The San Francisco call., 1909-02-13

NO. ne answered slowly, only
one Shall I tell you about her:"
Do" she entreated.
The Hon. Sydney Craig was a young
man to Ill the high position he held.
but his seat on the bench had been
gained by the great ability shown in
his short professional career and in
the fourishing western city where he
made his home none stood higher in
his profession or was more esteemed
IN social circles. His marriage a
short time previous, TO a beautiful
girl, an orphan and relative OF a
prominent family in the city, had been
an event in society and the evident
fitness OF the young couple for each
other was universally conceded.
Caryl Craig drew a low chair close
to her husbands side.
Now we are both comfortable; let
me hear about this one sweetheart Of
yours"
Wei. it was a long time ago. I
was a snub nosed, freckle faced boy
Of Il; she was about four years
my junior. She had brown eyes and
golden hair, much like yours, dear.
We went to school together, and oh.
how did adore that child, I wonder 1
ever knew my lessons. for 1 spent
most Of the time looking at her. That
is about all I dared to do. for her
lage and lived in a big house, and she
wore the most beautiful clothes. while
well, my father was dead and my
mother sewed for a living. I was al
ways longing TO give this little girl
something TO show her how much 1
cared for her but l had so little. But
one day the teacher told us about st.
Valentines day, which was near at
hand. and how bashful lovers some
times found it a convenient way TO tell
their love In the pretty missiyes ready
made for them. 1 saw in the shop
windows there wonderful valentines
and ] thought If 1 could only send one
10 Edna Chat was her name) / would
be the happiest boy on earth
Somehow I scraped together enough
money 10 buy her the most beautiful
one I could find. / suppose ] would
think it atrocious now-and fearing to
trust il 10 other hands, or hoping per-
haps TO see how she would receive it.
I carried Il to her home myself and
finding the front door open 1 laid it in
the hall and hid behind tree. To
my great JOY EDNA herself came out,
picked up the little packet. opened it,
read the verse on the inside. and what
do you think she did. Caryl: Kissed
il. the dear little girl"
The Judge paused-evidently the
scene was vivid before his eyes.
And them" softly questioned his
wife.
Wen. 7 trod upon air. I planned
how ] would tell her some day that
had sent that valentine and that 1 had
seen her kiss it; and we would be mar
ried and live happily ever afterward
according TO the story books. But
in a few weeks my mother died. sud
denly. and I. in spite of my frantic
entreaties TO be allowed to remain
in my old home. was packed off to
some relatives out west. ] was of age
before 1 had an opportunity to return
to that little village. and my first in
ouiry was for Edna. But she had been
the victim Of a fate even more cruel
than mine Both her parents had been
killed in railroad disaster. her
fathers estate was found 10 be heavily
mortgag ged. and the poor child, bereft
of home and fortune, had, like myself
been carried away. by relatives, none
seemed TO know nor care, where. Sc
7 came back finally locating in this
city. and later beginning practice in
law. with what results you know. And
there you came across my path-7and
have been so happy as to win you
Caryl sweet wife Look UP, dear,
and a caressing hand was laid upon
her bowed head.
you are not jealous of my child
love, are your
She raised her glorious brown eyes
to his face. Something in their merry
twinkle puzzled him.
You look now as Edna used tc
look when she had played a clever
trick on me at school--yes 1 have il
now l wonder I have not seen the
likeness before"
SO ] look like your old sweetheart
she said laughingly. did you love her
very much? You evidently had for
gotten her"
we never forget the first love OF
ones lives. Caryl. But you-come, IL
is your turn for confession. How fan
down the list on your books do