Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1914-02-12

SSASkS L. IL
its box and wrapping it securely.
At last it lay before her, a dainty
package wrapped in white paper. She
carried it into the spare bedroom where
on the old fashioned writing desk Aunt
Amelia kept her writing materials.
Mllly smiled a little as she lighted
the candle and heated the stick of red
sealing wax. Aunt Amelia's ivory han
died seal was there, and Milly used it.
afterward holding the clear cut i'm
preston to the light. Against the red
wax was the impression Of a sailing
snip tossing on a stormy sea; under
meath in tiny letters it read, "Such is
life"
Ihen IN a laboriously disguised hand
M1lly wrote Harry Blake's name with
some of Aunt Amelia's violet ink. 81
Will ADDRESS 1t to the house: he will
surely receive it them murmured
Amelia. blushing hotly.
1t was Miss Amelia Telford's morn
Ing custom to walk demurely down the
village street and call at the postofice
Tor her mail and then do her market
Ing for the day. st. Valentines day
was no exception to the rule, and when
Miss Amelia walked up the prim path
10 ner front door she carried a handful
OF letters and newspapers. Milly was
waiting with thinly disguised impa-
M in the cozy sitting room.
ANY mail for me, Aunt Amelia !" she
asked.
Eyes: a box of candy from some
one," laughed Amelia.
Milly snatched up the big box of
sweets, and the look of eager an%ticipa-
ton died from her face as she scanned
the address.
"Oh! It's only from Billy Wake
man." she said carelessly, pushing it
aside.
Amelia removed her cloak and hat
and sat down to look over the mail
that had come to her. She read several
letters with quiet enjoyment. then
picked up a large square white mis-
sive heavily embossed.
"A valentine for me!r' she cried, with
gentle excitement. She carefully open
ed the envelope with her embroidery
scissors and drew out a large white
satin heart. on which was painted a
smaller heart of forgetmenots. In the
center of the small heart was a verse
in gold lettering:
Though bitter pride holds US apart,
Thy image fingers in my heart.
Amelia read the lines over and over
with trembling lips that refused to ut
ter more than a whisper. Then she
bowed her head, where the crinkled
bronze tresses were mingled with a
powdering of white. and she wept
softly.
Milly crept to her and listened to
the old story Of a lovers quarrel ex-
tending over many years. and now of
the valentine which had come as an
olive branch of peace from her old
lover.
"It was so unexpected. my dear"
sobbed Aunt Amelia. 81 never ex-
pected to hear from Henry Blake
again"
Henry Blake?" echoed Milly. pick
ing up the embossed envelope and
scanning the address. She knew the
bold masculine hand that had penned
the words. giving her the formal name
by which she had been christened as
Aunt Amelia's namesake:
"Miss Amelia Telford. Fern Hollow.
N. H"
That was Aunt Amelia's name too.
How funny that her aun should have
thought the valentine was for her
from her old sweetheart. OF course it
was for the young Milly. from Harry
himself.
"Just fancy II valentine doing for
two Of us" thought Milly ecstarically.
Then. with sudden thought. she added:
"You said his name was Henry
Blake. Aunt Amelia?"
Amelia lifted her tear wet eyes; she
was smiling happily. His name is
Henry Blake. and he is your Harry
Blake's uncle. OF course never told
YOU that I knew him when he lived in
the old stone house across the valley.
[ never expected this She was hold
ing the valentine close to her heart.
"How odd". breathed Milly incredu-
lousy. And Harry lives with his
Uncle Henry. you know: they keep
bachelors hall in the most delightful
apartment-and. dear. there is the
doorbell."
Milly flew to the front door to admit
the tall. dignified form of Mr.. Henry
Blake. why Milly!" he cried cor
daily. clasping her hand. "I-er-came
-er"- Milly saw that in one hand
he carried a fiat package wrapped in
white paper with broken red seals.
you came to see Aunt Amelia"
smiled Milly. as she pushed him to-
ward the sitting room door. II know
all about it, she nodded wisely.
You do?" he laughed. Then you
can see that recognized Amelia's seal
and her violet ink. But that rascal
Harry fought to the last ditch that it
was intended for him. This duplicat-
Ing family names is a nuisance"
Its a blessing in disguise some
times" giggled Milly as he disappeared
within tho ci+tipr roo,,