The Virginia enterprise., 1908-01-03


said Harrie Arnold, slowly.
Nobody thinks much of valentines
unless the3 are--truly il love"-with
a quick b:ush-"and If he Is that"
vaguely, "why, he will b. just too
pleased to think of criticising me,
even IL te guesses who sent #. I
wonder # that simpering clerk has
sold it By this time; oh, hope no**!"
About this time, Clayton Dukes was
taking life comfortably in his sisters
luxurious library.
February a." he exclaimed, "st
Valentines day see hence the
Cupids! Why anything so suggestive
of the burlesque stage SHOULD recall
Miss Arnold, I have no idea; bat the
fact remains that / am reminded Of
that fascinating young person and
woald like to send her some flowers
/ few hours later, at The Kens,nG-
ton oo the "Nob-side" of Gramerc.
park, . very blonde young man was
Standing. in an unmistakable bachelors
den, gazing with helpless bewildcr-
ment into a box which he had just 70
ceived from the florists boy.
"Jove! what superb roses!" hs ex.
claimed. filter for girl than a great
fellow like me. No mistake, however,
there it is-'Mr. Harry Arnold'-who
could have sent them? I've only BEEN
In town a week. l wish dared send
them to my dear little Co.." Here he
bent over the fragrant box, searching
vainly for clue
who could-ah -m-m-- Mt
must be that my fair cousin has taken
this way to tell me that I am not for
gotten. What joke, If had sent he1
back her own roses! She's only y SOC
ond cousin, anyhow, and l don't see
why her mother should object"
Mr.. Clayton Dukes, having left his
card and given the address: Miss
Harrie Arnold" verbally, to the
florists clerk, waited in some sus-
pense an opportunity to learn the re.
ception of his flowers. To his sur
prise, instead of having appeased tho
sudden memory OF pretty Miss Arnold,
which stirred him on Valentines day,
that mischievous saint had kindled a
bit of flame which every breeze OF
circumstance blew to greater height.
st. Valentine, who evens up matters
usually in manner mysterious to
mortals, made an exception in this
case, since while in town, young
Dukes watched in vain for Miss Ar
mold, Second Cousin Harry hugged
himself with glee at finding himself
one of the guests at the Cawnthorpes
In Lenox Being tacitly turned over
to his charming relative. he was left
quite at liberty to make hay in the
sun of her smiles
All these days. two very inferior be.
ings we're playing most important
part in this comedy Of three, albeit
unconscious of the mischief they were
brewing. as were their victims, who in
that lofty and uplifted region called
"swelldom," yainly imagined they
were having things their own way In
the first place. Tompkins, the florists
clerk, had young woman awaiting
him at the moment when he was
called upon to arrange the box of
roses for Miss Arnold. That waiting
young woman certainly weakened
Tompkin's mind temporarily to such
an extent that he slipped Mr.. Dukes
card into his waistcoat pocket, and
when he saw the name Harry"
which he had written, with its mas
culine termination, he at once decided
that his ears had deceived him, and
that the gentleman did not say Miss;
addressing the box with neatness and
accuracy to "Mr. Harry Arnold" he
left 1t to be delivered in due season at
Judge Arnold's. He got no farther
than the door. however, when the but.
Ter informed the bearer. that Mr..
Harry Arnold lived at "The Kensing-
ton." Gramercy park, where it was
duly delivered.
The other inferior being" was
district messenger ooy to whom Miss
Harrie Arnold had intrusted her
votive offering to St. Valentine as be-
Ing safer than the post, while, lest aer
writing betray her, she printed the
name only. on the package, and faiat-
ly In one corner of the valentine, g:v-
ing the boy one of Mr.. Clayton Dukes
own cards, upon which was the al
dress Of his club. with instructions u
deliver it into his hands.
Now, Teddy Bowles, at the instant
of receiving the package, was an in
ward volcano :; ire on the eve of
eruption, ut fellow-messenger, for
the double offense of having called
Teddy's grOwn.up sister carrot
head" and reporting Teddy at the Of
flee the day before for taking pay for
a message at both ends of trip. lln-
luckily. as he -aged along toward the
club. round Il ::ocner came his enemy.
who greeted him with an exasperating
grin. That wA1 enough. Out went
dirty fist, karg :nto the grin, whose
proprietor made vengeful snatch at
the precious package, with which he
made rapidly cr
Hell catcu It now for losing of It,"
said the victor. when at safe dis
tance. Don't hook like much thoush." :"
Here the young rascal loosened the
delicate blue ribbons and peeped with.
In. "Mebbe it's some gal to her feller:
II 'twere Tilly, now, she'd most likely
cry. C. sDukes'-that mus be is
name. I'll ask in here fur a d'rect'ry,
that'n find him. likely"
The Directly" proved, even with
the druggists assistance, to hold no