Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-03-25

works." said she, "and I've put these
jams and jellies up for the Widow
Bothiah Hull. She's dreadful poorly,
they say, and needs watchers every
night; 80 l told her daughter-in-law
you'd come there and stay tonight"
Amabel looked up, with sudden
flush dying her cheek. She had not
forgotten that it was st. Valentine 8
eve.
"Won'ttomorrow night do as well?"
said she, pleadingly.
"No, it won'tl' said Miss Daffodil,
tartly.
Amabel said no more. After all,
what did itymatter9 If David Juniper
had ceased to think about her, what
meaning could the soft glow of st.
Valentines morn have for her?
SO she took the basket. and spiritless-
ly departed, almost wishing that she,
too, we're passing out of life's cheer
less confines like poor Bethiah Hull.
Because" she thought, cit don't
seem as If life was worth living, after
ALL"
And when the rosy dawn began to
kindle its soft fires along the edge OF
the gray east, Miss Daffodil dressed
herself in her prettiest and most
youthful dress, curled her stiff, gray
sprinkled head with hot-iron, washed
her face in cream of roses and posted
herself behind the lattice of Amabel
Archer's window. For she had been
"reading up" on the subject and knew
all the observances of the day.
eff he sees me first" said she, chez
bound to be my valentine and no mis-
take! And / can easily make him
believe that 1 forgot to give the mes
sage to that Archer girl"
So Miss Archer waited, her artii-
cially.blooming face looking almost
CHASTITY in the fresh irradiation of the
dawning day, her eyes peering rest
lessly, hither and yon, over the soli-
tary snow.
And Amabel? 1t had begun to be
just little light, as she sat there by
the fire in the Widow Bethiah's
room. and Mrs. Hull, the daughter-in.
law of the invalid, had risen and was
making preparations for breakfast,
when there came the merry jingling
of sleigh bells, the sudden cessation
of sound, the reverberation of knock
ing at the door.
''Miss Amabel, won't you 60 and
see who's there?" called out Mrs. Hull,
Jr. 81 amt gotmy hair out of the
crimps yeti"
So Amabel drew the ponderous
bolts, unlocked the front door and
saw, standing on the doorsteps-Cap-
tain Juniper.
."Amabel" he cried; my valen-
tinev'
And he caught her in his arms with
a kiss.
Remember the privileges of the
day." he exclaimed, laughing. ere
member that you are my valentine for
whole year to come--perhaps for
ever"
But" cried Amabel, breathless
with amazement, show came you
here?"
"By the merest luck in the world"
said Captain Juniper. "My shaft has
got itself broken. | was going to ask
Mr.. Hull for bit of wire to fasten it
together until / could get to Miss
Daifodils. l was going there to see
you, Amabel. Didn't you expect mc?"
NO said Amabel, opening her
eyes wide.
"Did not Miss Daaodil tell you that
/ was coming?" he asked.
"Not word" said Amabel. "She
sent mo here to stay with Bethiah
Hull"
"The cantankerous old vixenw said
Captain Juniper. 80 she has been
playing me false all along. But st.
Valentines sweet influences have been
too strong for her at last Look here,
Amabel, darling. l will drive you
home in the cutter. Well show her
that we are valentines after all. "
And, hat an hour or so afterwards,
the little cutter dashed up the snowy
road under the very easement where
sat Miss Dafiodil, blue with cold and
already experiencing sundry twinges
Of rheumatism.
She flung the sash open with
smile, but the expression on her face
changed when she perceived that
Captain Juniper was not alone.
"Look, Miss Daffodil!" he cried, au-
daciously exultant. Look at the
sweet gift which st. Valentine has be-
slowed Gu me--my valentine my
promised wife,
Miss Datlodil closed the shutter
with bang,
"The folly of them young people!'
she muttered. Il don't care if l
never hear the word valentine again.
But declare" she aided, after few
minutes melancholy reflection, lit
does seem MS if there was some super.