The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-04-14
"Roses Red and
Violets Blue. !"
By TEMPLE BAILEY.
Copyrighted, 1908, by c. h. sutclirs.

and color Of attractively displayed
goods.
To Jessica, nineteen, pretty and Wis
ting the great city for the first time
It seemed like fairyland.
IT want to buy everything" she said
to Aunt Theodore Hancock, who had
brought her there.
Aunt Theodore smiled indulgently.
"An is not gold that glitters," she
said.
aJessica smiled back. But like the
glitter" she said 81 never use scent
ed soap, but shall surely buy some
because of the pretty boxes, and that
pale green note paper is dream, al
though / never write on anything but
white. And | am awfully drawn to
those strings of glass beads, even
though l am sure that l should never
dare wear them in public"
But Auat Theodore after years of
city residence was an experienced
shopper Beware Of temptation" she
warned. Come on upstairs and look
at the sensible things"
81 don't want to be sensible" Jes-
sica pleaded. 81 want to stay here
and see people buying things that they
don't want for the mere pleasure of
buying"
Aunt Theodore hesitated.
do you really want to sit here for
awhile?' she asked, with an air of re-
lief. 81 could leave you and slip up
to the grocery department and give an
order But you mustn't stir from this
corner or I should never find you"
ooh, I'll stay" Jessica promised.
"You run along, Aunt Theo. I am per
fectly happy right here"
So Aunt Theodore took her stately
way through the crowds, and just as
she disappeared Jessica's eyes fell on
the valentines.
There was marvellous display right
In the middle Of the store. and strung
from post to post were plump red
hearts transfixed with golden darts,
while fascinating pink cupids bobbed
and bowed with every tiny current of
air that swept through the store.
Jessica's heart gave little throb OF
delight. She would buy one for Cousin
Bob. He would never know who sent
1t, and she would like to see his eyes
on st. Valentines morning when he
opened his mail at the breakfast table.
without thought Of Aunt Theodore
she hurried downstairs to the crowded
counter.
1t was not easy to make a choice.
There were so many beauties-exqui-
site, modern. hand painted cards, with
verses from all the love poets and old
fashioned valentines with old fashion
ed rhymes.
Jessica's eyes rested lovingly on a
quaint affair Of lace paper with nose
gay of fat pink roses and huge violets
in the center. 1t was very like one
that Cousin Bob had sent her when she
was a little girl, and she had kept 1t
among the most precious of her treas
ures The verse, too was the same:
Roses red and yfolets blue,
My heart to you is ever true.
She smiled little wistfully as she
read Probably Cousin Bob had forgot
ten that other valentine-had forgotten
the later days when at twenty-five he
had visited the old farm and had made
a new world for little Jessica of fifteen.
He had seemed wonderful to her then,
and he was still wonderful, with his
frank, kind ways and his pleasant man.
ner But now he was a man of the
world, and he might marry almost any
Of the beautiful women of his set
Again she fingered the valentine.
Why not send it?
And even while she hesitated into the
balcony waiting room came Aunt Theo-
dora, escorted by a tall young man
with frank smile
,s"Where has that child goneT Aunt
Theodore said blankly to her stepson.
81 told her not to stir. You'll have to
go and look for her, Bob. I'm dead
tired. It's lucky met you"
"We'll wait minute" he advised.
"She can't have gone far"
And even as he spoke Jessica hove in
sight, eyes shining, her cheeks as red
as roses and in her hand paper pack
age.
by Jove, she's a charming little
thing" said Cousin Bob, noting with
appreciation the ripple Of her hair, the
delicate oval of her face above her soft
gray furs, the becomingness Of the VIC
lets In her hat.
Aunt Theodore looked at him re-
proachfully.
"well, have you just discovered her
attractions?' she asked. Il brought
her down here because she is the sweet
est little gentlewoman have ever met,
and l wanted to show you another type
from the gay young ladies that you
meet in society. And you have hardly
noticed her."
Cousin Bob laughed.
"You're a matchmaker" he leased.
do you really want me to marry Jes-
sica?'
Aunt Theodore looked at him scorn-
fully. 81 love you both," she said,
'.and I'd like to leave my money to
Doth of you. But you've been SO slow
making up your mind that some one
may have got in ahead Of you"
"Oh," began Cousin Bob. And just
then Jessica Joined them, and Cousin
Bob insisted on taking them to won
derful restaurant. where they had
lunch to the sound of music played
amid the palms, and he was so devoted
that Jessica's heart beat high.
The week that followed was full Of
delights and of attentions from Cousin
Bob, and it was on St Valentines eve
that Aunt Theodore came into Jessica's
room and found that young lady in 9
pink dressing gown braiding her shin
ing hair.
Aunt Theodore was in gray flannel
and her hair was in crimping pins.
"Jessica,', she said solemnly as she
sank into big chair. 'if Bob proposes
to you, don't accept him the first tint
he asks"
Jessica stared at her.
"Oh, Aunt Theodore" she stammered
"Cousin Bob isn't bit in love will
me-"
Aunt Theodore shifted.
"Well, he has reached condition
very much like it, she Informed he
niece. at doesn't take Bob very lonl
to make up his mind, and he ha
known you for years. But l know him
and he'll value your love If you dom
let him see 1t too easily"
And then she went away, while Jes
sica sat like a crumpled rose leaf on tn
foot of the bed and wept-
For that afternoon she had males
the lace valentine to Cousin Bob. AM
20 -. -t.o,,1d ,7,Soox,ay. that she ha,