Mexico Missouri message., 1906-04-05

back, coughs, looks trlhe foolish and
l begins:
To Carrie.
/ I'd send thee as my valentine
My heart, oh dearest Caroline,
| With love as fragrant as red wine;
But then, you know, you have 1t dear.
I'd give thee all the gems divine
That Mother Nature doth entwine
Within her bosom, laces fine
Tom stops. II can't get the next
line. You see, 1t must rhyme with
dear"
Had 1 a million dollars clear, {"
laughingly she replies.
NO, that isn't quite what l want.
Think of something with a little
pathos."
Read 1t again." and leaning her
chin on her hand, she listens with a
pretty meditative air, wrinkling her
forehead as she cudgels her brain for
an idea.
Tom watches her anxlously, with
pencil ready.
Had diamond for each tear" she
repeats triumphantly.
You're a trump-the very thingl
See how nicely it comes in, and he
reads aloud.
Now for the second verse" His
ideas evidently are coming faster. for
the pencil moves rapidly. She watches
him with an amused, tender express
sion. She pictures him, with head on
one side, writing his first valentine to
her. Presently he pauses.
I'm stuck again. agree with Gift
ed Hopkins, the English language is
abominable. Here I'm held in check in
my poetical effusion all on account of q
paltry word to rhyme with gap"
Let me see if can't help you" and
leaning over his chair she reads aloud:
A castle off in Sunny Spain:
A kingdom fair for thee to reign,
I'd gladly give If they were mine.
Had a purse that wide did gap
There's where the rub comes in and
the rhyme doesn't"
well, I'd change it somewhat" and
then, trying very hard to be serious,
she recites:
I'D quickly buy a big knapsack
+ My gold to hold"
Now, Carrie. that's mean"
well, dear, to be serious" She
thinks for a moment. How would
this do?"
Had l a purse that wide did gap
With yellow coin, within thy lap
I'd gladly pour my golden store"
Finely. Now don't say world"
he exclaims, as she is about to speak.
1--WE got the ending in my head. She
looks on it and in a moment he fin
ishes.
Now, here are the last lines:
"The only thing have to send
Is love--a love that knows no end"
That's awfully pretty" she cries,
clapping her hands. why, don't you
take it around to a paper now?"
81 believe l will"
"And Tom," she calls out. as he is
pulling on his coat in the hall, IF it
isn't accepted, don't be discouraged
We'll have it framed"
She stands and mods to him from the
window. Dear Tom" she says, and
then adds, foolish fellow, to write me
a valentine!"
Tom presents himself at the office Of
the Epoch, and is duly ushered into
the editors room. AS he enters the
'!oor, he sees that the editor is still
looking at his card.
What can l do for you, Mr.. Tray
ers?" looking up keenly a Tom.
Tom hesitates. 81 have a poem-a
st. Valentines poem l would like to
show you"
did you write that to your lady
lover" says the editor quickly.
= 'N--o-well-yes," Tom bushes a
little. THE fact is, wrote it to my
wife"
you did, eh!" exclaims the editor,
rather brusquely, tho Tom thinks he
sees something glistening in the edi-
tors eye. "Well, it isn't bad. Say, Til
give you five dollars for it." Tom is
overjoyed.
you must have a sweet wife, eh?"
says the editor, looking up at Tom
while writing out the check.
BEST in the world"
We'll, take good care Of her." and |
he hands over the check. "And-give |
her my love- Good-day."
The editor has been sitting thinking,
with his head resting on his hand, for
a long time. A tear trickles through
his fingers. Il knew the name as soon
as l saw it. And 80 that's the fellow
she married. Well, and he's writing
her valentines, and they've been mar.
ried, let's see, yes, six years. can't
publish 1t, taking up Toms valentine,
but Ill keep it, and he places It in
his desk; and another tear falls from