The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-02-12

|
DIR. March, on his rounds. dropped
In to see Annie Upper as a matter of
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 were not
lacking, she spent many hourn alone.
When Annie saw who was at tns door
her face frightened with pleasure,
for the .bluff, kindly old surgeon had
been her friend and confident for
many years.
What's all this, Annier 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 If 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 tt? But it's
like this: Sitting here alone, guess
l think more about the holidays than
| IL 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 I saw
how near the 14th was began think
ing about the days when was young
| and straight and pretty and used to
get a peck of valentines every year.
l was getting real sorry for myself.
when all of a sudden, thinks I, 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 fuller'n mine,
so maybe they on'tsmiss such things
much! but all the same / bet they
like it when some one remembers. So
made a 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 things, and
made up my mind I'd send 'em each
little remembrance my OWL self.
even If it wasn't much.
81 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
! yiolets on the good saints anniver-
sary. You're a good little soul. An
mel" he added, impulsively.
mot such a saint as I might be-"
Annie confessed, with a twinkle Of
fun in the brown eyes; sometimes.
looking through the list, I can't help
being tickled. thinking what good
subjects for comics some of EN-
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 spring chicken;
and-ohi lots Of funny little ways that
folks have. But when such things
come to me, 1 remember how Mrs.
Adams wore herself out nursing me
when I had fever, and how generous
Mrs. Wood is; and as for Mary, she's
a perfect angel to her grumpy old
father, and a master hand at cooking,
as I've reason to know. Every one OF
ems been good to me. and ] only
wish had something better to give
than my little paper fixings.
Valentines day arrived, bright and
cold. Toward evening Doctor March
could not resist dropping in to see
Annie for 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 a heap of bright
cards and dainty trifies, 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. blIssfuily.
ssWhy, all day long the doorbells been
ringing. and valentines just pouring
lin-some of 'em so funny and cute
they made me laugh, and some so
sweet most cried. And even my
pussy cat got one didn't you, Tcpsy!
gae fhe dear little bundle OF citnip
eon,e one sent her! Folks have been
GOOD tonne before, but it just seems
3 a. though these lovely. frilly, noisuse-
full things make 'em seem more friend
" than ever. Doctor" her face cloud
I'd with sudden anxiety. you didn't
tel, on me. did you! I'm afraid It
wouIdn't be quite 500 perfect, II
neonle knew was going to send to
them and wanted to sort Of even nD
You know"