The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1897-02-19
except sallie. who died years ago! Wha

except Sallie. who died years ago! What
| could the note mean?
| Very slowly the truth dawned on Mol
| lie, and at last she buried her face IN the
patchwork quilt and walled: "oh, II
mic Williams that lives in the bis house
just ON the edge OF. the. town. might IA
known it wasn't mine"
| 1t MAS Mellie's habit to hold long con-
versations with herself, so after sobbing
quietly awhile. she continued;
but ! shan't give it to her. She's got
Congress. and she has lots of lovely
things and amt got anything 'cept
| this" 4S II
The valentine had slipped down upon
| the floor. and as she stopped TO recover it
she mechanically, picked, up a, little clip,
ping Of cardboard lying beside 1t.
1t was scrap Of one of the Sunday
school cards she had sacrificed in making
Jakie's valentine, and she was about to
| throw it down when these words caught
! her eyes; ,'fhou shalt not steal"
1nsA moment Mollie was face down.
W'alTt1 upon the flour sohting again.
-."Oh, don't want to be Il stealcr-but
my names us much Williams as hers is.
and the boy gave it to me- -
Very little sleep visited poor MOllie'S
pillow that night, but the result Of the
| conflict between duty and longing was
shown when about 3 o'clock the next
morning Il detected little figure carry
gravel walk leading to Congressman
Williams handsome suburban. residence.
The door was opened by Il pom!'ous-
looking colored man.
''No. you can't see Miss Mamie. She's
taking her music lessons. I'll glib her de
de back do'-dis do is for de quality
''Herc. YOU, Jim, show the young lady
to the library" and Mr.. Williams, who
had been taking walk on the veranda,
threw away his cigar, and, coming for
ward, greeted Mollic with every sign of
| respect.
Mollie. ushcred by the now obsequious
easily upon the edge of leather up
holstered chair while the master of the
house seated himself opposite, and I'M
dertook to make her feel ut home
Il guess we'd better not disturb Ma
mic just now, but l suppose YOU and
| can entertain each other awhile" he
Mollie sasped "Ies. SIR and he con-
tinued:
.'Secms to me l ought to know you.
Oh. yes, daughter of my nancsake, Mr..
Williams. the shoemakcr.'
Then noticing the box which she still
held. Are YOU bringing valentine to
my llttle uAuS0tcr:
Then Mollie found her tongue. "No.
sir, it amt mine-I think it's hers-but
the boy give it to mc-only amt got
any. Aunt Maryland they call HE Mol
lie
This was not very lucid, but her nearer
seemed to understand, as he took the box
and opened it.
ION. | see, case of mistaken identity.
From my sister Mary, who doesn't be-
lievc i'll spelling good old-fashioned names.
Now tell me about your own Valentines"
Ills political opponents, who could not
understand the popularity which made it
impossible to defeat the congressman,
might have partly understood the mystery
could they have seen how he had Mollie
perfectly, at ease in few minutes, curled
up III the capacious chair contentedly
munching his wife's French bonbons, and
| telling the whole story of the homemade
valentines and her own temptations and
struggles.
Without questioning he contrived to
get IL pretty good idea of the struggles
with poverty i'll the shoemaker's house.
Indeed Mollie. waxing most confidential,
seemed disposed to exhibit all the family
! skeletons, until he dclicately turned the
| subject.
How is your father? l don't think
before the election"
NO.. said Mollie. you wouldn't be
| apt to. We're Republicans, YOU know
That is. most of us are. The children at
school throw it UP to lis, and Pete says
he amt going to stald it, so he's turned
! publicans. like pa. There was something
80 heroic in this speech that her listener
didn't feel bit like laughing.
''That's right. honor you for your
adherence to principle. I hope the time
Will come when you yourself will have
the. privilege Of voting for-I mean
against me; Well, little daughter,
as Il quantity attrcd little girl came into
the room and shyly gave her hand to
Mollie.
IT was so kind Of you to bring it to
me- she said. after the valentine had
been duly admired. Il hope you got sew
erai pretty ones YOURSELF
No" said Mollie, choking buck sob.
| Il didn't get any but that-ahd it wasn't
mine'
'''roo bad" sail Mamie. "Maybe you'll
get, some yet. got two last year on the
| 10Th. Must you go?'
| Thrre was really no excuse for lingcr-
ing, SO after her host had empticd the
contents of the bonbon box into her
pocket Alollic reluctantly departed
| "Papa, said Mamie. as they stood
watching their departing: guest, ''of
course l couldn't give her Aunt Mary's
valentine. but couldn't l send some of
the others?''
That's my own little tlaughter.' said
her father, but keep your valentines,
| papa will fix it,
And Mamie who knew all about
papa's way of fixing things, was more
than content with this promise So were
the Williams children, for they all got
valentines and something more substan-
tial before the day had passed.-Youth's
Companion.