Gilpin observer., 1900-03-01


are calling me. You gee you can pity
Lennie!"
The three callers went away, his sis
tiers retreated to their room, and the
boy was alone in the cozy, shabby
| apartment and the hush and sunshine
| of the waning winter day. The sun
withdrew his golden lances. The snow
lost its sparkle. A grayness that was
| tender as unformulatod hope, indie
| Enable as the sense of peace, fell upon
| the outer world. A flock of snowbirds
settled down outside the cottage win
dow, then spread their wings and
whirled away. In the castle near, lights
| CLEANED out. Such a great house, SO
many lights for one forlorn old wom-
an. profound pity sprung up in Len
ME Stafford's heart as one by one those
| lights blossomed out.
Miss Mary is right" he considered.
"She is lonelier than I. Alys, Bertha,
Uncle VIII, all love me, but they don't
know-no one can know-how it hurts
to give up the dream Of becoming
painter. And to face daily darkness
yes, Alys dear, I'm coming"
He kept on thinking compassionate
| ly of the old lady whose artistic treas
ures he had envied. On waking after
a dream of being overwhelmed in an
avalanche Of valentines, all Of which
Mary Dene had sent him, an idea oc-
CURED to him that flushed his thin
cheek Why not express his sympathy
with Mrs Delfair by sending her
valentine? All ladies loved to get val
entines. One might cheer her up. He
had led such a life of dreaminess, iso-
lation, seclusion, owing not only to
his uncommon tastes, but to his i'm
perfect sight, that he found nothing
singular in the suggestion he consid-
cred. He would not--indeed he could
not-buy one of those marvellous af
fairs constructed of pale blue satin
and lace paper with forget-me-nots
and fat Cupids sprawled all over it.
He would send her valentine which
would cost him only pleasant labor,
and might possess for her a happy
significance. So from breakfast till
luncheon he remained shut up in his
room. That afternoon he walked into
town and mailed fiat package ad
dressed to
MRS. DELFAIR,
The Oaks.
On the 18th of February the servant
brought the mail into the literary
where Mrs. Delfair sat alone. The old
lady sorted her correspondence, and
looked long and searchingly at the SUI
prescription on the square package.
She cut the string, and gave a gasp
of delight at sight of the sketch that
met her gaze Her own favorite nook,
where she had spent so many medita-
tive hours in the summer. The tiny
waterfall trickling down the rocks be-
tween the tall fushcia bushes. The
dropping catalpa behind the rustic
seat! The glimpse of the river through
the opening to the right.
Martha" Mrs. Delfair called excit-
eddy, Martha, come and see this! My
own little retreat Who could have
known / loved the spot so-have
sketched it for me?"
Martha, a kind-faced, middle-aged
woman, stopped to pick up a slip of
paper that had fallen unheeded on the
floor. r....
Here is some writing" she said.
Mrs. Delfair grasped the sheet in
her tremulous, white fingers. Written
in careful boyish hand she read the
following lines:
you are very sad they tell me,
But still you have the light,
And l shall soon have only
A long and starless night.
I'm sorry for your sorrow,
And sorry, too, for mine,
So I'm your friend. remember,
And faithful Valentine"
WELL" exclaimed Mrs. Delfair,
this is st. Valentines day, isn't it? 1
am not forgotten! Who could have
sent me this dainty sketch and these
sweet verses? al, here is DIR. Franz
ley. He may be able to enlighten us.
Doctor, where in the neighborhood
have we a poet and artist? Come and
look at my valentine"
DR.. Framley, rugged and silver
haired, with a fierceness of aspect
which his courtesy of speech contra
dlcted. came forward. took the sketch
and verses extended.
81 think your unknown correspond
ent is your young friend across the
arbor vitae hedge-Leunie Stafford"
What! That slender boy, with the
great. dark eyes, who lives in the old
fashioned cottage!"
"Yes-he. His father was an artist
OF national reputation. The lad has
had some tuition, and has displayed
unusual talent. But the poor child
to his inexpressible despair-is becom-
ing blind!'
"Doctor!'
1T Is too true"
"Can nothing be done for him?"
DR.. Framley shrugged his shoulders.