Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1901-02-21
4 Blank Valentine.

The Office was crowded with eager
faces awaiting the changing of the
mail. 1t was St. Valentines day and of
coarse everyone was expecting their
tokens of love, at the same time think
ing of others who on this day would re-
ceive the tokens of love their hearts
prompted them to send. Loud was the
laughter and many the jests when the
display of comic pictures was shown.
But there was one who did not taEry 10
open his large envelope at the office, but
in the seclusion of his own room and
with fast beating pulse and nervous
fingers he hastily broke the seal and
drew forth large plain sheet Of paper.
1t was of purple tint and by appear
ance without a single blot or marking
of any kind, but faint odor of vlolets
prevaded the air and although disap-
pointment plainly showed on his face he
smiled as he tossed the envelope into
drawer and turned the key in the lock.
He then sat thinking of a dark pair OF
ewes and pretty face that he knew
would be bending over an elaborate val
entine which he had posted with his
own hand, although another had writ
ten that name which was so dear to
him.
This disappointed young man thought
he was very i'll used person Two
weeks before he had asked a certain
young lady to be his valentine" but
his answer was the same old cry, "Oh.
this is so sudden, / viii have to haye
time to think it over. And when
wanting TO know when he should call
for his answer he was informed that he
need not call as it could be sent through
the mail, and SO he had to bide his time
and wait. but now that Valentine day
was passed, and the hopes that he had
had on that day Of receiving his looked
for answer, We're gone, the blackest OF
disappointment filed his heart.
A year spun around. A year contain
ing 365 days, each day bringing new
disappointment, for the long looked Tor
answer never came. Again it was Val
entine day and again an eager throng
filed the post Office, but one who had a
year ago left that Office with an expect
ant smile on his face now left it with
look of diappointme and hopeless des-
pair in its place.
Again seeking the seclusion of his
own room and sitting at his desk he alb
sent mindedly places the key in the
lock and draws forth the drawer which
holds that fatal blank sheet OF paper
which has not been disturbed for
year As he once more draws 1t from
the envelope the scent of violets smites
his senses and for the first time he
notices that it is an extra fine piece OF
paper, and taking it to the window. the
better to examine 1t, he holds 1T be-
tween his eyes and the light and 10,
there appears thereon the face of the
one so dear to him and that has haunt
ed his dreams for a year His delight
and surprise were so genuine that tor
the space of ten seconds he failed to
notice the verse which the light also
brought to view and which read;
OH Dearest one / send TO thee
Ny one last Valentine,
| am yours. dear, when you want me,
Come and claim me anytime.
When his eyes follow the above lines
his lips fall on blank sheet of paper,
for he had lowered it from the light
and it was then thrust in his pocket,
and for the next two hours the train on
which he travelled seemed to travel back
ward, such was his haste to reach a
certain station, but at last the train ar
rived aud he was once more before the
door that hid all that was dear TO him
With eager hand he graspe1 the knocker
and sent peal through the house which
awakened the echoes to the kitchen
from whence there emerged damsei
with rosy cheeks and wealth OF jet
black hair, and her plump arms were
barred to the elbows and flour was the
powder with which they We're covered,
and on opening the door she sprang for
ward with the cry, Il knew you'd
come. told them 50, but why nave you
waited 50 long, dear?" This last with
a tone of reproach in her voice, and re-
gardleas Of the soiled coat, made so by
flour and dough. took her in my arms
and told her all How it had taken me
a whole year to see my Valentine.
j. O. X