Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-02-20

IN 10 see Annie Upper as matter OF
course. Annie was cripple and de-
pendent for home upon her married
brother, a 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 hours alone.
When Annie saw who was at the door
her face frightened with pleasure,
for the bluff, kindly old surgeon had
been her friend and confidant for
many years.
What's all this, Annie? he asked
with interest; been playing paper
dolls all by yourself?p
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 it? But it's
like this: Sitting here alone, l guess
/ think more about the holidays than
l get low-spirited, thinking how much
more they used to mean than they do
now. Wicked, amt it, and me so well
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 peck of valentines every year.
was getting real sorry for myself,
when all of sudden, thinks /, 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,
30 maybe they don't miss 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
a little remembrance my own self,
even If 1t wasn't much.
sT think it's a beautiful idea,p 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
v,olets on the good saints anniver-
sary. You're good little SOUL An
MEL" he added, impulsively.
mot such a saint as l might be,
Annie confessed, with 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 '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, I 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 I only
wish I 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 a few moments. The in
valid sat in her chair by the window
her face flushed with excitement ant
happiness. In her lap, caressed By
her thin fingers, was heap of bright
cards and dainty trifes, while more
substantial reminders Of the day were
In evidence.
Annie looked at him with radianf
eyes, ooh, Doctor March, what goot
time I've had!" she sighed, blissfully
why, all day long the doorbelps beer
ringing, and valentines just pouring
in-some of 'em SO funny and cute
they made me laugh, and some 81
sweet l most cried. And even MI
pussy cat got one didn't you, Topsy
See the dear little bundle of catnil
some one sent her! Folks have beer
good to me before, but 1t just seems
as though these lovely. frilly not-use
full things make 'em seem more friend
ly than ever Doctor" her face cloud
ed with sudden anxiety, you didn'
tell on me, did you? I'm afraid
wouldn't be quite $3.50 perfect, i
people knew was going to send tt
them, and wanted to sort of even up
you know