Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1913-02-05


course. Annie was cripple and de-
pendent for home upon her married
brother. Woodworking mechanic;
and though her good friends. busy folk
all called as often as they could to
make sure that comforts ware not
lacking. she spent many hourp alone.
When Annie saw who was at tho door
her face frightened with pleasure.
FOR the blum. kindly old surgeon had
been her friend and confident for
many years
What's all this, Annie?' he asked
with interest; been playing paper
dolls all by yourself?"
She laughed in some embarrassment
There. now! was hoping you didn't
notice; but II you won't tell I'll let
you into the secret. Well, doctor. I'm
making Valentines
"Valentines!" There was wonder.
ment In his tone.
Sounds foolish, don't It? But It's
like this: Sitting here alone, / guess
l think more about the holidays than
II was up and doing; and sometimes
l get low-spirited. thinking how much
more they used to mean than they do
now. Wicked, amt it. and me so we'll
fixed? The other day, when / saw
how near the 18th was, began think.
ing about the days when / was young
and straight and pretty and used to
get peck OF valentines every year.
was getting real sorry for myself,
when all OF a sudden, thinks l. Annie
upper, do you s'pose your plain, mid.
dle-aged face is the only one St Val
entine don't notice nodadays? How
many OF your friends that's over fifty
ever see valentine any more? To
be sure. their lives are fulier'n mine,
so maybe they don't miss such things
much! but all the same / bet they
like IL when some one remembers. So
l made n lis. OF the getting-middle
aged ladies with no beaux or hus-
! bands, and the married ones with hus-
bands that look too busy or matter.
of-fact to remember birthdays and
Valentine days and such things, and
made up my mind I'd send EN- each
little remembrance my own self,
even IL 1t wasn't much.
Il think it's beautiful idea" said
the doctor. heartily. He was deeply
touched by the thought OF those pa.
tient hands undertaking such labor
OF love; he wondered, too, whether his
| own quiet. gray-haired wife was on
the list. and counted remorsefully the
years since no had remembered her
violets on the good saints anniver-
sary. You're a good little soul, An
nie!" he added, impulsiYely.
mot such saint as / might be-"
Annie confessed, with a twinkle OF
fun in the brown eyes; sometimes.
looking through the list, can't help
being tickled. thinking what good
subjects for Comics some OF 'em
would make There's Mrs. Adams'
slack housekeeping. and her bonnet
over one eye; and the way Mrs. Wood
gossips; and Mary Trask, with her big
hats and short dresses and high heels.
trying to look like a spring chicken;
and-oh! lots OF funny little ways that
folks have. But when such things
come to me. / remember how Mrs.
Adams wore herself out nursing me
when ! had fever, and how generous
Mrs. Wood Is; and as for Mary. she's
perfect angel to her grumpy old
father. and master hand at cooking.
as I've reason TO know. Every one OF
ems been good to me. and / only
wish ! had something better 70 give
than my little paper fixlngs."
Valentines day arrived, bright and
cold Toward evening Doctor March
could not resist dropping I'm TO SEQ
Annie for "A few moments. The in
valid sat in her chair by the window
her face flushed with excitement and
happiness. In her lap, oaressed by
her thin fingers. was a heap OF bright
cards and dainty trihes. while more
substantial reminders Of the day we're
in evidence
Annie looked at him with radiant
eyes. "Oh. Doctor March. what a GOOD
time I've had" she sighed blissfully.
why, all day long the doorbelTs been
ringing. and valentines just pouring
in-sOme OF 'em 50 funny and cute
they made me laugh. and some so
sweet ] most cried And even my
pussy cat got one--didnt you. Topsy7
SEQ the dear little bundle OF catnip
SOME one sent heri Folks have been
good to me before. but It just seems
as though these lovely, frilly. not.use-
fUl things make EN- seem more friend
~ than ever. Doctor" her face cloud
ed with sudden anxiety. you didn't
tell on me- did you? I'm afraid IL
wouldn't be quite so-sd perfect. II
people knew I was goinA TO send to
them. and wanted to sort " even up.
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