The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1905-03-03
IN EHClORREED VALENTINE.
1,o~o~o
noRs. VAN OR.f's reee,

A0Rs. VAN ORN's reception had
ikxHi been . great success- The mob
00zA had gone now, but the fatally
still fingered in the deserted drawing
room TO refresh themselves with little
conversation after the fatiguing phrase
making Of the evening. There wsxe only
four 81 them. the host and tie hostess:
pretty, quiet little Mrs Mitchell and
Mrs. Van orn's brother. Paul Jarvis
The men had claimed the privilege OF
smoking 10 antidote the awful things
they had been eating. and the wafnsa lad
relaxed In accordance with the latest
and most approved theory q resi-
Hos do you manage 70 greet eEsFy
individual with 50 mxch personal entha-
siasm that he Il coh siseed that his as-
sence would hare SPOILED yoar pleasure
Aaa how can you sppSar IS serene - II
your confidence in maids and caterers
could not possibly be abGseif Mrs-
Mitchell had asked
"Oh. really an glad 10 see everybody.
and. as for the serenity. l make every
possible preparation beforehand, and
then. when I have eorraiged Charles and
made sure that he will not appear in ;
smoking jacket aud ssEaw hat, and
HAVE A1AAl B44 RA&AE ~ ASN&&%@
guests. iesve everything 10 Pruvidenee.
Nash ny hands of the shole nAatteF.
IL il no longer ay reception. as course
sometimes wonder II the orchestra can
be heard abeve the din OF IL the women
are gettiaE anything 10 eat, bat snly ~
langa,d, impersoAsl ssrt u way.
Yes the wife Of Tarqsinius SapsFeas
was rot mere 'Sereae' when she was
driving her chariot wheels oyas her faith
er's remains ~ she reie Ia triumph To-
wari the Esquiline bill 10 meet Der has
band
That's marital privilege. Non
mustu't mind Charles. He i anly tTsing
to get evea for being faFreI ~ assume
the virtue 81 civilization far a fss
hours" And Mrs Van uFm Affected an
air If impuaeal laHEaor.
Her brother Said nothing. lie watch
ed his pretty sister with sR iadnigens
air, wondering gravity where she, ~hsn
be remembered as an ansuph&ssseatea iIt-
iie country girl. hai acquired her air Vt
perfect Ease aud ssif.passessEaa he him.
self was uot yet adjusted,
Years ago he had left bis qules village
home. aud since that tluae had been
taught by severe experiences the value
aud responsibility Of life. lie bad llsrt
seriously. ana the aatteF aud friveltty,
the sham and ussIesSness. If the social
world puzzled him. Ii helped no aave~~-
aud how could IL interest ~ ansHse
groWn-up neupieg
Perhaps he could adept ii, as Jeanne
had douc--shr tUok 70 III as naturally N
q duck to aAter---but he MIS- teu tail 10
bend gracefully over iaaY's hand, his
feet were too big aud clumsy fer dancing
anI his mind too SLOW aud grave for 80
ciety persiaase.
Eyeu the authors discussed were al.
NEST anknown Ia hifn, and his familiar
ompanions-HerEiek and Shakespeare
and Lamb and uthers---Nere searC.ay Rd.
mitted 10 the charmed circle. lie sas
hepelessiy old-fashiene1. distaneed. lie
was painfully conscious Of ali this 10
night. for Of late 20 this locker GA sh
Venice" ths general spectacle had he
gun to focus. Receptions and dinners
we're beginning 10 mean Mrs Mitchell 30
him She was very kind. I'm hsF pres
enee he was never reminded Of hts aNk
vasdaess or his ignorance Of social oh
servances-
Her smile always welcomed him. and
somehow among the eoteris II her adj
mirers there was always room for hina.
But the more she favored him with hcF
sincere interest. the more he locked into
her beautiful face and saw the soul made
pure by sorrow shining from her eyes. the
more be withdrew. as from one too fair
and good for him He knew her his
tory. They had been friends from child
hood. He knew that, mercifnlly released
by death from the bonds Of q marriage
which had been q tragedy TO her. she
could not again assume the risk ~ such
ties. He felt that she could never again
trust her peace and happiness 10 another
after they had once beea wrecked. What
was he that be should hope she would
ever regard him in the light Of one nearer
than faithful friendf lie forced him.
self TO wear fhe arfnor OF reficcnea and
formaiity. Tonight she was more charm
ing. more siacere. more impossible. thaa
ever.
The conversation had turned aprupus
Of nothing. TO ST. Valentines dag, which
came on the morrow.
Holidays and all sweet otsserv anrex'
have either larsed OF heen reiegatesi 60
the nursery. The world ia growing old.
Gordon once hung branches II blossom
Ing hawthorne over PhyiSta' door Sgal.
wart lads and dainty lasxies ;rlppcI !,
round the May pole. Dignifed ladies and
gentlemen. married as well MS eingls,
chose their valentines. and were loyal 10
them, too. for she whole year And think
Of the valentines Of cur grandmathrrs.
They were mol only works of art. but
represented hours Of patient, loving toll
Nov how Is it, Mere babies. whe should
know nothing whatever II tA= little gpi
with the bow, have usurped to themselves
all these pretty rites Of hove. wha ever
vets a real valentine Eowsaaysg No
body"
There was silsaee far monent after
Mrs Van orm's rather energetic TRADE.
Thea Mrs. Mitchell spoke, with a latte
air Or embarrassment:
.'I am living refutation u yoar ytxte-
meut. for |. even /, have received n val /!
ss1sifss. a real one. after | WAS quite bs.
yond little Eirshood, though that was 4
good many years aEu. And the weird hSw
certainly aged q great aeai since" s1se
added sadly. ''ft came from my hrst
hover. whom | did not lova--siea--lse-
cause hadn't sease enough Girls rare