The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1913-02-06


her face frightened with pleasure,
for the bluf, kindly old surgeon had
been her friend and conhdant for
many years.
Whats all this, Annier he asked
with interest; been playing paper
dolls all by yourselff"
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
think more about the holidays than
II I was up and doing; and sometimes
/ get low.spirited, thinking how much
more they used to mean than they do
now. Wicked. amt 1t. and me SO we'll
fixed? The other day, when saw
how near the 14th 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 sudden, thinks l, Annie
Tupper, do you spose 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 a valentine any more? To
be sure, their lives are fuller'n mine,
so maybe they don't miss such things
much! but all the same / bet they
like 1t when some one remembers. So
made list 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 Athings, and
made up my mind I'd send 'em each
little remembrance my own SELF
even if it wasn't much.
Il think it's a 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 he had remembered her
violets on the good saints anniver-
sary. You're . good little soul. An.
mel" he added. impulsively.
"Not such saint as might be"
Annie confessed. with a twinkle Of
fun in the brown eyes; sometimes,
looking through the list. l 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 q 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 l 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 l had something better to give
than my little paper fixings."
A few moments later Doctor March
took his leave, with thoughtful look
in his eyes and smile lurking about
the corners Of his mouth. He made q
great many calls that day, and tele-
phoned to number of patients whom
he did not visit, and when at last he
started home he was chuckling to him.
self, as though we'll pleased with his
day. "Annie's right; there'll be a lot
of surprised elderly folks in town pext
week." he unused; "but If I'm not mis-
taken, she'll be the most surprised
one OF the lot, and all without my CIV
ing away word of her little secret.
Beats all how little it takes to set peo-
pie doing nice things for each other"
Valentines day arrived, bright and
cold Toward evening Doctor March
could not resist dropping in to see
Annie for q few moments. The In
valid sat in her chair by the window,
her face flushed with excitement and
happiness. In her lap, caressed by
her thin fingers. was heap of bright
cards and dainty trifles, while more
substantial reminders of the day were
In evidence.
Annie looked at him with radiant
eyes, "Oh. Doctor March, what good
time I've had!" she sighed, blissfully.
"Why, all day long the doorbell's been
ringing, and valentines just pouring
in-some Of EN- so funny and cute
they made me laugh, and some SO
sweet most cried. And even my
pussy cat got one didn't you, Topsy?
See the dear little bundle OF catnip
some one sent her! Folks have been
good to me before, but 1t Just seems
as though these lovely. frilly, not-use,
full things make 'em seem more friend
" than ever, Doctor" her face cloud
ed with sudden anxiety, you didn't
tell on me. did you? I'm afraid 1t
wouldn't be quite $3.50 perfect, IL
people knew / was going to send to
them. and wanted to sort Of even up.
you know"