The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-02-18


stuck a grinning face through the door
way of tho Consolidated Land ana Luna
beF company
Mr.. Podgers was at his desk. lie looked
up so did all the clerns. In one hand
the postman held a large, elegantly en-
bossed envelope. which in connection
with the fact that IL was February IA, ac-
counted for the smile which adorned the
face OF the man OF letters and was re-
fected upon the face OF the officer force
For Mr.. Podgers, be Il said with all due
respect for years and avairdupois. was n
roly- poly. middle aged man, with a round.
good natured face set of by a fringe OF
sandy hair. The president and chief pro-
prietor of the Consolidated Land and
Lumber company was bachelor OF the
most confirmed type Mr.. Podgers was
one OF the kindest souls aliye-but wo-
man. Not even the oldest clerk could
recolect his employers well ordered
brain having ever given evidence OF such
alteration as even a fieeting interest In
the other sex.
Very much bewildered, Mr.. Podgers
cepted the envelope. Jimmy, the office
boy, a privileged character. as office
boys are wont to be, leaned over his en-
ployer's desk and remarked in railing
tones:
"A valentine, Mr. Podgers? Who'd a
thunk IL OF your"
"oh. dear. no, indeedv futtered Mr..
Podgers. "You are certainly mistaken.
who would send me valentine?'
There IL is, sir. in your hand" per-
sisted his tormentor. ignoring the remark
as IL It were "A mere evasion of the uues-
tion.
AS Mr. Podgers sat turning the niissive
in helpless way Jimmy offered a sug
gestion.
Hadn't you better open II, Mr.. Pod
gers?" Mr.. Podgers did open II.
Inside lay marvellous creation OF lace
snowy satin and wreaths OF rosebuds fes-
tooned about a little verse OF poetry. The
verse was done In old English lettering.
and the Office boy, who had evidently had
some previous experience, aided Mr.. Pod
gers in deciphering IT,
That evening all tho way 20 his COM
Portable boarding house, in West Six
teenth street, New York, Mr.. Podgers
found his mind recurring TO the valentine.
Who could possibly have boen the sender?
Outside his laudlady and the wives OF n
few business friends ladies as staid and
elderly as himself. he had no feminine
acauaintances in New York.
1t was over thirty years since he had
come from "a quiet little town In New
had little leisure for the making Of
friends. There was not even a buried ro-
nance I'm his life. Poets claim that every
heart has one such grave. but poets phil
osophy Is often as faltering as their me
tre
True. away back in Mr. Podger's early
wears was a shadow OF the nemory-Ta-
hitha smpkius; shrewd crisp tongued
rabitha. whom he had sometimes taken
to singing school That evening staid Mr..
Podgers' thoughts lightly turned 10 Ia
biths.
"A very nice girl, Tabitha," soliloauized
Mr. Podgers. and his mouth watercd at
| the recollection OF certain na pjacks with
which he had been regaled az the Simp-
| kins table There is not a restaurant I'm
! New York city that can make such Zap
lacks" continued MIR Podgers, IN a tend
! er reminiscent mood.
=, The ghosts Of those long demolished
! Hap lacks and the Bit OF lace and satin
! aroused i'm MIR. Podgers' usually we'll or
| dcrcd brain ~ state OF sentimental chaos
Poor Tabitha"' he pondered. Il won
! der whom she married? ) should really
| Ike "a know.
| IIis laudlady wondered ~ his preoccu-
/ patton that evening, and his clerks won
! dercd at it the next morning. The next
| day and the next a. did not wear away.
| 'The old man cant be feeling WELL" the
head clerk renns rked 90 his stan.
| II supposed it's thevalentine." said n
smooth faced junior. lie had had expert
1 ence.
| Nonsense" replied the head clerk. I'm
| very superior tones. He knew nothing
about valentines and. on general prin-
| ciples. contradicted everything his assist
| ants said.
| That evening AIR. Podsers called his
assistant to his desk and confided 10 him
that he was not feeling as well as usual
| aud had decided 10 run vp 10 his old
home IA Connecticut The hssd clerk
| bowed and was quite confirmed in his
! opinion ~ the infslli6iity ~ hi. Judgment
! Au.r th, clerks had gone Mr rcdgers