The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1900-02-08

hall that Time, Dut the moment nef
eyes rested ON it she said with convic-
ton:
ut is the sane"
Taking the book over to her work
table and sitting down again, she laid
the sheet of note paper down by the
fly leaf on which the inscription was
written.
"Yes, sir; Jared lawson" she said,
"you wrote them both. The capital let
tiers are just alike in both of them, al
though you have tried to disguise your
writing in your precious jingling po-
etry. I've found you out, you great
goose, you!"
But there was a smile on her face
and a kindly light in her eyes as she
spoke the unflattering words.
Jared Lawson was proprietor of the
only news or periodical stand in the
town. He was a short, slightly portly
man, rather bald, with smooth, plump
and kindly face. His blue eyes betok-
ened honesty and sincerity, and he had
almost womanly gentleness of spirit
and manner. His As years had been full
Of deeds of kindness and the old ladies
of Hebron were never tired of telling
of how lawfully good" he had always
been to his mother, who had been a
feeble, fretful, eXacting and complain
ing old body for years before her death.
1t was held to be true that Jared had
not married because he couldn't leave
mother" and because he very well
knew that no woman could live hap
PLY with her.
The old lady had now been dead six
months and Jared was living alone in
the four rooms his mother and he had
for years occupied above his store. 1t
was lonely and unsatisfactory life for
man of Jared's home-loving and
strongly domestic instincts to lead.
"Poor jared" said Miss Hetty, as
she read the jingling rhyme for the
fourth time. He must be dreadful
lonesome since his mother died. He's
good man, Jared is. Any man who
will be as good as he was to that fretful,
is a mighty good man. / was there a
lot during the old lady's last illness and
it was wonderful how gentle and pa
tent he was. And so he wants me for
his valentine, does ne? He certainly
would be more comfortable here than
in those four little rooms he's been
patching in over his store. And L
well, I'll own up that / feel kind O.
lonely myself sometimes, and Il
always liked Jared"
She sat for long time with her
hands crossed in her lap and sweetly
serious, almost wistful expression on
her face.
At five minutes before eight short,
rather stout man was standing at Miss
Hetty's gate looking toward the win
dow in her east room. There was no
light in the window.
TIN an old fool to think a woman
like her would set light in her win
dow for any man, as a hint for him to
come in and propose to her." said the
man to himself. 81 wish I'd signed my
name to my fool rhyme, or that l had
the courage to go in. If there isn't a
light in that window by eight o'clock
I'll go in and own up that I sent her
that valentine. A man that hasn't the
courage to ask a woman to marry him,
don't deserve her and-glory halleloo-
yer!"
A bright ray of light came stream
ing across the snow from the window
of the east room. Jared Lawson tugged
at the gate which did not open readily,
and finally he climbed over the low
fence and ran toward the door calling
out like happy child.
'Hetty! Hetty! o, Hetty!"
The door opened before he reached
it and Hetty stood there in the light in
a cherry colored gown and snowy white
apron, a smile on her face and her eyes
shining.
Jared's voice trembled and there was
a suggestion of fear in it as he said
80, Hetty, it is Jared Lawson"
81 know it, jared" said Hetty, laugh
ingly. ,''"-
"And you put that light in the win
dow for me, Hetty?"
For you, Jared" ~
80, Hetty! God bless you, my-my
--dear!"
He reached out his hand TO clasp her
own and to hold it to his lips. Then
they went into the house together with
the light of newborn love radiating
from their hearts and faces.-Morris
Wade, in Detroit Free Press.
VICTIM OF THE VALENTINE.