Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-02-10
A Floral Valentine



The life of Nfnette Harding was not
, be envied. That of the maiden aunt
taking her home with her sister, and
lat sister having a family of growing
lildren, seldom is.
Ninette Harding's mother, left a wild
W while her daughters were mere
RS, became consumed with the idea
lat the one way to provide for the
lture of her fatherless children was
J marry them off And of course
ora, being the older, must be disposed
first
Therefore it was that Jack Hilton
Id every opportunity to see and know
ora well, While of Ninette he knew
tile. Nevertheless it was to Ninette's
lowledge of Jack Hilton, more than
any other factor that Mrs. Harding
)uld have charged her utter failure
disposing of her second daughter ac-
riding to her fancy.
After Jack went west Nora took the
aXt man who came and was happy
err after That is, as happy as
le deserved to be. Not so Ntnette.
Now, when Silas Harding died he
il money enough to provide well for
children without the process of
carrying Off instituted by his wild
But said widow was a good man
ar' that is, she managed to dispose
all the extra funds and when she
parted this earth, soon after her
Ter daughters marriage she left
thing but the beautiful residence
ere Mr.. and Mrs. Jones had already
ZEN UP their abode, much to her
agrin and disapproval
She did not believe in children re-
lining at home, she said; but that
de little difference to Ned and Nora.
4 Jones was poor; he believed he
marrying an heiress. If that beau
al stone house was all she was heir
at least they would have that.
ey completely ignored Ninette's
are in the house. and appropriated
arything to themselves. Ninette
4 a home there on sufferance. lest
should attempt to claim her own.
come She had none. Therefore she
Ok a position in one of the city's
Try goods emporiums, and, as might
ave been expected under the circum-
tances. most of her wages went to
clip tide over family expenses. for
con her salary was nearly as large
5 the incompetent Ned's.
So matters stood when Jack Hilton
anne home from the West, and, pass
ng the Harding house. recalled Nora 5
)lue eyes. Turning to a little shaver
standing on the sidewalk, ne asked:
Does Miss Harding live here stil?"
Now. there had been but one Miss
Harding within the memory Of this
mall man, therefore he answered
ruthfully:
''Yeth thir"
Jack Hilton had arrived at the time
life when a man discovers that
is not good to be alone, and as he
as perfectly plain with himself about
matter, why should not we be with
e reader? He had come home to seek
wife.
Not that there were no women in
e West, 1t had only CHANGED that
had not found the right one in
at longitude.
Now he remembered the flowers he
ed to send to Nora Harding-how
derby she cared for them; the pot.
plant never lacked water, the palm
s never dusty, the Easter lily bloom
the second Easter, the bouquet was
ways exquisitely rearranged.
He wondered why he had not mar
d Nora then, they both loved flowers
He remembered how she used tt
Ugh when he eomplimented her upor
garden or potted plants, and how
: would pretend not to know on,
wer from another, and how it an
,ed him then. Well, she would havt
lived such pranks by now.
SO thinking, he turned into a flor
s, and then he remembered it wa
Valentines Day.
White roses and hyacinths borderet
h heliotrope," he said to the fol-