St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1901-12-14
FLORA AND HANNAH.
BY MARY e. WILKINS.


Copyrighted by Daily Story Pub. Coz
1t happened a number OF years ago,
when valentines were made more ac-
count of than they are now. Why, in
those days some valentines were al
most as good as an offer of marriage.
I am sure Jonty's was. He meant it
for one, and / knew he did. Jonty,
his name was Jonathan, but we always
called him Jonty, was my husbands
youngest brother, and he had lived
with me ever since his father died,
when he wasn't much more than
baby.
He was 20 years younger than my
husband, and we both Of US, since we
didn't have any children Of our own,
looked upon him as a son. My hus-
band just set his eyes by his little
brother, and he was pretty boy, the
reddest cheeks, and the curliest light
hair, and he was just as good as ne
could be, always ready torun errands,
get a pail of water and bring IN kin
ding wood, starting the minute ne
vas told, and goin' laughin' as if he
was tickled to death at haVin' a chance
to do somethin' for somebody. The
way he used to wait on Grandma
Page, find her glasses for her, and
hold her yarn, was really wonderfulin
1 boy. Grandma Page was his and
Caleb's, my husbands, great-grand-
mother. She was pretty old when
Jonty came to live with US, and when
that happened about the valentine
she was near 80, but one of the pref
tiest old ladies you ever saw, cheeks as
pink as girls, and her white hair all
wavy, and she wore the incest white
caps, with lavender ribbons on them.
We were proud of Grandma Page,
and she was one of thoselittle, gentle,
delicate, chnging creatures that ev-
erybody loves and pets. People used
ito say she didn't have. much force,
and couldn't do anything but knit and
look peaceful, and pretty, but she
wasn't half the care that most old
people are. When my husband died
Jonty was most 25 years old, and it
was the greatest comfort to me that
had him and Grandma Page. Jonty
he took hold and run the farm just as
smart, and we got along well, and had
plenty Of everything, though / was
sad enough sometimes.
] felt dreadful sober when Jonty
came to me that afternoon about the
valentine. It made me think Of the
time when Caleb sent me valentine,
for one thing, and then / couldn't
help feeling a little sad that Jonty
should be thinkin' of some other
woman beside his grandma and me,
though / knew it was for the best
if he got good wife and helpmeet.
But ! tried to look as cheerful as [
could. Jonty didn't act half as silly
and ashamed in asking me as some
boys would have acted. He was al
ways real honest and simple and out
spoken, and never seemed to see any
reason for being ashamed Of anything
that was right. He never colored up
a mite, though his cheeks were al
ways like roses, as bright as a girls,
and he laughed kind of sweet and
pleasant when he showed me the little
sheet of gilt-edged paper with
bunch Of rosebuds in the corner, that
was to go with the handsomest. val
entine | ever laid my eyes on. There
was paper cut somehow so you could
Eft it up in sort of spiral twist and
ses underneath a couple seated in an
ersor all covered with roses. What
Jcnty wanted was little poem writ
res ap that sheet Of paper Cant
sou aois, Aunt Jane?a said he, in his
eoaxing way. He always called me
aunt, though | was really his sister
in-laW
sNhy, my land, Jonty, I don't be-
lieye | can" said l. I'm afraid FL
spoil this beautiful paper
Ssoh, no, you won't, said he. "Do,
Aunt Jane"
Now / have really had quite aname
for writing poetry, and once piece
on the death of Deacon Briggs wife
was published in the paper, butt have
written mostly in albums, for people
on the deaths of relatives and
friends, and then they would keep