The Randall County news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1908-1926, 1910-02-11
A USEFUL VALENTINE.
BY BERTHA D. AlSOP,
Copyright 1910. by American Press Assc
ciation.l

tines. At least she personally con-
sidered them rs more fitted for chit
dren than for Srownup young ladies'
Of seventeen like herself. But Della
was rather a dignitied young person
with cid ways.
There is a place in all girls hearts
vacant until it is filed by some young
fellow. This place had been filed for
Della. but neither he who filed ii MOI
any one else knew of the fact. Della
herself was afraid even To breathe his
name in her prayers, fearing some or
binary mortal without sentiment or
sympathy would hear.
Henry Robbins, Il bank clerk, was
the youth whose image had found a
pre-eminent place in her vision. Aft
er all, III youth is it not the image
that makes the impression? Marriage
among very young people is certainly
a lottery.
When Della on the morning of the
14th of February received valentine
addressed in Henry's handwriting-sh
had received one note from him and
treasured it. locked in her jewel box
she was surprised. She tried at first
to make herself think that she was
displeased. Henry was five years her
senior, and it occurred 10 her that his
sending h-' a valentine indicated that
he considered her a chit. There was
one redeemiug feature-it had been
mailed in Il plain envelope. But pres
entity this feeling wore of and there
was something very delightful about
the little stamped thing bedaubed with
cupids. notwithstanding that she dep
recated Henry's having sent it to Il
person of such advanced age as her
self Pasted 20 its center was little
silver gewgaw star. underneath which
was written Star of Hope" While
the address on the envelope was IN
mistakably Henry's. Della was not
quite certain that the writing under
the star was his 1t looked more like
the hand of much younger person.
But she preferred to think. that ii was
Henrys work, and why shouldn't it
be since he had addressed the envel-
ope? Why had he called il the star
of hope? Because it expressed a hope
that she would be his valentine. of
course Well, what next? Why, he
expected that if there was hope for
him she would let him know. And
how would she do this? BY sending
him the star. Ia was all plain as the
sun I'm heaven after she had thought
1t out
Some crusty bachelors. most of them
woman haters. assert that women have
not logical brains. This process of rea- |
soning on the part of one of the sex
no older than her eighteenth year Is
an excellent refutation of these mems
assertion. Ten TO one II man had re-
ceived such a missiye he would never |
have suspected that the star had any |
meaning whatever; would have thrown |
the thing" into the wastebasket and |
left the sender to find out whether or |
no there was hope for her by asking
him point blank.
Pardon this depression. Della Thorpe |
knew in her heart that there was
great deal Of hope for Henry Robbins,
and she deemed it her duty-it was
certainly her pleasure-to inform him
Of the fact So she detached the star.
put it in a little envelope, such as is
used for sending cards, and slipped IL
IN a letter box.
Tim" said Henry Thorpe on the
of the 18th of February 20
III office boy. There is some mistake
here. You were sending valentines the
)ther day. DO you know anything
about this"
It's a star that was on one Of the
ralentines | sent"
Henry had been very busy with the
nail on the 18th. Tim Butler had
hat day been addressing valentines
IA Henry's desk. Henry had written
Della Thorp an invitation TO go to the
skating rink with him on the evening
# the 10Th. and il was evident that
Tins girl had been invited to the rink
while Henry's girl had been sent the
tar of hope valentine.
The practical part Of all this Henry
easoned out very readily. But as to
leducing what the star meant he was
IS stupid as an owl There was moth
ny for him to do but explain the
natter to Della. He did so In note
stating that a valentine belonging 10
IN office boy had got into an envelope
Intended to contain an invitation to
20 with him 70 the skating rink. add
ng an apology for having sent the
'alentine He would call at : o'clock
o take her 10 the rink.
Such brutal treatment, though unin-
entfonal. naturally had its effect upon
Della She received him very coolly |
when he called and declined to 20 out.
He sat down with her and tried to
ind out what was the matter, but he
vas not up to the work. To reason
tut the problem as Della had reasoned
,ut the star Of hope matter was an
with him. SupposiDg
hat Della was miffed at his sending
Ter a valentine. be apologized for do
ng so, declaring that a man Of his age
Who would send a girl a paper made