The Globe-republican., 1891-02-11

own mOney-bOX. l noticed that As the
early February days slipped away Jack
became immensely mysterious. His lit
tie bosom swelled with some tremend-
Gus secret, and sometimes, after gazing
at me for few seconds with widening
eyes, he would ripple with delicious lit
tie gusts of laughter from head to foot.
After these tiny explosions he would
kiss me vehemently. and rush away as
though afraid to trust his secret any
longer in my presence.
l can not pretend to say that had no
inkling of coming events, and, sure
enough. when arrived in the Office on
st. Valentines morning, there on my
desk lay package, sealed almost all
over with red sealing wax. and with
the stamps and address huddled into
one corner, as though of very secondary
account. opened it as eagerly, de-
clare, as any girl in New York that day
who hoped to find her valentine hand
somer than that of her bosom friend.
There was beautiful little hand-paint-
ed sachet, tied with big bow of white
satin ribbon, and-herein lay the cause
of Jacks mysterious rapture-a letter!
partly printed, partly written in Won
derful hieroglyphics, but all his own
writing and composition:
'dere darlin val. i luv u so mush do waite till
am a man we can be marid. will be as
quick as can, no am quite big now luv u
wild all my hart, u ar mi only darlin, ure luvin
Jack
Now, am very fond of children, and
never having had brother or sister, or
niece or nephew, or little one brought
close to me by any tie, my whole
heart went out to my baby lover, and
any one who chooses may think me a
fool when own that a tear-I scarcely
know if it was sweet or bitter one
fell on that little smeared and blotted
scrawl. The next minute, however,
laughed heartily, and, although 1 had
already sent Jack a pretty valentine,
resolved to write him an answer to his
letter, and, to make it more legible to
him. l used my typewriter.
This is what said:
my DARLING: will wait for you until you
arc quite man, and you shall always be my
only sweetheart. Who could help loving such
Q dear pet' Certainly not your own VAL"
This l addressed to
Mr. JOHN POSTLErHwAITE JR,
Madison Avenue.
ran out and mailed it myself, and
then waited all day in expectation of
Jacks visit in the afternoon to ratify
our contract BY some chance he never
came. l saw it was no use stopping
when Mr.. Postlethwaite passed out of
the Office without waiting for the car
riage, and as went home 1 bought a
box of candied fruit, so that when he
came the next day we might have
feast to celebrate the occasion.
The same evening about eight was
in our little parlor, playing dreamy
melodies for my own delectation in the
dark, when ring came at the bell and
a minute after the colored damsel who
rules our household opened the door
with:
"a gemman to see you, Miss Valerie
1 sprang to my feet, turned up the
gas and found myself face to face with
Mr.. Postlethwaite. To say that was
surprised would give no idea of my
feelings. 1 could just command voice
enough to offer him a seat, which he
accepted, and, as 1 sank into chair,
noticed that he had typewriter note
in his hand-one which seemed IA
miliar to me. 1 raised my eyes to his
and found them bent on me with a
curious but not ungentle expression,
and. without knowing why, the blood
rose to my cheeks in hot bushes.
81 ought to apologize for disturbing
you at this hour, Miss Claxton," he said
he had pleasant voice. and it
much less grave than usual.
but / am afraid l have intercepted a
letter that was not intended for me.
am John Postlethwaite, Junior-my
father lives in the same house with me-"
saw it all now; but, good Heavens!
could not the man understand? Why
need he come to ask me7 His baby
could have explained.
Really" l stammered, scarcely
knowing what said. 81 didn't know
l should have thought"
"Oh, don't apologize, he replied, and
his eyes laughed, though he still kept
his countenance. Nothing can be said
to relieve my disappointment. For
l indulged in wild hope that
it was a valentine for me; but 1 quite
that 1 can not expect to
rival my son. However, though neither
you nor he seemed to consider my con-
sent necessary. thought would just
call up and express my entire approval
Of Jacks choice"
We looked at each other and both
laughed heartily. Who would have
thought that the grave Mr.. Postle-
thwaite could laugh so merrily? Then