The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1901-02-15

graduated herself on the success OF
her discipline, for the boy continued
TO behave unusually well.
Alas! 'stlll waters often run deep"
and this was the case with Tim.
On the evening of Valentine day
Prof. Spencer. the superintendent OF
the school. walked home with Clarissa
and talked over some exercises they
were planning for the 22d. AS they
parted at the gate the young man
asked II he might call that evening
and perfect the arrangement. Claris-
m assen,cd. and tipping his hat gra-
ciously and thanking her, he left her.
On entering the house. Clarissa gave
her mother a hug and said: "Mam.
ma, dear, Prof. Spencer Is going 10
spend the evening with us. SO we
will have 10 give up our plan. and
some other time will do just Us we'll"
by the way. daughter. here Is the
mail and one In n strange handwrit-
ing"
Clarissa opened one after another
and smiled ut the ~effusion Of some Of
the valentines. for she knew they
came from n number Of her girl pu-
pills who were devotion itself.
She came TO the last one that was
addressed In a masculine hand which
she could not mistake. and n faint hue
Of pink came into her checks. She
hastily tore the envelope open and
read:
Salem. Va. Feb. II. 1894.
Dear Miss Roberts; II must be that
you have discovered tho love I bear you.
and which IL has been impossible for me
to hide. ! have watched you from day to
day. hoping that I would sec some re-
spouse to my affection. and am not dis
appointed. for I believe IL Ii returned.
Believe me that this II not my fault
aione. for your conduct has led me TO feel
that my love Is reclprocatod. and there
fore I ask you to be m valentine. and
make mo happy.
"Your sincere admlrer and Valentine"
Clarissa's fingers tremb,ed, and her
eyes flashed threateningly, but without
a word she handed the letter 10 her
mother, who read II slowly and then re-
read II before speaking.
There was no denying the fact that
Carissa admired Prof. Spencer more
tlan any other man. but she knew that
she had concealed her regard with the
utmost care, for he had never made any
loverly advances.
She vas disappointed and chngrined.
He had always been so courteous and
agreeable, no perfectly dignifed, and
now he was 80 bold aud presumptuous
$50 rude ms TO assert that he was sure
OF her affection, that she had shown II
clearly. She laid her head In her
mothers lap and had a good cry, girl
like But Mrs. Roberts soothed and
quoted her By by saying there must be
some mistake.
"But you see there can't be. mamma;
you see IL Is In his W handwriting
and l know II so we'll"
Then going to her writing desk she
took out u slip OF paper on which a re-
port was written, and signed Prof. j.
W. Spencer. The writing corresponded.
there was no denying the fact, and the
two women were silent until a knock at
the door startled them and Clarissa
darted into another room.
"a box Of flowers. dear" said her
mother; shall open it?"
An exquisite bunch OF violets nesting
among the green leaves, delighted the
bcauty-lovlng eyes OF the girl and the
delicate odor soothed her tired nerves.
She had not noticed the card, but there
II lay and she read; James ". Spencer
with best wsnes."
The innocent flowers smiled, but
Clarissa did not notice; their beauty
was spoiled now.
Replacing the cover, she wrote a hur-
ried note ct thanks and CURLY asked
Mr.. Spencer to pardon her. bus said she
could not accept them after his pre-
sumptuous conduct. Then calling 10
Tim, who happened to be passing, she
asked him 70 deliver the pactage for
her.
TIN chuckied in~wardiy, put was very
] pohts and accommodating. end an hour