The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-26

a pleasant theme for conversation.
A little after midday they were in a WOOD
three or four miles from home.
This wood was full of snowdrops, and the
two girls gathered handfus of the pure,
graceful flowers.
A little wearied, they presently sat down on
the stump of a tree to rest, and then Meg
suddenly bethought herself to say, with
merry smile
Mora, you didn't tell me whether you met
your valentine this morning.
OF course / met him. Do you think I
could walk to the station and back without
meeting a man? To tell the truth, Meg, I'd
quite little adventure"
ooh, tell me all about it, them" cried Meg,
with sparkling eyes,
"You know that horrid blacksmith's dog.
Well, it ran into the station, and it and
Scamp began to fight. They got on the line,
and the express train came dashing over the
bridge. They didn't seem to see it, and
was wringing my hands, in a perfect agony
of terror, expecting to see them both killed
! before my eyes, when a young man stepped
from behind me- and jumped on the line. 1t
really awful risk for him to rum the
train was so near; but he did it safely, and
brought that wicked Scamp to me-"
| Scamp who had accompanied the girls in
| their walk, prcked up his ears at this men
| ion Of his name and looked knowing.
| 7"And who was it, Nora?' cried Meg, deeply
interested.
IT haven't the faintest idea. He doesn't be-
1
rate, I'd never seen him before; and, you
KNOW the hunt brings such a number of
strangers down."
'And what was he like? Was he gentle
MANI"
! I'm looks and manner, undoubtedly. But
his clothes were bit seedy, and 1 noticed he
| Travelled third-class.''
"Oh, what a pity! He might have been
your valentine, you know, Nora. 1t was quite
a romantic way of meeting. How strange if
you'd really met your future husband in just
such way as that! Was he the very first
man you saw this morning?'
''The very first said Nora, laughing at
romantic Meg'S eagerness
"And could you have cared for hin?-I
mean, if he'd been rich. Do tell me what he
was like, DEAR
of figure L admire, Meg; and, though I
don't know whether you would call him
handsome, liked his face very much indeed.
He was rather fair, with blue-grey eyes, and
a nice mouth, and such a frank, pleasant,
breezy look. Yes, 1 think I could have fallen
in love with him pretty easily, if, as you say.
he'd been rich man, and the Fates had
willed that he was to be my valentine.
For the last minute or two Scamp had
seemed very uneasy, rushing hither and
thither among the snowdrops, and occasion
ally giving little excited bark or growl.
Scamp wants us to CO." said Nora. And
L really think it's time. Come Meg"
They rose and turned into little shady
path, close to where they had been sitting.
Inc moment Iney entered 1t, nora, with
difficulty, depressed little cry of horror and
amaZement for she was face to face with
her acquaintance of the morning.
Without a doubt, he had heard what she
had just said-that she could easily have
| fallen in love with him.
If his near proximity had not convinced her
of this, his looks must have done So
| His cheek was flushed his eye downcast
| He was the very picture Of confusion.
| AS the two girls passed by him, he raised
his hat at the same time casting a depreca-
tory and almost beseeching glance at Nora
She, however, disdained to return his sa-
lutte.
She took no more notice of him than if he
had been a stock a stone.
She walked proudly by him, her eyes fixed
straight in front of her.
Mora, who was ito" questioned Meg
breathlessly, soon they were sufficient
distance from the young man to speak with
out being overheard by him.
1T he himself-the man I saw at the
lstation this morning. And he has heard what
said about falling in love with him. OH
you could he had!'' pouted Nora half
wild with self-reproach and mortified pride
What a fool [ was-oh what fool! But
what a mean, shameful thing for him to do
He listened. l am he did. And had
actually thought him gentleman. Oh, Meg.
1 feel beside myself with shame! Of course,