The Jasper news., 1908-01-16

II don't know why shouldn't,
said Harrie Arnold, slowly.
Nobody thinks much of valentines
unless they are--truly in love"-with
quick blush-"and IL no is that,
vaguely, "why, he. will be just too
pleased to think of 'criticising me,
even IL he guesses who sent 1t.
wonder If 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 14!"' he exclaimed, "St.
Valentines day. see-hence the
Cupids! Why anything so 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 flowers"
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, filter for girl than a 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 l dared send
them to my dear little Coz" Here he
bent over the fragrant box, searching
vainly for a clue.
who could-ah - m ~ nit
must be that my fair cousin has taken
this way to tell me that / am not for
gotten. What a joke, If Ishad sent her
back her own roses! She's only Sec
ond cousin, anyhow, and 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 the
sudden memory of pretty Miss Arnold,
which stirred him on Valentines day,
that mischievous saint had kindled q
bit of fame 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 Rugged
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-
lngs 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
. "swelldom," vainly 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 oil
roses LOT MISS ATuOlu. ludL Wdltlue
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, ant
that the gentleman did not say Miss;
addressing the box with neatness ant
accuracy to "Mr. Harry Arnold" hi
left 1t to be delivered in due season a
Judge Arnold's. He got no farther
than the door, however, when the but
!: Ter informed the bearer, that Mr.
Il Harry Arnold lived at 1.-THE Kensing
j ton," Gramercy park. where 1t wal
! duly delivered
The other inferior being was /,
. district messenger boy to whom Mis-
EIarrie Arnold had intrusted he
-otiye Offering to st. Valentine as be
3 iing safer than. the post, while, lest he
writing betray her, she printed tn
name only, on the package. and faint
b tly in one corner Of the valentine, Civ
!, ing the boy one OF Mr.. clayton Dukes
town cards, upon which was the at
dress of his club, with instructions +
deliver 1t into his hands.
nj fha In