The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-03-13
MESON'S I RANSF ORA1ATloN

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- A2lES0N was busy
ls,, ope1ing Lis mornlng
W. mail ard giving IN.
.,# A.o;7- st-uc,ious to his
i ' Is clerks with su-ly
FIlE HSos" curtaass. Presently
9f he picked up o large
.l5 envelope AMI paused, with the
4, knife poised, ready to be IL
fa under the flap. \ Whit OF VIC
ad greeted him as be took the
If in his hand, T.
umph!" he slortod, as ne looked
RI address and tie red seal on tue
Essn and wondered whom the unusual
s# could be from. Square enve!-
no place III business CORES
Fence, and business letters are
,HB Likely to smell Of birthstone than
After tie first surprise he
6 ted the paper knife and gave
Ssipe rip. As the knife passed
ugh, it brought ont the end OF a
' ss blue ribbon, and 3 moment later
'N surly lumber merchant had a
sntine in his hand. He felt dazed
III looked q. the l!nsy lace paper
i. the little pink and white Cuplds
n. smiled ont at him. Turning 1t
sr he SOW, written on the back III 8
dish hand: ..
with love to papa, from Mile
q valentine from his little daughter,
~ first he had ever received! he
ia the simple verse that was plln'ea
Fit:
n Ifvour hear. he pure and free,
ii nrav YOU give your heart 10 me.
4 with love vii! give YOU mine.
e Let me be you. valentine.
aAs he handled it gently with hi!
ngh, hard fingers, a glow per7ade'
stn, as if something for which he ha|
Zen longing all Ills lie had come a
sst. Ju:t then he heard q litter be
Ind him, and, turning quickly, say
lat the typewriter girl had bee
Patching. With muttered oath b
hrew the valentine to the back OF b
|esk, and a feeling almost OF nause
.yercame him. The success with whlc
10 had been satisfying mis- pride an
,tarv,ug his heart became odious
nm in M instant, and the emptlne'
Il his life came back with stingin
force. What did it matter that he he
fought his way from the lumber caml
in the bacswoods Of Maine to tx
position OF foremost lumber dealer
New York? He had allowed hlmse
to lie married for his money; ne W
a stranger ID his own house; ne VI
hardly acquainted with his only daus
ter because, forsooth, his wife Ike
them apart for fear the child shoo
scouire the Scotch burr ne inherit
IRON his parents, and Tor which
was freely ridiculed. She must acqu'
p pure English accent, and to this e ,
had been sent away to a fashlons'
bosrding.school, after prellm'na
course Of study with an imported g
erness. Faugh! 1t made him SICK
think of it. Only work would S
him even o heeting relief. He m
bestir himself, instead OF dresmr
She had sent him the valentine SIM
because other girls were sending th'
not because she meant 1t! Inc he'
sick, lonely man reused himself IL
his unpleasant reverie and resul
the work OF the day. he pun's
The titte1lng typewriter by glvlns
enough work to keep her IN!
rafting the keys until after no
Then be went into the yard to see
things were going on. Every'f
WIS wrong.
"Here!" he growled to his loren
"}on't YOU know enough to pile t
planks wi the heart side down? 70
bling them sap down, an they'll g
an ro:. How many times have 1
Won how to do it? Can't | ever |
you to do it right? j.,
One after another, the work
were scolded. and they, good
credited 1t all to the ''old man S st
wife
.sHe's been hsvin' another 70
home" they said, 'an' is sakin' !
OF rs"