The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-02-26

the prcttiest valentine ] can find. SO
you can go right on dreaming, you
dear little thing. and needn't worry
your pretty head about it. I'll got
ono that'll make your Adonis go wild
with delight.
And all the afternoon Cnddio went
about with dismal feeling in her
heart, and her soft eyes all misty with
tears. For Cnddie was the most timid
of beings, and felt thnt she could
never hold out against the combined
will and offorts of her parents. sisters,
and Mr.. Judsou Pitcher himself,
wretched ns IL would make her to re-
sign her youthful lover, Jim Page.
He might have sent me valentine,
she said to herself, "not that it would
do him any good, or me, either, for
they are bound to marry me to Jud
Pitcher, and what shall l do il they
doP"
Meantime, Miss Atherton, under
the impression that Cuddie was MS
deeply in love with the sender of her
valentine as he was with her, took u
benevolent delight in selecting IN ele-
CANT valentine, presenting flight of
silver winged doves, with long, lily
stalks waving above them, two hearts
entangled in dainty true-lovcr's knot
and some charming verses, the senti-
ment of which was uumistakable.
And Caddie's heart sank lower than
ever, as she beheld the lovely fabrica-
tion ensconced that same evening in
Is dainty envelope, and directed by
Mrs. John Benbow to Mr.. Judson
Pitcher.
"'Tain't likely he knows my hand
write" remarked that lady, "but he'll
know mighty we'll where it came from
all the same"
christopher Columbusl Who'd a
thought it? IT that don't beat mel"
Mr.. Judson Pitchers pale eyes grew
trihe deeper than usual with wonder
MS ne surveyed the valentine so care
fully chosen by Miss Atherton. He
had crumpled it somewhat in his awk'
ward efforts to slip it from the en-
velope, and left ''smudyc' on the
creamy edge.
Mr.. Pitcher was slim, tall. oily
looking young man, with n linty-white
fuzziness of whiskers, stiff, s;hite eye
lashes, and a general expression OF ILL
humored stubbornness.
He had Just returned from the post
Office with his prize, and now stood
gazing at it with his open mouth.
"Hit's bouncer nm no mistake"
ran his cogitations-"pigeons an rib
bons an flowers an thingsl An
who'd ever a dremp' OF Athy Ather-
ton, ut I've allays thought was stuck
mp an' proud as she could live, a.
sendin' me sich fine valentine, with
all them verses sayin' how she loves
me? Granny! wouldn't a b'leeved it,,
an you couldn't a made me b'leeve she
done it, if / hadn't a. seen her with
my own eyes a-buyin' it an a-pickin
out the finest one she could find. An
lucky thing it was l was a-standin'
behind them other fellers SOS she
couldn't see me, or she wouldn't
bought it then, and I'd never knowed
where it did come from.
can it snys she's been a-lovin' me
for years, nm daredn't make no sign.
Well, great guns! Course I'd be
williu' enough to hev her. She's got
the stuff an amt bad lookin' neither.
Not so purity rs Caddie Benhow, an
I'd ruther hev Caddie all things being
ekil. But take Caddie if can get the
heires,? Not much, Mary Ann
Wisht hedn't n wasted my half O
dollar on that valentine for Cad But,
howsomever, I'll go straight off an
see Althy, au' hev it all settled in {
iili jest to think of the heiress a.
lovin' me so hopeless all this time, an
me in my modesty not a-suspicionine
it'll She might OF he'd me long ago.
Aud so absorbed was Mr.. Pitcher il
his reflections that he nearly rode
! over Farmer B.nbow, who was plod
ding down the lane in search of hi
| cows.
"H'lo there, Pitcher Watch aou
where you're a-going att! was thu
| farmers greeting, Don't be a-runuinI