smiled weird,
sad smile.
'No, it was bow" he said; "Cupid's
bow. Venus calls to Cupid, don't you
remember
'Was his other name johnny asked
Jennie, who isn't very well up in my
thology. II thought she called him
| Johnny"
mo, his name isn't Johnny After q
little experience with your brother, I
can't imagine how you could think any
thing nice could be called Johnny. am
afraid you would make mock Of my
lines"
Jennie was almost In tears.
"Oh, no; indeed I'm not" she said.
1T was ever 30 sweet. and I'll keep 1t
always. 1t was so fine IN its sentiment.
l never saw anything 30 delicately
worded as that apology for your ulster.
But you needn't have said a word /
think it's pretty one"
MY ulster" said Algy, opening his
eyes very wide; "excuse me, but II the
poets cloak of dreams is going to be
| called an ulster, and IL the poet is ex-
pected to apologize for wearing it, per-
haps we would better part even thus"
mo, no; don't CO." pleaded Jennie.
I'm sure you said something about your
ulster Please let me read 1t to you.r
The poet subsidized into a chair and
Jennie took out her little valentine and
sprung it on him. could see his face
all the time. At the first line he started
to cay something, but he couldn't; his
jaw dropped lower and lower, until 1t
rested on bis shirt bosom. At the end
he shut 1t with q snap, and started up.
who has tempered with my verse
who, who?" he howled, and then his
tone changed to the sarcastic. so these
are the soulful lines that were so like
me-. Go, woman. we are apart"
why, aren't they yours" sobbed Jeu-
ME.
''Minef Oh, horrorsl Come, let me
see them under brighter Light" and he
turned up the gas.
regret to state that all this Light on
the subject revealed the author. AIgy
saw my fest sticking out from under the
sofa. do not propose to humiliate my
self by relating what followed. He Is q
good deal bigger than am, any way,
but I'm growing all the time, and some
day will break o certain low down poet
know OF right square In two.
ldon't care, any way. Jennis's done
with him, and perhaps the next fellow
she fascinates will know enough to make
himself solid with her brother.
Sc. vnlsntins's In 1867.
Pepyy In his famous diary has some
thing TO say about st. Valentines day,
1887