Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-02-13


been cut of to throw away. The joke
consisted In sending one half to Marie
Weld and the other-to whom? Why.
TO Miss Atherton. Of course. He saw
the whole game In twinkling.
"Clever, cleverr said he to himself.
81 shall have to buy ticket for Kam-
chatka II this thing gets out. II these
girls are made laughing stock on my
account, Pm more than dead. Gladys!
She isn't Jealous girl, but she can't
stand being ridiculous. She is the last
human creature on earth to stand It."
The perspiration broke out on his
forehead. though the day was bitter
cold. For the first time he realized
that he was In love.
1--WE been q fool" he continued.
1--WE played with my life's happiness.
But | don't have to be q fool always
Just because I've begun that way. II
Is my turn to be pretty smart. and l
haven't much time for the transforma-
ton. Marie will keep quiet how longI
TIL tomorrow. perhaps. And | wonder
what Gladys has done already"
He hurried to her house.
"Mr. Darlington" said Gladys after
the compliments of the season had
been exchanged, will you tell me
what you did with the other half Of
my valentineT
"Can't you guessT he asked.
"well, you might have sent It to an
other girl" she answered-"to any one
Of dozen. suppose"
He shook his head. while he smiled
sadly, as one who accepts unjust re-
proof because Of the source from which
II comes.
There is no other girl" said he SIM
ply.
Perhaps you didn't have an envel-
ope large enough for the whole Of IT,"
she said. "The remainder may come
In the next mall"
''The remainder Is here now" he re-
sponded, and, behold, II was In his
hand!
"You have brought itw she cried.
"Yes."
She looked at him quizzlcally, but
not unkindly.
you never do anything as other men
do" said she. II suppose this Is your
regular way OF sending valentines. I
had not the pleasure Of your acquaint-
ance a year ago"
Darlington drew In a long breath,
and his face became a little whittier
than usual He was at that moment
the sincerest liar that ever stood on
two feet "a year ago." he said. IL
had a whole heart"
1t was Gladys turn to grow pale.
"a valentine Is childish symbol" >"
he continued, ''and perhaps am silly
In trying to make II express too much.
But my heart today belongs to you as
much as to me- If-if you could feel
the same! II your heart could belong
to me as much as to you, then this poor
little card Of which you have one half
and I the other might mean all the
world to both Of us. Do you see now
what meant by cutting 1t in twoT
She turned away from him and
leaned upon the back OF chair. There
chanced to be mirror so placed that
she saw his image In II. He was q
handsome fellow. and he looked SO be-
seeching, so earnest, so tender. She
had never cared so much for any one
else. Was II love? Every drop OF
blood in her heart-that seemed to be
beating so terribly loud and fast
cried out that 1t was love indeed.
81 think Il was q very pretty Idea"
she said. "and I'm very glad you did
It."
She couldn't have said so much to
him, standing so near, but 1t was pos
sible TO address the figure In the mir
ror, which, by the laws Of optics,
seemed to be at a safe distance. Yet
In a moment the image vanished. and
she found herself looking straight into
his face. so close. so close. and closer
still. until she could not have seen II
even II the tears In her eyes would
have let her see anything.
Ten minutes later. when Darlington
was walking away from her house-as
II seemed to him without the ordinary
effort Of locomotion and some distance
above the Sidewalk sudden and ter,
rible recollection came to him and
brought him down to earth. What
should he do with Marie Weld?
He had Just sworn by all the best
words In the dictionary that he would
keep that half heart as long as life
should last And how could he do III
How could he keep Marie from talk
Ing? How could he reckon with the
unknown sender of the half hearts?
Granting that the trick was done by
a man, there was no one who would
meet all the conditions Of the problem
except Sanford Mellin. II he were the
individual. there could be but one way
to purchase his silence.
Now. let me see," said Darlington
"The chances are ten to one that Mel
lin bought this valentine at Marston 4