The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1899-02-09
And 80 It wss decided that it should be

And 80 1t was decided that it should be
Valentine party and that everybody
should come and that the boys should not
| know anything about the scheme until
they had reached the house, lest they
| might come loaded with verses culled
| from handy volumes of quotations.
Mabel Hurvine's home was ablaze with
lights on the night of st. Valentines day.
The parlor was hung with smilax and
ferns, and from the chandelier dangled Il
mighty heart pierced 10y cruel arrow.
Everything was ready for the Valentine
party, and halt the guests had arrived.
Marie was gayly singing Il Don't Care
If You Never Come Back" while a solemn
young man played rag time on the piano.
Half dozen other girls were sweetly tell
ing tibs TO as many young men who hung
ever their chairs or sat beside them and
seemed To be drinking it all in. The little
cupid. proud of his Importance. aud i'm
mcnsely concerned over the success of his
gauze wings, was waiting in an inner room
for his part in the game. when Lottie
Meredith trippcd gayly up the steps and
kissed Mabel Hurvine, who met her in the
hall.
Wait minute before you go in,' whis-
pered Mabel. Tom is here"
All the dancing light died out of Lottie
Mercdith's eyes in an instant. Her cheeks
turned deathly white a moment. and then
flushed red as pconies.
'Tom?" she gaspcd. TON? You don't
mean Tom Prince?'
Mabel shook her head solcmny in af-
frmation and took both Lottie's hands in
hers.
Yes, he came about twenty minutes
ago. l was ns much tlinnderstruck as
yom."
But. Mabel" whispered Lottie, drag
ging Miss Hurvine into n bedroom, where
they could not be overheard. where did
he come from? What on earth is he doing
here! Oh. tell me what to do, dear.
can't face him before all this crowd"
Il don't know anything about it, Lot
tie, said Mabel slowly, except he said
be got to town to-day, and one of the boys
told him there was party here and all
the old crowd would be here to night. and
he said he made bold enough to come up
OF course l told him | was glad to see
him. What else could do?"
From the parlor came the gay tinkle of
the piano and full. deep voice was sing
ing 20 Promise Me- The chatter of
many tongues and light laughter foated
on the air with the singers voice and came
to the two solemn girls huddled there in
the bedroom.
That's him singing" whispered Lot
tie. I'D know his voice anywhere and
that was his song always, you know
For few minutes they stood there 81
III.
lors. Their hearts beat so loudly that they
heard the quickcned puIsations as they
stood in the darkness with clasped hands
Then Miss Hurvine said:
81 must go back, dear. They will miss
ME. Stay here until you are feeling bet
ter. and then go right out as if you did
not know he was here" And then she
slipped out and joined the merry crowd in
the parlor.
Five minutes later Lottie Meredith
walked out of the room with her head
erect and forced smile upon her lips.
Carelessly she strolled into the room
where the piano was sounding and let her
ewes rest for only an instant upon the fig
ure of Tom Prince, tall and handsome as
ever. leaning over Kathryn, who was try
ing an accompaniment to song under
his direction. He looked up and their eyes
met. Lottie tried to return his gaze cold
ly, as if she had never before looked upon
him, but she felt her strength Of will
leaving her, she felt the hot blood mount
to her cheek, her breath came quickly for
an instant and she looked away to where
Will Barnes was telling fairy tales to
Margaret. Prince had not changed coun-
tenance when he looked upon Lottic. It
was not the gaze of a stranger nor was
there smile of recognition in it. To an
observer it would seem almost like the
curious look of q man who thought he
recognized face and was striving to re-
call it to memory.
Now. all you people quit singing ana
talking and we'll see what cupid has
brought u.s." said Mabel Hurvine briskly.
Tom Prince stopped over Kathryn at