The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-06-30
Z OF THE BEST SHORT STORIES
[ ON 5 Valentine.
By DAVID MONR OE Gerry


BY DAVID MONR OE. Gerry
-, sARR1E!" cries TON Travers,
n leaning back despondentlyI
in his chair, Il haven't
~ got an idea
hopeful little wife. Then sit right
It's no laughing natter,'' signs
Tom. Here's another Of my stories
returned" pulling It out of Ills pocket
and looking at 1t With n tender glance. |
Poor old thing" he soliloquizes. II
suppose the editor slammed you down
on his desk and treated you shame
fully. But, Carrie, no ideas, no money
gladly swap nm idea for dollar, but
Il have no ideas; and ten to one II
had, couldn'tstrike bargain. Every
editor seems to think I'm n swindlerrI
when all want Is to make a fair
trades" ,,tB
Tom, take my advice; sit downSand
force yourself to write somethins,1
You'll DO surprised to find how inter-
esting 1t will turn out"
"Oh, pshaw!" espostulates Tom,
I've lived on nothing but hope and
bread and butter SO long that can't
turn out, thoughts like the fellow who
basks int the smiles Of an editor. I'm
out IN th(e cold"
Write something for ST. Valen-
tlne's!" locking UP with n smile from
her fancyS work. There's a starter
for you."
We'll" replies Tom, obviously.
Then, with Nsudden, alacrity, Lets see.
I'll. write q valentine to you--you've
been my inspiration and SELLING
paper and pencil he carefully writes;
ITO Carrie" and then looks UP at her
linqufringly.
She smiles at his anxious expression.
Tom thinks she looks as young and
pretty as she did on their wedding
day, and tries hard to recall when
tine he had once written her years
| ago.
do you remember that valentine !
sent you atiboarding- school?" he asks,
after vain attempt to repeat It,
Something about sending me your
heart as your valentine. wasn't it,
She gazesN out Of the window, with a
far-away Nook in her eyes and slight
| flush rises ITO her cheeks as she recalls
the happy time. Tom thinks she Is
more beautiful than ever.
80 it was Carrie. But now you
have it. dear, SO that won't do
| II have an !idea!" he eXclaims, sud-
denly, and in a moment Is scribbling
| away.
"say. Carrie. what rhymes with
dear?"
Fear, here. clear, drear" she an
swers quickly, knowing that prompt
ness at such crucial period means
everything to the laboring poet,
! After an unsuccessful attempt to
think of limo that would appropri-
ately end with one Of these words. he
bursts forth:
!. II can't finish this line.
READ me what you've written. per-
haps can help YOU" she answers
sympa thetically. Tom pushes his chair
back, coughs, looks a trine foolish and
begins:
TO Carrie
I'd send thee as my valentine
Ny heart, O dearest Caroline!
1 With love AIS fragrant as red wine
But then, you know, you have II
dear.
I'd give thee all the gems divine
That Mother Nature doth entwine
Within her bosom, laces fine
/. Tom stops. Il can't get the next
line. You, 1t must rhyme with
dear
Had 1 million dollars clear
laughingly she replies.
MO, that isn't quite what I want
Think Of something with a little
pathos."
Read it again" and leaning hel
chin on her hand, she listens with q
pretty. meditative air, wrinkling he,
forehead as she cudgels her brain fol
an idea.
Tom watches her anxiously, Will
pencil ready.
Had I diamond for each tear,
she repeats triumphantly.
You're trump-the very thing
See how nicely 1t comes In, and hi
reads aloud
Now for the second verse" Hi
ideas evidently are coming faster, fol
the pencil moves rapidly. She watches
him with an amused. tender express
sion. She pictures him, with head OF
;. one side, writing his first valentino
to her. Presently he pauses.
t I'm stuck again. I agree will
: Gifted Hopkins, the English Language
lis abonlinable. Here I'm held II
Q check in my poetical effusion, all OF
account of a paltry. word to rhym
: with gap"
n "Let me see IL can't help YOU
9 ana leaning over his chair she read
n aloud:
l. A castle off in sunny Spain;
a Kingdom fair for thee to reign,
I, I'd gladly give II they were mine.
r, Had a purse that wide did gap
9TH ere's where the rub comes i
d and the rhyme doesn't"
t We'll. I'd change 1t somewhat" an
! then, trying very hard to be serious
'r she recites:
q "I'd quickly buy big knapsack
u My gold to hold"
1t "Now. Carrie. that's mean."
"Well, dear, to be serious" sh
It thinks for a moment "IIOw wOul
d this do?''
Had + purse that wide did gap
8 With golden coin, within thy lap
Is I'd gladly pour my golden store
Or Finely. Now, don't say word!
Is he exclaims, as she Is about to spesl
"l've got the ending In my head" sh
ID looks on It, and In moment he fin
9. ishes.
i NOW, here are the last lines:
1.-THE only thing ! have to send
l. Is love--a love that knows no end.'
4, That's awfully pretty" she erie