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


as last resort, and repeated his cancellation:
NsMy Gfay.
George CXArehce Wilkins
With bated breath he sought the result.
Oh, joy! 1t was "Love" on both sides. Now
his middle name took on glory he had never
granted it before. He turned to the f1yleaf
of his geography and inserted Clarence in
his name thereon. Henceforth he would be
Clarence. He would ask her to call him that,
and tell her why.
At recess Bimmy wanted to know what
the matter was. Our hero wondered if it
could be possible that Bimmy had COM
pletely forgotten the wonderful, epoch-mak-
ing event of the night before. 1t made him
mad He would have liked to have his
friend rally him on it; for he wanted to fight
him. Perhaps she would be looking. He
threw a SNOWFALL into the air and chased it
across the lot toward the high school, keep
ing one eye on what he had selected as her
window No token of the fair one, and he
went back to his lessons heavy of heart. The
high school had no recess, because they made
one session of the day and went home at half
past two; so that he did not see her when he
hurried home to luncheon.
But at half past two he saw her come out
with the others, and walk down the street
with crowd of girls. He thought he saw
Sam Watson and some other boys following;
but he tried to make his heart believe that
it was impossible However, he would have
been happier if she had only looked back
toward the grammar school, just once.
THE next day but one would be Saint
Valentines! He remembered that with
a shock. The day heretofore had meant to
him only an opportunity to send his teacher
a comic. But now it presented different as
pect. After school he would hurry home and
ask his mother for some money with which
to buy Nelly Gray token of his love; for
he felt that he must send her one. So, when
school let out, he shouldered his books and
started up the street.
"Hey, George!" called Bimmy, running
after him. "Hide your books somewhere an
come with Reddy an me. We're goin' to
get Chickering's grapes today
Jaw! what's the good?" said our hero.
"I-I gotter go home" He did not dare say
that he did not think She would like to have
him stealing grapes, and, lest he should have
to explain his sudden change of heart, he
ran swiftly from his chums and caught the
runner of an approaching pung, on which
he rode home.
Upstairs, hidden under the straw mating
in his room, was dime. He had been saw
ing it for new novel; but it was now to
serve another purpose-a Valentine for Her.
1t would hardly be enough, of course; but
probably his mother would give him another.
He asked her, and got it. Then he hurried
downtown to Seaver's store, to look over the
stock All the bunch" were there, inspect
ing the COMICS and he did not dare go near
the counter where the lacy valentines were
exposed So he sneaked home again, with
another idea. He would make her one with
his own hands.
Up in his room he cut large heart out of
cardboard, painted it bright red and
scalloped the edges. Then, with much hard
work, he wrote this inscription upon it:
From You Know Who
But he wondered if she would know So,
in small letters, down at one corner. he wrote
his initials, &c. c. W." Now he must get it
to her. He did not dare trust the mail: he