Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-11

OF our little friends fairly beamed with smiles
as ne caught sight of three eager faces peep
the large bundle of mail at Mr.. Lanes, and
ne laughed to himself as he ran down the
steps having overheard Susys happy cry
Of
"O-o--oh! Such lots of valentines!"
Yes. There were four for Sister Grace, and
two for Susy, and even one for little jim
| Tor which, L rather think, Grace might have
given account, as she dearly loved her Cum
ming little brother
Her cheeks. flushed with excitement, Susy
opened one of hers with many EXPLANATIONS Of
pleasure at its beauty.
Then she opened the other. But what is
this?
| First look of establishment and then Of
grief overspreads her face; the color leaves
her cheeks, the brightness her eyes, and there
falls rain of tears.
Poor little Jimmie looks on in pitiful amaze
ment at ",Tqdy's" grief, while Grace comes
been ascending to put away her treasures,
to learn. what was the cause of her little
| sisters sorrow.
What is it-what is it, my darling?" she
goes on, Indignantly: "Oh, how mean! How
could any one be so cruel? Never mind,
dearIsister loves her pet Come, we'l put
the horrid thing out of sight, and forget all
room and see my beautiful birthday book and
I'll tell you some pretty Stories" And so she
comforted the tender hearted child, who had
never before been so deeply hurt.
| Meantime Teddy is again on his way to
school, anxious-and somewhat nervously 60
to learn the effect of his valentine on Lucy
Dare.
"Of course she'll be awful cross" he thinks.
MAY even, dare to pull his hair. or pinch or
strike him"-as she has often been known
to serve those who have offended her. eyes,
there she is in waiting at the crossing again.''
But he manfully pursues his way, and may
well be surprised at her greeting. for not
only are her words pleasant, but her voice
is gentle-almost musical-in its tone, as she
accosts him.
Good morning, Teddy" Then, blushine,
extends her hand: will you have an orange?
whispers, with face glowing with shame.
"And I'm very sorry was so cross to YOU:
but / don't mean to be unkind any more.
I'd like to be good, SO you'd like me as you
do Susy."
Poor ,Lucy's sentences were somewhat
mixed, but her confusion served to conceal
that of Master Ted, who heard her with
great-and l am afraid not altogether pleased
establishment for he could not help fearing
that if, in his hurry of the preceding days'
owing to Johnnie's not too clear penmanship..
| he had exchanged the Valentines, then moor
little Susy must be feeling quite as much grief
as Lucy was Of pleasure iea. Yet he had the
had made friend Of Lucy and caused her to
wish to be more lovable.
So he replied to her pleasantly and they
went on together quite amicably.
But after school. Ted fastened back as far
as Mrs. Lanes, where he stopped, as he had
the privilege of doing, for short play before
going home.
He found Susy pale and sad looking. and
on asking if she was sick received from Grace
the story of her wrongs.
A manly little fellow was our Ted and AL
though much ashamed, he told the girls all
about the two valentines and the effect of the
mistake on Lucy Dare.
"Well,' said Susy, Il don't care bit, now
that l know no one meant to be unkind to
me, and I'm really glad it happened; for
don't you see. Teddy?-if Lucy had got that
ugly one she would have been worse than
ever; but now, if she wants to be good, Wen
help her all we can"
When Ted told his mother all about it that
night she talked to him very earnestly about
the nobility, Of doing good even to those who
were unkind to him, and said that as he had
found out, although by accident, she hoped
he would always remember to put it in prac-
tice