Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-02-16


was made for an artist, but, oh, what a
business man was lost in mev' He
fished around In the pocket Of his vel
veteen jacket and by an unusual
chance found cigarette. who. should
like to know. for Instance" he muTter
ed, changed Tom Impressionistss pic
ture of a Grecian maiden at the foun-
tains into an advertisement Of Lather
& Co.'S soap and by this act of good
judgment caused said picture to sell
for $40? You did that. Chrome. my boy.
and now Impressibust Is on the high
road to wealth. Who showed Jack
Bahv he continued. impatiently kick
ing over his stool and walking MP and
down s.IIow is that going to help mef
| adore Alice Newlyrichw worship the
ground she walks upon and her ia
Tiers millions. If ! could only marry
her. the, old man would take me into
his business and then my natural tai
ents would have a chance 10 shine.
But how can ! do that? | am only
tolerated in the house because am
supposed to he genius. The day aft
err tomorrow II st. Valentines day she
will give a dinner; shall not he invit-
ed. but that young broker viii. Oh, If
at least had noble blood in my veins
to appeal to the old mans toadyisml
AS for the girl. | believe she's half
mine already
Chrome relapsed into a state of de-
SPAR Suddenly he gave cry of
exultation. why notf" he exclaimed
as he clappcd on mis- hat and coat and
raced out like a mailman. "This is
case where my brush must help me for
once"
1t was late when he returned. car
rying with him a roll of parchment,
a bottle OF brown chemical and half a
dozen queerly shaped packages He
worked till past midnight and then
proudly laid on the table document
quantity Powered and illumined which.
appeared AT least several hundred
years old. after which performance he
sat down and wrote the following let
ter:
Dear Miss Newlyrich--St Valentines day Is at
hand. The poor artist can give nothing to the
beautiful heiress which she has not already. My
heart, as you know, is yours till death. Tonight
as | sat heartbroken in my little studio took
out my little box of treasures and across
this 1t is yelowed with age. and it has been
handed down in our family from father to son as,
priceless treasure. AS the quaint lettering will.
tell you, il a valentine sent by my ancestor,
Guy de Chrome, to the Lady Beatrice, but, alas,
his love more fortunate than mine The last
scion of the Chromes longer admits to the
world his noble blood. His pride forbids him ON
account of his poverty, but to you beloved OF his
haorf bsar dnnd hic Ia has rif, -.
breathe the words OF love his heart dictates. He.
can only send you little keepsake his one.
treasure Perhaps in the midst of gayety you
may grant it a sigh as you read it and reflect
what might have happened ii we had both lived
In those farof days.
The first thing in the morning
messenger boy delivered a scroll-like
package at the Newlyrich mansion.
That afternoon Cecil received little
note:
Dear Mr.. Chrome-f'm SO sorry, but papa hap
pened TO come in just as ! was opening your love-
Is valentine, and OF course was obliged to tell
him all about it. He much Interested
hope you received my invitation to take dinner
with us tomorrow. We SHAH particularly expect
you. Yours sincerely, ALICE NEwLYRIcH
p. S.-What pretty coat OF arms you hayeI
Cecil Chrome went to the ST. Valen-
tines day dinner and was more than
Hospitality received. Not very long
afterward there was grand wedding
and the brides carriage sported a
gorgeous escutcheon. | may add in
passing that just about this time a.
certain sign was changed in the bust
uess district. 1t now reads Newly
rich, Chrome & Co.." and in the home
of the junior partner there hangs a
valuable antique-a valentine written
by one of his ancestors over 800 years
ago. MAUD ROBINSON.