The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1900-02-10


picture in the library"
Yes" said grandma, smiling, ''he was
your grandfather; but he did not seem
much like a grandfather then. He was
very tall and straight, with flashing black
eyes and dark. curling hair, and he had
"a fine way Of throwing back his head
when he talked. People used to call him
Handsome Ben which annoyed him
very much but when | told him what
grandpa had said be was quite pleased.
But what hypocrite | must be, Kate,
he said, laughing, to make the dear old
gentleman think that | come here just
to play whist. when my real reason for
coming is to see you Your grandfather
was always bold as a young man." said
grandma, apologetcally.
well, your grandfather used to come.
evening after evening, and he played
long games Of whist with the old people,
but be used somehow to get in a little
talk about our own affairs. although we
seldom had O chance to see each other
alone. And then the 14th of February
came around, and | had scores OF valen
tines, and great sport it was, for each
young man had to deliver his own, and
it was no easy task to do this without
being seen. which would have spoiled the
fun. Well. just toward dusk, | happen
ed to be looking from an upper window,
and | saw tall figure creeping along
by the garden wall. He had his hat
drawn well down over his face, but
caught just glimpse of dark mustache.
and, l assure you. my dears, it was all
could do to behave with becoming dig
nifty, when Sophie, our old colored ser
want, came upstairs with square enveI-
ope addressed to me-"
"Oh! known cried Dorothy. capping
her hands. 1T was grandpa's valentinep'
yes" said grandma. and here it is"
and she drew from the box an old-fash-
Toned envelope addressed in faded ink
and in an deliberately disguised hand, to
Miss Katharine Onderdonk."
She handed the envelope to Nell, who,
almost revercntly. drew forth the val
entine. 1t was playing card, the queen
Of hearts, and over the back had been
neatly pasted sheet of white paper, on
which were written the following lines:
MY Kate is surely Queen of Hearts.
And l will swear she's queen of mine.
Let's play game where Love is trumps;
Sweet Kate will be my valentine"
iut culuTeu All declared the poetry TO
be very beautiful.
But grandma" cried Donald and Dor
othy together, what is that queer round
hole right through the middle of the
card?'
Sure enough. there was q hole which
had pierced card and envelope just az
the children had said
Wait moment" said grandma, 1--WE
are coming to that 1t was very soon
after st. Valentines day that your grand
father spoke to my grandfather about
making me his wife. and grandpa was
very much surprised. although our love
making had been going on Tor some
months right under his eyes. And he
hestated good DEAL hut finally. as there
was no real objection, he gave his con
sent"
Grandma paused here FOR few mo-
ments, thinking. | suppose. of those dear.
happy days, now so long past; and the
children had to remind her that they
were waiting for the rest of the story.
1T was just after that" continued
grandma. that Ben had to go away on
business for a few weeks, and he begged
me to have picture made of myself to
give him on his return. | dearly loved
to tease him in those days, and shortly
after he had started on his journey
wrapped the valentine he had sent me
very carefully in several thicknesses of
paper, so that he would think it contain
ed the stiff case Of daguerreotype. and
sent 1t to him by mail. Meanwhile l had
a fine picture made for him with which
TO surprise him on his return, but he
would not give me back my valentine
DO you think he said. laughing. that
| am going to return the first present
you ever gave me? No, indeed, though
did make it myself And he declared
that he should always carry it next his
heart.
well, the following spring we were
married, and then we began our hut
building. Ben planned the house him
self, and | went with him to Boston to
select the furniture. 1t was while we
were there that we heard the news that
made our heart stand still.
Fort Sumter had been fired upon, We
read the announcement in the paper, with
white faces. and Ben kept saying all day.
ooh, Kate! this is too terrible l never
thought it would come to thisr We went
home with sad hearts, in spite of our car
load of household treasures, for those
were days when private joys and sorrows
seemed as nothing in view of the danger
which threatened the whole country. The
Governor of our State had ordered the
State troops, and the militia as well, to
be in readiness; and Ben mustered quite
a company of his friends (the finest and
bravest young men in town., and they
drilled night and day to be in readiness
for the call. And l encouraged him in
this work, God knows, with what sink
ing heart, but Ben never suspected that
/ WAS half "A coward Your dear mothar