Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1904-01-01

M LGlj som marvelously under
Aunt Louis slim, white fingers. 'Val>
entine's next best to Christmas, l
think. Why, l had eight. How many
did you get, Aunt Lou?"
Auntie Lou pushed back a rebellious
curl before she answered, absently, II
did not get any. l Go not care for
valentines
Margery stared wild-eyed at such
heresy.
but you used to care-you used to
get them," she exclaimed.
"Ah, that was so long ago." with a
hard little laugh. 81 had forgotten"
"Then it depends whether people
are old?" Margery asked, anxiousfy.
"Yes, it depends on that-and on
other people"
"How could you forget" the child
asked, accusingly, when you saved
one? It's in the little brown trunk
up in the attic. l know it was
naughty of me to look" she added in
guilty haste; "but it was raining hours
and hours, and had nothing to do, so
I explored and found the trunk. First
/ thought there was nothing but stu
pid letters, but down in one corner
was the cutest box and inside a valen-
tine, all lace paper and red hearts.
You don't mind my lookingg" and she
gazed a%nxiously at her aunt.
The girl was silent. She bent close
ly W. her embroidery, but the aston
ished Margery saw 4 tear splash down
into the golden heart of the rose.
"Why. Auntie Lou, you're crying!l"
"It's nothing" Auntie Lou inter-
posed, hastily. 81 ran my needle into
my finger. That's what made me
cry"
Margery still stared. 81 thought
grown-up folks never cried over such
little things" she said, a trife con-
temptuously. "Nanette says they don't.
And when she combs my hair and /
cry, she scolds. Perhaps this is an
extra bad prick, though. Let me see,
Auntie Lou"
But Auntie Lou rose in haste. "It's
all right now" she averred in some
confusion. And Margery, dear, it is
time for your afternoon walk. Nam
cite must be waiting, so run along"
Margery went up to her nursery So
berly. Auntie Lou had behaved
strangely, that vas certain.
"Nanette," she said, decidedly, when
at last they were out in the sunshine,
we can't go to the park today. l
hoV0 70 nn downtown 70 An Do~
Horton ONCE. L KNOW TIE way, Iur
Auntie Lou took me there one day
10 Broadway, that's the place."
"But, Miss Margery," protested Nam
cite, what will your mamma say?"
"Oh, that's all right" Margery an
swered, easily. ITS most necessary
I should go. have to carry a message
for Auntie Lou"
Now, Nanette was a firm believer
in Auntie Lou, so at last she con-
scented.
That is why the elevator of 10
Broadway was that afternoon honored
by the presence Of an anXious-faced
child and a reluctant nurse maid. You
see. during the long trip downtown
Margery had begun to doubt the wis
dom of her course, while Nanette was
10y SUI of what mamma would say.
But Margery's courage began to re-
viye when Dan Horton glanced up
from his desk. His smile was SO re.
assuring that she stepped forward
eagerly.
"Nanette's outside" she explained,
u-hS1O hn 1oJn05 no.. s-4o l.
big chairs. Il told her l had to ask
you something very private"
Mr.. Horizons eyes twinkled, though
he said. gravely, You want to con-
suit me about a case?"'
II don't know whether you call it q
case. It's about Auntie Lou"
"Auntie Lou?" Mr.. Horton bent for
ward, eagerly. did she send you?"
"No, / canned all myself" Margery
was too triumphant to notice how sud-
denly the young mans face changed.
TITS about her and a valentine. She
didn't get q single one, and she feels
awful bad about it."
Mr.. Horton was n%ervously playing
with a paper cutter. He did not look
at Margery as he asked, very low:
"And why do you think I could Go
anything to help?"
"Its just this way" Margery ex-
planned, c~heerfully. "She said she had
forgotten all about valentines. And
then / told her she ought not to forget
when she had one saved up in the lit
tie trunk in the attic. all white paper
lace and red hearts,"
Dan Horton caught his breath sharp
~.
And then she ran a needle into her
finger and cried. But grown-up folks
don't cry over such little things, do
they? She wouldn't even show me
the place. So I've been thinking that
she cried just because she didn't get
any valentine
She paused expectantly, but Mr.. Hor-
ton seemed too much absorbed in the
view Of a struggling line of city roofs
to answer. So she went on, desper-
ately: "You used to send her valen-
tines-at least the one in the trunk
had your name on it. So l thought
I thought you would not mind sending
her n to-day. I had eight, but one
would be better than nothing. Won't
you do ito please me?p she begged.
Mr.. Dan Horton turned from the
window. Eyes, | will do it," he said,
slowly, ito please you"
Margery slipped down of the chair.
Lets go get it right away" she said,
joyfully.
So a tall, broad-shouldered man and
a radiant child and a bewildered nurse
maid went shopping. They bought a
big box of bonbons-that was for Mar
gery-and a bunch of red. red roses
that was for Auntie Lou.
I've been thinking" said Mr.. Hor-
ton, as he hailed a passing hanson,
that / might just as well take the