The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-03-16

| COltOn WOOL III WHICH sue ndu ISLuIu-
ed it..
Was it too late?
"Close up an hour earlier, Smith.
1 am going home. ="
The astonished Office boy started.
Only 3 O'Clock, and the governor
bunking home "Well, this was
rum GO 'He looks bit queer
perhaps he's going barmy ~ thought
that delighted youth.
Timothy made his way with fur
tive steps along street after street,
till he came to small shop in which
valentines were displayed.
He passed it and repassed it, and
then suddenly picking up courage, he
went in.
"I-do you sell-ah, valentines 7"
he stammered.
1t was case of shy mans love
affair, and she would help him and
so she brought her prettiest and dain-
tiest designs forward
He turned them over, but could
find nothing that would exactly suit,
and then his eye was caught by a
simple spray of ivy, whilst under it
was written:
1.-THE years have passed. still true am 1,
Your valentine dear, till die."
Yes, that would do.
Ten minutes later, quite different
Timothy was on his way home, the
precious peace offering safe in his iu-
ner pocket. He longed to find the
ring, to enclose and send it to her.
Would Tabitha forgive?
Miss Tabitha was restless. 1t was
all through a paragraph in the paper
which she had read that morning.
valentines are coming into fash
ion again. This year the shops are
doing a much greater trade, and
Cupid's messengers are bearing their
glad tidings to many a pretty girl. "
She went upstairs and unlocked a
little drawer, and thence she took out
two envelopes. They contained love-
tokens from Timothy-love tokens
of ten years ago!
And he had never married. Day
after day he had gone to his work,
coming home at nights to cherries
home his house just kept anyhow
by a gossiping charwoman, who
made him pay, but who did as little
as possible for the money she re-
ceived.
No one to put bis slippers by the
fire, to draw the armchair up for him,
to run out into the hall with a well
come when his key was heard in the
door no one to see that his linen
was aired, that he had proper and
nourishing food.
And it was all her fault
Every morning she watched him
depart, and each evening she waited
for his return. These were the two
great events in Miss Tabitha's daily
life, and somehow the pain in her
heart felt a little easier when she
could sit in her room and know that
only wall divided them.
And then a crimson flush stole into
her thin cheeks. Would 1t be un-
maidenly? Could she,-oh, yes, if
she could but do it
eyes, she would go at once and
buyit. Buy valentine for Timothy,
and thus show she was willing to
make it up, if he were.
She walked long way--right out
of Hoxton-till she came to place
where she was not known, and then
she entered shop and timidly asked
to see some valentines.
And then arose the difficulty.
She wanted one that showed she was
sorry, and yet not with too much
love, for fear Timothy might think
her lacking in modesty.
GLOW do you like this, miss?"
The assistant was holding one be-
fore her. Round the spray of for
get-me-nots were the words:
"You loved me once though time has fed.
Dost thou remember? Is love deadY"
This will do, thank you.'' And,
with hand that slightly trembled,
Miss Tabitha paid for it and de-
parted.
Late that night, almost like a
thief, Miss Tabitha stole out of her
garden, carrying white packet, and
proceeded to the pillar box.
Almost at the same moment, Tim
othy emerged from his gate, also
carrying little parcel, and bent his
steps in the same direction.
He quickly overlook his neighbor
but not until they reached the box,
which stood under lamp, did they
recognize one another.
"Tabitha Tabitha !" faltered
Timothy.
Timothy !p And Miss Tabitha
would have fallen had not strong
arm been placed around her, and
simultaneously both packets fell to
the ground.
Nervous and i'll at ease, they each
stopped to regain them, only Timothy
picked up Tabitha's and she caught
hold of his.
"Why, this is for me P' he ex-
claimed, in genuine surprise.
"And this is mine I-don't-
understand it !" faltered Miss Tabi'
tina.
"Tabitha, is it love token? Have
you forgiven me ?"
And the tears came into her blue
eyes, as she said gently:
"It was my fault. 1 was wrong,
and this"
"Is your ring, sweet heart. W.
begin tonight our life as though the
ten years were swept away"
And Tabitha made no demur wher
he sealed his words with hearty
kiss.
Mr.. and Mrs. Biggleswade live
comfortable in large house, consist
ing of two villas knocked into one
It is called valentine Villa" ant
the inmates are very happy. -LOndO'
AnSueys.