The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-02-18
Mr.. PODGER'S valentine.
CONTINUED from page Four.)

iuily Iepleu lHat ne ulu not.
81 always read his sermons, Josiah. lie
, Is a soul inspiring man. and am sorry
that you do not know him. ] am afraid
you are not particular enough about reli-
gion. Josiah.
Mr.. Podgers was eager I'm assuring her
that he was a good churchman and
pcwhoder IA Grace church. This seemed
90 satisfy Miss Tabitha for she remarked
that she had forgotten that IN a large
city like New York there would probably
be two or three ciergymen Mr.. Podgcrs
felt uneasy, and managed 10 switch the
conversation 10 a less dangerous subject
than theology. The time sped pleasantly
until the tall Old clock i'm the corner
doomed out the hour Of five Mr.. Podgers
felt he must make a pretence of leaving.
but, as he expected, his hostess would
hear nothing of IT,
you must stay for tea, Josiah. Sally.
my niece. who lives with me, Is at the
missionary meeting this afternoon, but
she will be In soon, and Becky, the help.
Is just over the way at her aunts cou-
sins, helping a little with some quilting.
so that with many hands one more or
less 10 tea doesn't make extra work
"Is there any little dish. now. that
YOU favor? Sally is great hand at cook
ing"
tlmated that he thought he would find
particularly palatable a dish of the deli
cious fapjacks such as she herself used
to make.
wen. bless me- exclaimed Miss Ia.
bitha, delightedly, you don't mean 10
say you have remembered them all these
years."
How could ever forget tbem?" Mr.
Podgers replied. CALAMITY.
OF course that supper was a dream for
an epicure. As he rolled the delicious
bits of fapjack beneath his tongue. Mr.
Podgers regretted that lie had ever gone
10 the city and made money in the Con-
solidated Land and Lumber company.
such biscuit never graced the tables OF
the wives OF the business friends with
whom he dined. Even Delmonico. the un-
approachable, never served such dainty
morsels.
IL he might but have such a supper
every evening of his life! And why not?
Well. he would see what Tabtha had TO
say about It.
The result of that supper was that Mr.
Podgers left the house an engaged man.
Miss Tabitha did not give her consent as
readily as he had hoped, and the promise
was qualified by the condition. III she
didn't change her mind" The wedding
was arranged for the spring.
lie had scarcely boarded the train when
he remembered that he had not asked
about the valentine.
IT'S after all a matter Of very little
moment, now he consoled himself. II
dare say Tabitha might feel foolish TO
think / knew shA had sent IT,"
As, one by one! the familiar landmarks
came into view Mr.. Podgers became his
own man again The pangs of parting,
one by one, grew beautifully less as
thoughts of the Consolidated Land and
Lumber company reasserted their sway.
II was late when the train drew into the
Grand Central station. and Mr.. Podgers
Immediately hunted up restaurant
where the viands made him more ardent
ly than ever long for the day when he
might make Tabitha and her fapjacks
his own.
"A young lady TO see YOU while you
were away" announced the head clerk,
when Mr.. Podgers the next morning pre-
sented himself at the office.
ITO see me?" echoed Mr.. Podgers.
What did she want?" Lady visitors
were rare at the office OF the Consolidated
Land and Lumber company.
''She didn't say, sir; she said she would
call again.
In the business of the day the young
lady was quite forgotten. Late In the af-
The office boy opened II with his usual
sang froid. but re-entered the room suave-
ly grinning
"A lady TO see you. Mr.. Podgers. an
she wants to see YOU privately"
Mr.. Podgers was busy, so he said rather
Show her into my private office them,
Mr.. Podgers' desk was I'm the room with
the clerks and bookkeepers, where he
could personally oversee them
Some of those charitable women after
n donation. L suppose he grumbled. as
he recalled previous visits of tho fair sea.
who knowing his inability to say no TO
them, feeced him i'm the most merciless
manner i'm the holy name of charity.
But he could recall the face of the Wis
itor in connection with neither the Sisters
of Bethany, the Tract Association nor the
South African Blanket club. II was de-
cidedly a new face, an attractive one too.
Il hope you VIII excuse me for troubling
you. sir. You are Mr.. J. Il. Podgers. are
you not?'
Mr.. Podgers graciously assented.
May l ask If you received a white satin
valentine on St Valentines day. n velen-
tine decorated with hand painted brier
rOses?"
Mr. Podgers blushingly admitted that
he had been so favored.
We'll" continued the young lazy. her
fair skin crimsoned. the valentine
reached you by mistake. Ii was intended
for some one else whose name and initials
are the same a yours. | hope YOU Will
he so kind as TO let me have the valen-
deal of annoyance.
Mr.. Podgers was sorry. very sorry i'm
deed, that he must give up the valentine and
that the fair creature before him had been
subjected 10 any annoyance. lie said so very
frankly. and Mr.. Podgers manner OF ex-
pressing regret was very becoming. So
quaint and ChValrouS,' decided the visi-
tor, quite the old school gentleman"
IL caused him Infinite sadness" so he
intimated, not TO be- able at once to place
the valentine in her hands he had taken
IL home, and IL now, in tiny oliver
frame. graced the mantel cabinet OF his
lonely bachelor quarters uptown. He
would be pleased. however. TO send II 10
any address she would give him.
The fair visitor hesitated charmingiy. II
seemed shabby TO insist on the return OF
her propcrty; he was such kind old
gentleman, but she knew II would be
highlY improper TO permit him To retain
st. 50 with great flrmress she replied
'If YOU will be SO kind as TO send n 10
Miss Bessie Bunthornc. West Blang street.
city.
'Oh indeed" interrupted Mr.. Podgers.
are YOU Silas Blnthornes daughter? 7
know him very well on the street. | have
been promising myself the pleasure OF a
call ON vour father and honored mother
some evening soon. Miss Bunthorne.'
THIS was purcly Inspiration on Mr. Pod
gers part lie did know Mr.. Bunthorne
very slightly. and had shadowy recol-
lection ~ an invitation, but no idea OF