Newport daily independent., 1903-04-02

looked at each other until her facs colored slightly and her eyes fell un~ der his cool inspection.
 "So you have often thought of mel" he said, reflectively, after an awkward pause.
 Look at this couple" she said, rather hurriedly. T think they want this corner, poor things!"
 "They can't have it," said the manf sotto voce. Pass on, young peoPl&. We are sorry for you, but we are instructed by our hostess to remain here. I suppose" he added, as the disconsolate pair moved away, that those young idiots imagine that they are in love-valentines."
 Apparently" she agreed. They think that they have found happi- ness. Yes, valentines Hearts and darts and doves and loves and-fd- dlesticks."
 "Madness and moonshine," the man supplemented. "Still if they think they have found happiness, they have found it, I suppose. Happiness is a mental condition, isn't it?"
 "It isn't a condition, it's theory" she replied"
 "That has been explained he said, with half-sigh. q am sorry if it has been yours. It is settled then that love is nonsense, and happiness is"
 "Something we are all hoping for and never quite getting. Here's an- other happy pair. I wonder why Esther encourages this sort of thing! Roses are red and violets blue; hon. ey is sweet, and so are you Does % love oos ownest own?'"
 'Tt is awfully foolish, isn't it?"
 "It seems so to us-at our time of life"
 They laughed together again, and as their eyes met, there was kindness in their looks.
 'It is strange to reflect that at one time yor and I were like these ab- surd creatures" said the man. Do you know I can recollect, quite per- fectly my first valentine to you. A gorgeous thing in lace papers with a substratum of pink tissue and with hearts on the corners, and fat pink Cupid in the center. Then the verses"
 T remember it." she said, softly.
 And with what fears and trembling I approached your street door and how l scudded off after l had knocked until l could hide behind q sheltering post and watch Then little Mollie came out with her brown hair tum- bling over her shoulders-Da Dainty lit- tie Molliel Do you remember the afternoon of that day, Mollie?'
 "Don't!" said the woman, faintly.
 "It was all nonsense and idiocy, then and thereafter, wasn't it?"
 "Of course it was," she answered, with an effort at lightness. "We were silly young people, and now we are sensible, middleaged people," @
 There was another time I sent years aIter that" he pursued. Ut was more modern af- fair-without the Cupids, but with some maudlin verse of"
 Don't call it that" she broke in, sharply, ''you haven't any right to- beg your pardon; only I didn't think it was maudlin them
 That was because we were silly young people, and not sensible and middle-aged. Don't go yet, please. After 12 years absence, you might let me talk to you for five minutes"
 This time there were tears on her lashes, as she turned and looked at him.
 "I only wanted to speak of one other Valentine day, when I brought a little gift, which l notice is still let me see your hand, Mollie. Yes, it's still there. Why did you wear the little ring tonight, Mollie?"
 q have always worn it, Hubert" she said, brokenly. Do, please, let me go to Esther. did not know you were coming, indeed. If I had guessed it I would never have come"
 ''Mollie, is it possible that you still care for me?" he asked, If it is I am the happiest man alive, for have never stopped loving you, dearest. We won't care now who was right or who was wrong. Oh, my little Valen- tine of years gone by, am lonely for you!"
 If you love me as love you, no" Hulbert!" she cried. "T storied to you. l knew that you were coming"