Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-09

He was almost sure that burst of laughter
followed him; but it could not have been
from her. Perhaps it was Sam Watson.
But why should Sam laugh at him? Rather
it was for him to laugh at Sam
LIE waited across the street, and it seemed
IL long time before she came out. Then
she was with the other girls, SO he could not
go up to her. But he followed at safe dis
lance, and saw her reach her house. 1t was
now quite dark. close to SlX o clock, and he
ought to be home. But he must give her
the valentine. She went in the house
now his chance had come. He would go to
the door, ring the bell. and hand the valen-
tine to her mother Perhaps Nelly herself
would answer the bell in which case
His bravery oozed through the leaks In
his rubber boots as he crept up the snow
covered path \ dog barked within the
house. He knew that dog. and they were
not friends. But on he went and reached
the porch Ringing the bell was another
matter, however, and he almost gave up the
attempt But he had come SO far, and he
must go on.
He clutched the precious valentine in one
mittened hand, and with the other pulled
the bell. He heard footsteps. His heart
sank He dropped the valentine and ran.
From behind the house he heard what
happened then. The door was opened, and
someone stood there.
"Who the dickens was it, he heard her
fathers voice say. Lucky he had run. Her
father did not like him.
"Sorne boy, | suppose-maybe that Viii
kins imp.7
"Imp!" He'd take that back when he
learned that his daughter loved George
Clarence Wilkins!
"He11Ol what's this"
Ali he was discovering the valentine.
Looks like a valentine. Here, Nelly,
this must be for you.
Then the door was closed, and he had to
imagine the rest.
"Whv, Father, who can it be FROM"
This is what he fancied she was saying as
she took the beautiful red heart in her hand
He hoped the snow had not damaged II much
"'From You Know Who Why and
then she would discover the little initials
down in the corner. and he could see her
pretty bushes as she dropped that golden
head and hid her embarrassed face in her
hands Would she tell her parents who
&c. c. w" waso Well, he didn't care if she
did. They'd all know, sooner or later. He
went home.
lie took the same course to school next
IL morning, and watched her leave the
house If he had wished to present himself
before her on the previous day, how much
more did he want to do so now, when their
love was so much more cemented. He Won
dered if she had his valentine next her heart.
As on the day before, she stopped at Annie
Granger house and called her out. He was
only hundred feet away, and when the girls
met he saw what happened. Nelly took a
large red heart from one of her books, and
showed it to Annie. And then they burst
into shrill laughter. What did it mean? 1t
did not seem to him just the way to treat
a lovers toker-but, then, he did not know
much about womankind. Perhaps they all
acted like that.
He followed on. 1t was unusually early,
and the girls went into Seaver's Aha! She
was going to buy him a valentine. He would
see. He sneaked into the store, and as he
entered Annie Granger whispered excitedly:
"Look out Here he is now!"
He saw Nelly hide something. He knew
what this meant. There were other boys
in the shop; but he forgot all. He went
right up to her, and said:
Hello Nelly! Did you get my-my val
entine?'
She looked at him. Oh, how beautiful she
was And then she said, $50 you did send
mo that-that-r