Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1906-02-15

poured all your little keepsakes out" His
face was suddenly grave and he stopped
and picked up a little worn baby shoe.
1T was Bennie's," she said gently. as
he laid it in her hand. IL didn't keep
anything else when he died. He was my
first baby" She began to gather up the
fallen articles and he helped her.
Here's the picture, Billy" and she
held up to him beautiful old daguerreo-
type in quantity carved case. She wiped
the glass with a corner of her apron and
turned the curiously evasiye picture SO
that he might see 1t. Your mother al
ways looked like that to me, and that Is
you beside her; 1 could always see the
favor. You look like it yet"
He took the picture and went over to
the window and she gathered up the
things that had been in the box
II thank you for this, Caledonia. John
shall return it. l know you loved my
mother" the old man said.
Yes, loved her."
did this come out of the boxT He
was crossing over to her. "See here,
DOME, did you keep this in the boxr
What is it," Her face was crimson
ing chair.
Its this" He held out a little yell
lowed, lace-edged valentine. She looked
at it silently. Inside the paper iacework
wreath of forget-me-nots was held to-
gether by two extremely fat cupids, wh0
sat upon a scroll, on the flying ends OF
which was inscribed a tender little verse.
Inside the wreath lay a large crimson
heart with tiny tongue of flame at the
top. WAS it in the box, Donie?"
1T was under the paper at the bottom.
l never could bear to burn it up. 1t didn't
hurt anybody" she said, an odd little
culver in her voice.
Il remember how pretty it looked to me-
when l bought it over in Atlanta It's
been a long, long time, DOME, but 1 re-
member. l reckon you've been happy
you look like it. You are as pretty as
ever, Donie."
Everybody has been good to me. The
children are too good. You don't know
the boys" She was nervous and she fele
safer. somehow, when she could speak OF
her children. Actually they do tire me-
with kindness. At Charles they never
do anything without consulting me. It
it wears me all out. And at Dicks they
are so considerable, and here"-she glanced
at the medicine glasses and laughed. "It
is only that l am growing DID," she said.
Il know what it is, DOME. We've
missed"
Il reckon younger people don't under
stand what older folks need" she said
quickly.
why should they think US different
from themseIves?" be asked.
Il don't know" She had taken tho
paper from the bottom Of the box and was
wiping a speck of dust away. He look.
ed down at the little old valentine.
care you going to keep it, Donie?"
Eyes"
"Why"
For the sake of old times"
They were good old times, Donie.'
Il don't know. l often feel sorry for the
poor little girl'-her voice broke.
''She was the dearest and prettiest lit
tie girl in all the wide world"
"She didn't know it nobody ever told
her So"
THAT was because she would not let
them; she was such shy little girl" He
answer my valentine? We've done the
best we could, we've had our joys and sor-
rows, but through it all, DOME, have
wanted to know if I was mistaken in the
old days when l thought you cared for
me. l wanted to know why your cheeks
used to flush. Tell me, why didn't you
answer my valentine?"
She caught her breath sharply. "Why.
Billy, there was no question:"
mo question! DOME" He took
the valentine in his hand and raising the
fat red heart revealed a written line.
"'Donie, I love you. Will you marry
me? I'll come for you tonight You
went to the party with Jasper" he said,
reproachfully.
-didn't-know-tnat - the - heart
lifted up.' she said.
Now you know" he said simply.
1--WE are old people now" She was
trembling.
I'VE are not. That is you and this is
I. Give me my answer, Donie." He
smiled down into her eyes.
SO that was how it happened that Sc
rena Allen, looking up from her pink and
white heart cakes, saw her mother ra-
dant and smiling in the midst of the VAL
entine Festival
"Why, mother, what have you done?"
Mrs. Allen cried, and the blushing little
woman looked up helplessly.
why, L suppose, my dear, that we've
eloped; haven't we, BI1lyY
That's it," Mr.. Harrison laughed.
We've run away and got married, Sc
rena ; and see here, boys, it all came from
valentine. They are good things, only
don't set them with the fuse too long"
Ladies' World.