The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1902-05-22
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81 %
. ABIGAIL JAMES d
3 VALENTINE :,
By Frank S. Chiswick ~
81 ~ z:
~ Copyright, 1902, 81
% By the S. S. Mcclure Company ~
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By Frank S. Chiswick
~ Copyright, 1902,
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'If a man come to see mt WeGnes
day an Saturday evenin's for sixteen
years an them Prudence Howelrs
head bobbed vigorously, setting every
individual curl in motion. "Well, I'd
just like to see one of 'em try it!'
Isl amt meanin' no HARM" put IL
Abigail Jane gently. Hes just sorter
slow; that's all"
"Sorter sloww retorted Mrs. Howell
"Well, he's kept off every other man
for the best part of your life, an it's
his bounden duty to marry you. He
loves you, an you love him"
A faint pink tint crept into Abigail
James face at her sisters plain speak.
ing. When Silas Hopkins had first
courted her, charming girl of eight.
cen, his boyish compliments had
brought warm glow to her face. but
the blood courses more slowly at thir.
ty-four.
81 had always meant to marry her,
but somehow he had never told her SO.
He was a complacent. prosaic fellow.
First he had lost his father and had been
forced to look after the big farm and
the family. Then there had been his
/ brother John to send through college,
and Louise's- wedding dawry and fix.
ings to arrange for, and his mother tic
send to the hospital In the distant city
for an operation. After awhile, when
all these duties were fulfilled, he
would have time to settle down and
marry.
He had never thought of such trag.
edy as Abigail James wearying of long
waiting. He had always found her
alone Wednesday and Saturday nights,
sympathetic in his difficulties, rejoic.
ing in his small successes. Yes. Abb.
gail Jane was the very woman for
him to marry-some day when he had
time.
And of course Abigail Jane must un.
derstand all this; she was such SEN
sible little woman. 1t never dawned
upon him that she would like to hear
such words from his lips or to walk
down the street with her small hand
snuggled against his big arm. as Eliza,
the milliners apprentice. did with the
butchers boy.
"How you do take on, Prudence"
she protested. 81 amt beholden to any
man to marry me. I'm comfortably
fixed Me an 81 is good friends, an
he likes to come here of evenin's. |
amt expectin'"- The words choked
In her throat.
A wave of pity swept over Mrs. How
ell She was sorry she had laid bare
the wound; but, happy matron her
self, she ehafed at her sisters loneli-
ness.
"Well, it's Valentines day. Abigail
Jane. an perhaps he'll send you some
thin by mail Maybe he can't put his
feelin's into words as easy as my Hen
~ could. Would you mind lookin' in
my box while you're at the postotficeY
Ten minutes later Miss Abigail Jane,
with her grandmother's china silk
shawl folded over her shoulders, walk
ed down the quiet street to the post
office. 1t was her daily custom,
whether she expected mail or not. On
Friday there would be the county pa
per in her box and on the I'd and 10th
of each month The Advocate and Fee
male Guardian.
This morning she caught sight of a
square envelope in the box, and her
heart beat wildly as she approached
the postmaster's window.
Here you are" he exclaimed cheer
ily-"two letters for Mrs. Howell and
one for you Must be valentine"
And he grinned broadly at the joke
which had done service with every ap.
plicant at the window that morning.
A valentine. The word found an
echo in her heart. She clasped the
precious missive to her breast and hur
ried homeward.
"Honest?" cried her sister as Abigail
Jane stopped with the Howell mail.
HE sent you valentine? Well.
didn't suppose he had the nerve. You
might stop here an open it."
But Abigail Jane shook her head and
duttered away to her own cottage, No
one should share this sacred moment
with her Nervously she tore off the
wrappings and with cry of Joy held
photograph of 81 at arms length.
Then-but never mind; women have
done such things ever since the day of
the first daguerreotype.
Once she turned it over and was puz-
zled by the printing on the back:
Join our photograph club before 1t is too
late and get a dozen like this for $3.50
LINTON, the Photograph
When 81 came that evening she
looked her daintiest, with soft lace at
her throat and rose from the south
window tucked in her brown hair II
81 noticed the little touches of tnery,
he said nothing. Abigail Jane was al.
ways pretty In his eyes.
But he did notice the photograph.
and his eyes twinkled.
Hello. You got a sample too"
The pretty pink flush died out of her
cheeks She clasped her hands merry
ously.
81 l don't understand what you
mean" she fatered.
"Why. Louise has been worryin' the
life out of me to send her an the kids
my picture. an Linton offered me
dozen free If ia let him use my name
for advertiser his business | guess
he thought If he could make me good
lookin' he could get all the trade round
here.