Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-04-23
~ Miss q
Tabitha Cranes
Valentine
BY CAROLINE FRANCES LITTLE
Scopyrisht. 1904 by Daily story Pub. Col

M ISIS TABTTHA CRANES house
Iv1 stood back from the street, and
on each side of the narrow. straight
walk were round fowerbeds, surround
ed by low borders of box. The beds
were covered with snow now, for it
was February.
She stood by the window watching
sleigh full OF young people. that was
Just leaving the gate. Her niece, with
aer hancee. were of the party, and they
were going to Amesbury for an oyster
sunper.
Yes, 1t was % years ago." said Miss
1abitha, for she had way of talking
20 herself, "a quarter of a century since
Dan took me to Amesbury, and then
sent me valentine the next day.
thought he would speak then, but he
never did"
Going to an old-fashioned desk, she
set down the outside cover and opened
little secret drawer. From IL she took
out a faded valentine with two flaming
hearts on 1t. pierced through with an
3 arrow. Beneath il were these lines:
THE rose are red.
The violet's Glue;
SSs - IS 81. ser.
And so arc you"
On the inside. beneath a quaint pic
ture OF a pair OF lovers, were these
words;
IF you love me
AS love you.
No knife can cut
Our love In two"
Is With a sigh she laid away this relic
OF her unfinished romance, and turn
ing TO inc open FIRE piled on more
wood. Her neiShbors used alright
stoves. but she chung to the open fires,
such as her mother and grandmother
had used before her. Musing before
the bright flame. she recalled what she
had heard her niece saying recently to
her lover:
mo, auntie never had an affair of
the heart, so / think considering 1t she
is very indulgent to me-"
AS lonely Miss Tabitha sat there and
watched the burning hickory logs, an
Idea came to her
Il suppose" she said, that Dorothy
thinks ME an old maid. Well, ! sup
pose ! am. but | would like to make
them think | have a romance Yes, I
will do it. IN send myself a valentine.
and when she brings up the mail to-
morrow she'll think that have a lover
as well as herself"
Here her training asserted itself, and
asked. Would IL be strictly truthful 2"
For there is no more rigorous accuser
than the conscience of New England
woman.
only this once" she said to her in
visible monitor, - don't like the young
folks TO LOOK upon ne as a we'll pre-
served fossil" She hastily put on her
beaver coat, and bonnet much too
large for her. which she drew down
close over the soft. brown hair, which
as yet showed no trace of gray Dor
othy often wished auntie would not
wear such oidtime garments. Locking
the door behind her she went down to
the village
The assortment of valentines was
much larger than in the olden days,
and she could find none with the
rhymes OF her carefully preserved
treasure; but she chose a very pretty
one, and hurried home with 1t. Old
Mrs. Virgins, who sold the valentine
Aou iOONSu very cuTlOuSly over her
glasses. until Miss Tabitha felt SO gull
ty that she fairly bIushed. When once
home she fastened to direct It, her
hand trembling as she wrote; for her
thoughts were back in her younger
lays when she had supposed her name
Hculd be Mrs. Daniel Upton" She
heard noise and hastily finishing her
b Work, she put away the pen and ink,
and started for he post Office. She
dropped the missive into the letter box
and returned he le. AS soon as she
was seated befor the fire, the foolish
ness of -" h''!o farce which she had
intended l., enoH before her niece
seemed vividl 1'parent
What shall ~ if she asks who
sent il to me2" sa oueried. almost in
agony. Sac even ought of going
back 10 The o...cc ana as..ing for IL, but
what excuse ccu d sl.a make to the
QQstmaster Tor hc.vin2 directed let