Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1895-04-06
and probably put the idea of writing
into Ruthven's head

tnat night to buy some material need
frl IN his trade, aud SO lei ave the house
to his mother. who bethought her to
fall downstairs and sprain her ankle
before be had gone two hours.
The servant, frightened out OF her
senses, called ont to Miss Mamie to
run in to Mrs. Ruthvcn," as she
rushed doc.or-ward. And Mamie has.
tened 20 obey. Mrs. Kutnren sat in
chair, IN some pain and rather faint,
but Mamie was glad to find matter.
no worseI She propped the hurt ankle
upon aJcushion, and asked what she
should do and Mrs. Ruthyen answered
that the camphor was on the desk in
Nelson's room, and she went in quest
| OF that restorative; and so, looking
with q candle for the bottle, saw, des-
| pite herself, the nape upon the en-
velope which Nelson had left upon his
desk Miss Mamie Pitcairn"
The sight .futtered her amazingly.
"Wby should he write to me?" she
asked. Then it came into her mind
| that the day after tomorrow was
| Valentines day. ''He is going TO send
uae q valentine" she said, 81 never
had valentine in all my life," And
blush stole to her cheek, apd happy
! softness into her heart
Mrs. Ruthven was in bed when Mel.
son came home, and Mamie had gone
home, but the old lady was full Of her
Draises
'<Did me more good than the doc
tor, she said. 'She's little dear. !"
And but for that diabolicai Cupid,
Nelson would have told his mother
then and there what he had written to
Mamie; but his tormentor whispered,
"No; if she refuses, it will be unbear
able to be condoled with" SO he held
his peace. The next morning he wen,
to the Office with his letter, and
dropped it into the box, and said tc
himself, "She'll read it anyhow"
Dut the postmaster's "Cousin Peter"
pas in tho habit Of stealing money
from letters; and Nelson Ruthven's
had not been IN the Office IN hodr be-
fore it had been transferred to Cousir
Peters hands, and was being peepeC
into by that gentleman.
He had opened three letters, one af
ter the other, when one came unex
pectedly to the door. 1t was the post
master for the key. Peter cried out
Coming I'll attend to i'll" And
in his furry dropped the three letters
on the floor, and left the envelopes or
the table. The postmaster departed
With trustiul "All right!' He picket
them up again, trembling with fright,
for the CARRIE was waiting below.
Mrs. Browns letter." he said
frnmming It into its envelope
t'Mustn't seal that All, what's this
A valentine?" It was hideous one
"a skeleton female, with q hump back
sewing on machine. Mr.. Tomm,
Traddles had sent it to his six-vear
old sister for the righteous purpose 0
making her mad.
Then he picked up ~ envelope.
Miss Pitcairn. That sewing girl
This IS Tor her, Of course" he said
sealing it up.
Then he crammed Nelson love-le,
ter into Annie Traddle's envelope, on
went down to unlock his drawer
; Whereupon Cupid, in high ecstasy
sow thst hidcous valentine wing il
; vay.
She sat at her window watching fc
S IT. She waited eagerly. At last tt
carrier appeared i'll sight, stopped I
the grocery, stopped At the Traddles
stoppe. at Mrs. Smiths, and th:
came right 70 her own door. mi
: Pitcairn. he shouted. aad tossed Il
, mlssivc into Ter hands, and was :
again.
i She aev to her bedroom ard $
down upon the floor, and kissed &
5 cCve.ope, anil opened It da.o.:lS ".