The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-14
,fbigaz James Valentine
BY FRANZ S. cHIsWIcK

2 ii. =
her heart. She .clasped the precious missiye
to her breast and hurried homeward.
Honest 2" cried her sister as Abigail Jane
stopped with the Howell mail HE sent YOU
valentine? Well, 1 didn't suppose he had
the nerve. You might stop here an open it,,
But Abigail Jane shook her head and flut-
tered away to her own cottage. No one
should share this sacred moment with her.
Nervousy she tore off the wrappings and
with cry of joy held photograph of ST
at arms length. Then-but never .mind;
women have done such things ever since the
oay OF the first daguerreotype.
once sne turned it over and was puzzled
ny the printing on the back
JON our photograph club before it is too
iate ana get dozen like this for 50. 80.
Linton, the Photographer
When 81 came that evening, she looked her
uaihtlest, with soft lace at her throat and =
rose from the south window tucked in hen
brown halr. If 81 noticed the little touches
OF nnery, he said nothing Abigail lane p,as
| always pretty in his eyes
But he did notice TIE nboto.ronh
| eyes tWinkled. y 'i-O 10
Hello. You got a sample too,
me pretty PINK flush died out of her cheeks.
She clasped her hands nerYouslv.
| faltered. sne'
Why, Louise has been worryin, the life
out of me to send her an the kids nv nict,fre
an Linton offered me a dozen free If I'd
let him use my name for advertisin' his husi
| ness. I guess he thought if he could make
me good lookin' he could get all the trade
round here" =
/ Then everybody in town got one?', The
words came slowly. -'s-..- .S*,-
81 was looking at the photograph, Lean
! ing against huge seashell from the Garth
bean sea-
| Yes, a sort of comic valentine And his
| nearly laugh fairly shook the windows.
wonder if old Miss Thompkins got one
Like as not the married women got 'em
100. This IS a great joke. Eth, AbigaiI?'
| she mad dropped YEARLY into her small
| rocker. She hardly heard what he said
- thought perhaps it might have been
just for
| Sllas Hopkins wheeled round suddenly and
| stared at her. Two tears rolled down the
| cheeks. now pale and drawn looking. He
| troWned, not at the. tears, but at his own
| thoughtlessness. His eyes were suddenly
| opened The complacence, the careless habit
| or years, fell from him in the twinklng of
an eye Abigail Jane, winlsing back other
| tears almost sprang to her feet, for ST was
actually kneeling beside her
| Abigail Jane,' he whispered huskily,
you'd right to one all by yourself. I
thought you knew all along that I loved
you
| "Oh, yes, knew it, ST, but sorter wished
- And this time the tears cleaned like da-
monds on rose colored cheeks.
Henry Howell exclaimed that worthy's
VIE as she laid down her mending I've
| just got to run over an see Abigail Jane
Somethin' tells me this is the crisis of that
girls life.''
/ well, be careful you don't slip. It's freeZ-
In tonight answers her husband, settling
back in his chair.
Mrs. Howells imperative knock at her
sisters front dooc was answered by ST Hop
| kins.
| Come right in, Sister Prudence!' he ey-
! claimed, shaking her hand warmly. you're
, just in time TO settle this dispute. We're 60
| in to be married Text Wednesday week,
| an Abigail Jane insists the ceremony's got to
| take place a. your house, with Henry to
give away the bride, ben' as. she has no
| father Now, l want the weddin' here, where
I've oourted her two nights week for six
! teen years. ~ He was carrying everything
| before him, and Mrs. Howell nodded her
| head mechanically. 'tAbigail Jane declares
she has sight of sewin' to do, an she's not
! to be worried with cookin' the -weddin sup
| per. Louise can see to that. An I wish
you'd go down to Springfield next week an
! pick out new furniture for the sittin' room
an mothers old over to my house. I
! amt bought new thing since the girls were
, married off, an the place looks too shabby
for my Abigail Jane
| Mrs. Howell gasped. --..
| well. ST Hopkins, you're slow about NOV
| in but when you get started | must say
| you're a WONDER Then her eye fell on the
photograph. ct got one of 'em, too, by to-
knights mall
ST covered the unfortunate remark adroitly.-
| You'll get better soon. Abigail Jane
an I are goin' to sit for Linton in all our
weddin' hnery. AM now hadn't better help
you over home? It's slippery g..
well, well, 81, you have found your tongue
at last! It's the first time I've been unwel-
| come in my own sisters house.
And with laugh that belied her sharp
words Mrs. Howell kissed the glowing face
of Abigail Jane and hurried home