Rocky Ford enterprise., 1901-02-15


Ten years ago he sen, me this. and
II comes to me now. oh. Nathaniel!
Nathaniel"
She bowed her head on the table In
front OF her and cried softly. saying
over and over ngnIn between her sohs:
'Oh. Nathaniel Nathaniel"
For ten years she had wondered why
he had gone away. leaving unSpokcn
the love she believed that he had In
his hear, for her. She remembered 30
well that night ten years ago-thc
night on which Nathaniel DoEton had
looked for the red rose In her hair and
had not seen Il. There had been n
valentine party at Squire brakes. and
Lavinia recalled how 1omc spirit OF
mischief had prompted her to tease
Nathaniel by allowing his acknowl-
edged rival. Joe Drayton. to pay her
almost constant attention and to take
her out TO supper. She recalled how
she had taken n pink carnation from
Joc's buttonholc and had thrust II
into her hair. and how she had
laughed lightly when Nathaniel had
said to her Just before the party came
TO an end:
Goodbye. Lavinin. May you be
happy with him."
She had never seen Nathaniel since
that night. and she had never cared
to see Joe Drayton again.
Lavinia was still sitting with he;
head bowed on the table when Miss
Dodd come hurrying down the street
and turned In toward Lavinia's gate.
Lavinia had hardly time to hurry to
the kitchen sink and dash cold water
over her tear-stained face before Miss
Dodd was In the kitchen. saying
volubly:
you'd never CUES. who's down to
Squire brakes house. Some one that
amt been in Harleyville for ten years.
You'd never In the wide world guess
who It is. so I may Us well tell you
that 1t is nobody more nor less than
Nat Dorton. You remember him. don't
you. Lavinia?"
Lavinia Darts own heart told her who
was coming when she heard her front
gate creak that evening and heavy
footsteps fell on the board walk lead
ing to her door. Her own heart told
her that he would come. and when she
heard the gate open she went quickly
to the red rose bush In her window and
breaking full blown rose. tucked its
stem in her shining hair. She had |
put on a soft gray silk dress and n
dainty little white dotted Swiss apron |
with strings Of red satin ribbon and
little satin bows on the pockets. and
the tint of the rose in her hair was in
her cheeks rs she opened the door and
held out her hand.
How do you do. Nathaniel?" she
said, simply and naturally. II am 50
glad to see you"
"Lavinia!" he said, clasping her
hand in both Of his own. When he
was in the hall and the door was
closed he took both Of her hands in
his own and drew her toward him.
saying:
"Lavinia. It Is ten years ago today
since asked you to be my valentino
my wife. have thought all Of thes,
years that you were another mans
wife. Thank God that you are not!
have thought today that perhaps my
poor, rhyming little valentine went as
tray and that you never got 1t, after
all. Did 1t come to you. Lavinla?"
Eyes. Nathaniel; It came today"
"Tcday?"
mot until today. 1t has been long
delayed"
He stopped and kissed the red rose
In her hair.
"And so you are going to be my
valentine after all, Lavinia? You are,
aren't you. dear?"
She answered him by touching the
red rose In her hair.
Finally do all in your power to make
your guest feel at home. Then there