The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1897-02-12

probably there ain't any. But I amt
quite fool. Wait seven yearsl II should
do that, suppose she would want me to
serve yet seven other years, because Jacob
did"
And he went on thinking disrespectful
things of the patriarch simply because he
himself did not understand the girl he
loved SO well. OF course, being merely q
man, he could not be expected to, and
things went from bad to worse, as they
are likely to do when girl is whimsical
and her lover is proud.
And so they might have gone on world
without end If 1t had not been for the
blessed saint who watches over lovers and
who straightens out their tangled affairs
sometimes. Surely it could have been
nobody else but st. Valentine that would
have chosen SO queer way of settling q
quarrel, for nobody but one of those quaint
medieval saints would ever have thought
Of little Jake Higgins as likely to straight
en- anything out
Jake was an ambitious boy, but so odd
In his ways and in his speech that even his
mother could not always understand him;
but she realized, small as he was, how
great a help he was to her, and how poorly
she would get along without his help, for
he was "the only son OF his mother, and
she widow" He went to school, of
course, for he lived in New England, and
he did chores around homo; but that was
not enough to satisfy him. So he asked for
work and got it in the big country store
where Ned Willis was working for his
uncle, with the prospect of being sole own
or some day when his uncle should retire.
II dom think boys are much good, do
you, Mr.. Willis9" said the boy one evening
when they sat waiting for the closing hour.
"Well, don't know" said Ned, smil-
ing. 1T depends principally on the boy.
Now, should say you were of consider
able use."
"No, amt" said Jake quickly. eff
V as, I'd be getting more'n 81 week.
But I s'pose I'll have to keep pegging
aTay for whatever I get till 1 grow up.
IL pears to me there's a sight of time
wasted in growing up"
"Perhaps you won't like it so well after
you do grow up" said Ned, considerably
amused.
ooh, yes, WILL" said the boy conf
IDENTIFY. "I'm going to be the richest man
in the village when 1 get older. Maybe
I'll go in partnership with you when you
get tho store yourself. Anyway I'm GO
ing to live in the biggest house in the
place. 1 don't know whether I'll buy
Squire Bemis' or build a new one. And
I'm going to marry Dorothy Somers
and''-
whats that" demanded Ned sharply,
"What are you talking about?''
"Well," said Jake coolly, "you needn't
be so skittish. You amt keeping company
with her any more. And anyhow think
she always thought more of me than she
did of you"
"Oh, shut upY' said Ned, uncertain
whether to laugh or to box the boys ears.
you'll have to wait dozen years yet be-
fore you can think of being married. I"
"No, WON'T" persisted the boy. "I'll
be ii soon, and I'm going 60 marry as
soon as I'm 21.''
The odd coincidence made Ned smile In
spite of himself. He looked at his little
tormentor very strangely for a moment,
and then said bitterly: well, Jacob, 1
don't know but she may wait for you aft.
or all. But seven years is long time to
wait She might change her mind before
that
"Now, I know you're mad" said the
boy. "Nobody ever calls me Jacob with
out they are mad He said no more, and
Ned Willis was too angry to talk. So they
closed the store, said good night and went
their separate ways home.
SPY jiminyp' said little Jake to himsel:
as he plowed his way through the gatf.-
ering snowdrifts. CT don't know but wnao
Ned Willis is right about her changing
her mind. Seven years is a good while.
and dcn'a know as I'd care much whetn.
er she married mo or not, only she's the
prettiest girl in the whole township, and 1
won't marry mono but the prettiest. 1
guess I'd better settle the matter as soon
as can"
Just how to settle it, though, was
problem that was almost too much for his
queer little brain. He was quite in ear
nest, or thought he was, in his intention,
and 1t had not occurred to him that the
lady herself might object. He had always
admired her, and she had been kind to
him in q careless way several times, so
that his boyish fancy had really led him
astray. But even his conceit was not
quite strong enough to lead him to suppose
that she would consent to be openly en-
gagged to him for some time to come.
II know what I'll do" he thought, after
some days Of perplexity. OH send her a
valentine and tell her to wait for me.
Valentines day comes next week, and I'll
Just settle this matter now.
Accordingly he spent all his leisure time,
which was not much, for the next few days
in composing letter that should suit the
emergency and should be well written and
free from mistakes. 1t was we'll written,
for, as was said, Jakey was ambitious, and
he had practiced faithfully at his writing,
taking Ned Willis hand for model, as
Ned was the best writer he knew.
At last 1t was written, sealed and ad-
dressed, and the night before Valentines
day he sneaked up to Farmer Somers'
kitchen door and slipped it underneath,
where Dorothy would be sure to sec 1t the
first thing in the morning.
And perhaps her bright, beautiful eyes
did not sparkle when she found It'll There
was not the slightest question in her mind
as to who had sent it, nor did the wording
of it raise any doubt. Yet it was singu-
lar sort of valentine too.
"Dear Dorothy" 1t read, "seven years
Is q good while, but 1 shan't marry any
body else. All ask is for you to wait for
mo- Yours faithfully, Jacob. 1"
"I'd better not sign my full name" the
writer had decided when he had debated
the question. at would make it look too
much like business letter, and there nin't