Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1904-04-28

! ucWS COL40 III yOuI ACtLC1o' CIV Ss>A@S~
with emphasis as she went out.
When she was at last alone Mis-:
Moore took the large white envelope
in her hand and turned it over ant
over. 1t certainly did look like
valentine, but of course that could not
be! She never had but one in her life
and that was as much as ten yeas
ago. David Stone, whom she was to
marry, had sent it. She remembered
how surprised and pleased she had
been-then came the quarrel over that
girl from the city-which ended in
sharp words on both sides and mu'
tual VOW never to meet again until
the other had asked forgiveness Ten
years ago! That was q long time to
vid, also alone, in the house he had
! built-for her! Just for few foolish
words! That valentine Of long ago
was still precious to her. She kept 1t
! hidden away, but she could see it now
as plainly as If she held it In her
, hands. She remembered every word
Of the verses, too, she thought proud
ly. Then she came back to the present
with a start, and opened the smaller
envelope; a letter from her sister, full
of commonplace news. There was a
postscript, however that she read sew
eral times, with a. little more color In
her cheeks than usual.
David Stone. was here yesterday.
It was the first time we had seen him
since you quarreled. He lives in the
house he built for you-all alone. He
has never married, nor been half civil
to any woman for years. I sometimes
wish we had not so much Moore
pride in our make up. OF course 1t is
all right enough in its place, but there
are other things that are worth more
David asked many questions about you
the only subject that seemed to In
terest him.
Miss Moore laid the letter down with
a sigh. Could it be David ever
thought Of her now-now, when she
was no longer young!
| Absent-mindedly she cut open the
other envelope-and then gasped in
establishment. There lay handsome
valentine-one mass of flowers. birds,
gold lace and filigree, hearts and Gu
pids. There were so many that they
swan before her eyes. Who on earth
could have sent it! She turned to the
verses. The same words had been on
that other valentine of ten years ago,
that David had sent! David! It must
have been David! Breathlessly she
hurried to find the old valentine, to be
sure that her memory had not played
her false. Comparison showed the new
valentine to be far handsomer and
more elaborate than the old-but the
verses were the ones she had remem'
bered all through those long years:
'This valentine to thee I send,
To prove my love, my dearest friend.
My valentine, Oh! wilt thou be,
My love, my life, I'll give to thee"
For a long time she gazed at the
lines, and the burden of years seemed
to roll away. With eyes very bright
she walked across the room to the old
fashioned desk in the corner. David
had done his part; she must do hers.
Dear David" she wrote, yours re-
ceived. Please forgive me.
ELIZABETH MOORE.
She sealed it with trembling hands
, and called little Pat Ryan to 60 to the
other end of the town and deliver it
into Mr.. Stones own hands. He
started, as it seemed, reluctantly.
what ails the child to-day?" she
said to herself. HE doesn't act natu-
raj. Surely he knows I'll pay him for
going! wonder if David will come to-
night?"
At the thought she flew from room
to room trying to make the immacu.
late little cottage even cleaner.
1t was early in the evening when
David came. They greeted each other
rather bashfully and there was an
awkward silence David shuf1led his
feet uneasily. then burst out.
Il came, Beth, soon's got your
note. But l want you should know
that 1 was coming tonight anyway.
I'd made up my mind before heard
from you. don't know what you mean
by yours received for decided not
" "I4Lc, UuI " JUST COu4S anu SUI.
prise you"
"You didn't send this!" gasped Miss
Moore in CONSERVATION, bringing out
the valentine. why you must have!
Nobody else would"
II wish could say YES but.
didn't know, or, didn't think, what day
it was! Now, Beth, want to talk to
you"
An hour later a knock was heard
and little Pat Ryan's mother stood
shivering on the doorstep.
"Ah, no, Miss Moore, I'll not come
in, SEEM yer hev company. I'll jest
be after sayin' that Patsy's feelin' that
bad cause yer didn't say nothin' at
all about the valingtine he bought yer
wild his own money. that l."
PATSY! Was it Patsy?" demanded
Miss Moore, grasping both of the
woman's hands. "Oh, didn't know
indeed, l didn't! Poor child! Mrs.
Ryan, that valentine has brought me
the greatest happiness of my life!
F.; And now you send Patsy right over
here. We've want to thank him."
d. 70