Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1895-02-14

VI Cne pOSCouco d silaIp h'V'o o""S w
hind her.
She felt quite sure that Mo'es Moss
was watching her through the one lit
tie front window of the postof1ice, and
she held her head yory high and swung
her black alpaca skirts scornfullly as
she walked away.
u wish to the land I'd torn the thing
into a thousand pieces right before him!
she said, as she turned the corner. lle
likely knows who sent it, us he's the
postmaster and familiar with ev'ry-
body's writin'. An Nose is such an
old gossip he'd be sure to tell the per-
son who sent it if he'd seen me tear it
up. Wish l had
Her brown eyes were none the less
beautiful because Of the angry sparkle
in them, and the flush of crimson on
either cheek Was very becoming to Miss
Lucinda.
She found her scissors, the moment
she entered her house, and cut otf an
end Of the envelope with snap. Then
she drew out a dainty little creation in
pink and blue and gold on foundation
of white, satiny paper. with an edge of
paper lace. She held it ont at arms
length, in her gloved hands. Her eyes
fairly gittered now, and the crimson
flush on her cheeks deepened.
Whoever sent me that thing is a
fool 7 she said.
Then she held the valentine little
nearer, and said, scornfully:
'Humph ! Hearts with arrers run
through EN-, and nasty little Cupids
and weddn' '-bells-the idea Of 1t 1t
a perfect insult When a woman gets
to be forty-three Years old, as l am,the
less she thinks Of Cupids an wedding
balls and such nonsense, the better of
she is. I've good mind to put the
thing into the fire, and-whats this ?
Poetry as I'm sinner"
The valentine had suddenly opened
in her hands, and, in gilt letters, with
gold heart above and below it, was this
verse :
oh, lonely, lonely is my heart,
So lonely, love, for thee,
I'm happiest when I'm where thou ait,
On, wit thou come to me?
Oh wilt thou come to me for aye,
And be forever mine,
TO gladden. all the future years?
Say yes! say Yes! my valentine.
'Mercies 7 cried Miss Dyke, as she let
the valentine fell into her lap, while
her arms fell Imply to her sides and
she almost gasped for breath. Presently
she SAID slowly, noddlng ner bonneted
head to and fro: I-just wonder
who-dld d-send-me- that sill -
thing? Some mischievous school, boy,
likely. But. no; he'd sent me one of
them nasty comics with picture of an
old maid on it with a nose yard long
and sassy verse printed on it. never
saw that writing before, that | know
off,
She took up the envelope and scru-
tnized the add carefully.
NO. she said. u never saw thah writ
ing before. Now, if / knew who sent
me that thing, I'd send it right back
with note. telling 'em just what l
thought of 'em. Evow would
She put the valentine back into the
envelope and gave it a spiteful little toss
over to - small stand near her. Then
she rose briskly. took off her bonnet
and shawl. exchanged her black alpaca
for gray mohair house-dress and a
crisp white apron with wide crocheted
) lace on it, and sat down by the little
stand with piece of half finished sew
ing in her hands.
The valentine fell to the floor at her
feet, when she took up her sewing. She
let it Law where it had fallen for several
minutes, while shs stitched away in
silence, drawing the thread through the
clcth with quick, short jerks.
J Suddenly she stopped and picked up
the valentine.
,How did that silly verse goY she
said, AZ she drew the valentine from l's
envelope Such stuff as it is anyhow
She read it again and again, needless
Of the fact that the cat was snarling ny
dreadfully the contents OF her wo' k
basket.
u know what I'm going to do,' she
said, suddenly. I'm going back to the
postoffice and make Moses Moss tell me
whose handwriting that is on the envel.
one. He'll know, and he'll tell me
too. Nose always was a good natured
fellow, and he'll tell me if he knows.
I've lust the fantest s'picion that old
Jasper Hoyt may have sent ME TINS
They say he's half cracked to marry
apain, and his first wife not six months
:. L., ,,,, T,i want IL hvino