The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1895-02-13
WON BY A VALENTINE.

Bells ringing, girls appearing in the
halls and public rooms, forming groups
with general air of suppressed excite
ment, marked st. Valentines day at Lew
iston school. Charma Sidney was wander
ing idly up and down the lower hall with
her chum, "Goosie, hanging on her arm.
"Goosie" won her nickname through her
gentle disposition and artless, straightfor-
ward manner. Charma said plaintively,
"How l wish there was valentine for
me, but know of a certain ono likely to
remember me In that way whom don't
want to nevertheless. l wouldn't accept a
valentine from him-no, not If he brought
it himself Jack Landon may marry who
ever he wants to. He can't have me"
"Goosie" looked up admiringly and
thought that any one who declined chances
with such readiness must be great indeed
and wondered II she could ever do the
same.
A little sharper tingle than usual Of the
bell below aroused Charma from the rev.
erie into which she had fallen; then soma
one called from the hall, Miss Sidneyl'
She flew down the broad staircase, assured
that valentine had come for her, and in
deed was soon kneeling In the midst Of a
crowd of girls over box Of fragrant roses
reposing snugly In their cotton bed, the
white satin streamers half hiding a tiny
card that had slipped down among them
unnoticed. Charma rescued the card some
what triumphantly and read, "Mr. Jack
Landon." But this was not all. AS she
knelt above thom, lifting them out and
inhaling their fragrance, "Goosie" picked
up a diamond ring that had fallen to the
floor and held II out with flourish, cry
ing: "IOok, look, Charma Sidney, what
your valentine means You'll have him
now, won't yOui' But Charma was spell
bound for tho moment by the message on
q little slip Of paper found under the roses
and which she read with flushing cheeks.
"Must / go backi" it said Love,
love you. Cannot l come TO you, sweet
heart miner Ny love for you is as pure as
the roses send, precious as this little dia-
mond and as lasting as all eternity. Let
me come. "
Charma was our only postgraduate for
the year-that Is, after a regular gradua-
tion she had returned TO school to "brush
up In elective studies Her temperance
on opening day had made us both glad
and sorry-glad because she was good
companion, sorry for the reason-but
therein lies the key to my st. Valentino
romance.
Lewiston holds before its pupils the old
fashioned idea of woman's sphere as the
head Of home with all the term implies,
and II graceful, stately Charma, with her
speaking gray eyes, wavy brown tresses
and not at all Of student nor livestock
ing temperament had been Obliged TO re-
turn to school to cover up her failure In
woman's natural role, what would become
of us girls, SCORE Of seniors, when we
came to go trooping out to conquer, or
alas, to DO conquered by the fate that pur-
sues old maidsP Yes, we did love her, and
we couldn't understand why the rest Of
our kind, particularly mankind, didn't
love her too. The secret OF 1t she had
guarded well, but we forgave her that
when she shared with us the secret of her
valentine gift.
Jack Landon is my dearest friend, "
she said, hot with blushes, when we had
caressed away the tears
"IIow Is II you never told usS"
"YOu see, We weren't engaged-that is,
no hadn't really proposed, but It wasn't
his fault, pleaded Charma. 1T was
mine"
"You loved him and wouldn't own 1t,
even TO us girlsF'
"Yes; did love him, but every time he
wanted 70 say something 10 the point
turned IL of. pretended not 10 understand,
or TO BIO interested In astronomy or botany
or music or any subject at hand that l
could turn TO rs a foil, Girls, | confess l
bluffed him simply because was fasci-
mated with tho game"
The confession cleared the atmosphere
for all concerned. Jack soon followed his
valentine In person and gave Charma no
chance "a turn Cupld's shift away again.
Like good soldier, when beaten In Siege,
he had adopted ruso de guerro, for which
the day had given capital excuse. Our
star pupil remained with US until com
moncement, and as she went away from
Lewiston the echoes OF schoolgirl goodbys
were mingled with those Of wedding bells
and conpratnluti ms TO Jack Landon's
bride, woocd aud 9on by a valentine.
EDIEE HOWARD
Have yss Rene wed year susserip-
lI~u Tor Is0J. II|