The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1908-01-03

Nobody thinks much OF valentines
unless they are-truly In love'-with
a quick husband II he Is that
vaguely. why, ne will be Just too
pleased to think of criticising me,
even II he guesses who sent It,
wonder II that simpering clerk has
sold It by this time; oh, hope not!
About this time, Clayton Dukes was
taking life comfortably in his sisters
luxurious library.
February IA" he exclaimed, st.
Valentines day sentence the
Cuplds! Why anything 80 suggestive
OF the burlesque stage should recall
Miss Arnold, have no idea: but the
fact remains that ! am reminded OF
that fascinating young person and
would like to send her some hoWets.
A few hours later, at The kensing'
ton on the "Nob-side" Of Gramercy
park. very blonde young man was
standing in an unmistakable bachelors
den, gazing with helpless bewilder'
ment into box which he had just re-
ceived from the florists boy.
"Jove! what superb roses!" he ex'
claimed. litter for a girl than great
fellow like me. No mistake, however.
there 1t is-'Mr. Harry Arnold'-who
could have sent them? I've only been
In town week. ! wish | dared send
them to my-dear little Coz" Here he
bent over the fragrant box, searching
vanly for a clue.
WHO could--ah - m - m - NIT
must be that my fair cousin has taken
this way to tell me that am not for
gotten. What n Joke. If had sent her
back her own roses, She's only sec
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
Harric Arnold" verbally, to the
florists clerk, waited in some sus-
pensc an opportunity to learn the re-
ception of his flowers. To his sur.
prise. instead OF having appeased the
sudden memory Of pretty Miss Arnold,
which stirred him on Valentines day,
that mischieyous saint had kindled a
Bit OF flame which every breeze Of
circumstance blew to greater height.
St. Valentine, who evens up matters
usually in a 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 Rugged
himself with glee at finding himself
81 Fl n ut ha ruupthnrnpa
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 were playing a 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
"sweldom," vainly imagined they
were having things their own way. In
the first place, Tompkins, the florists
clerk, had a 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
Tompkn'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 IL 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 1t was
duly delivered.
The other inferior being was a
district messenger boy to whom Miss
Harrie Arnold had intrusted her
votive offering TO st. Valentine as be-
ing safer than the post, WHILE lest her
writing betray her. she printed the
name only. on the package, and faint
" in one corner of the valentine, Civ
ing the boy one Of Mr. Clayton Dukes
own cards, upon which was the ad.
dress of his club. with instructions to
deliver it into his hands.
Now, Teddy Bowles, at the instant
OF receiving the package. was an In.
ward volcano of ire on the eve of
eruption, at fellow.messenger, for
the double offense Of having called
Teddy's grown.up sister n carrot
head" and reporting Teddy at the of.
fee the day before for taking pay for
a message at both ends of a trip. I'm.
luckily. as he ragged along toward the
club. round q corner came his enemy
who greeted him with an exasperating
grin. That was enough. Out went a
dirty fist, bang into the grin, whose
proprietor made n vengeful snatch al
the precious package. with which he
made rapidly off.
He'll catch 1t now for losing of 1t,
said the victor, when at safe dis
,onc, uDnp't la0k like much though .