The Colorado statesman., 1914-02-14

i'll luck would have 1t, no one could
be found to go for her granddaughter.
Marge Roper. The old woman could
not be left alone. The young doctor
was forced to offer his services.
This had taken time, still II Billie
had cared the least bit for him, she
would have waited. There was no
question about it.
AS for Billie, no sooner had Frank
gone than she called her brother from
a game of marbles and, refusing the
escort of DR.. Davis. went home. :
The remainder of that night she
passed in tears, and it was with a
heavy heart that she rose on Valen-
tines day.
The day itself was beautiful and
mild-with a south wind blowing.
The Imp had swallowed his breakfast
and was begging his sister to make
kite. 1t was while she was cutting
and pasting on this toy that he, in
chattering about the neighborhood at
large, told her the reason for Franks
delay the evening before. He had
heard it at the party.
Yes" he finished as his sister. with
a shaking hand, passed him his COM
pleted kite, 'he had to fetch Marge
Roper, himself. That was when we
saw him, wasn't 1t, Sis?"
1t would have been difficult to clas-
sify Billie's sensations. She felt mean
and unworthy, yet there was a streak
of pure glory running through all.
Frank was noble and self-sacrificing
and-best of all-he was faithful.
Clearly, she must apologize. 1t was
hard to do, but it was the only way
out. She wasted the morning in
wretched indecision then, at last,
thought struck her. Why not get out
of it gracefully by writing a valen-
tine. She could be much bolder-on
a valentine.
The valentine was written. 1t must
be delivered that day by messenger,
and, since the Imp had helped to
cause the trouble, he must act the
part of st. Valentines envoy and
make peace.
She put on her pretty brown dress
and her brown and scarlet toque and
went forth in search of the small boy
When she found him he was having
much enjoyment with the kite. AS
Billie tramped across the new ground
towards him, she saw tall, broad
shouldered man in a long overcoat
| backed up against the fence watching
the Imp's maneuvers with the kite.
She decided to pretend she had not
seen him, though wonderful scheme
darted into her brain as soon as she
caught sight of him.
She soon reached the Imp, and after
a few earnest words with her he drew
in the kite. They worked over it a
minute then, while she held it aloft,
he took the cord and scampered away.
An obliging puff of wind came along
and shot the kite upward. The Imp
sped on. The kite, true to its nature.
swayed from side to side and, as the
boy paid out the twine, scared up
ward, made an erratic side-swipe, zig
Jagged around for a hundred yards or
more, then, with a triumphant squirt
of speed, sailed into a leafless cherry
tree near the fence.
The Imp came to halt and looked
mournfully at the kite nodding its
three-cornered head over a limb.
| lHcu, dPpdic culiy lOi Tic hiot lihio,
the small boy discovered DIR. Frank
Miller standing near him. -
Please, Frank" whined the Imp.
"get me the kite. You can stand on
the fance and reach it with your
cane"
And, since the Imp had sweet, un-
kind sister, poor Frank climbed the
fence and, after a trial or two, dis
lodged the kite which came swaying
downward with waggish, grotesque
movement into his hand.
Pinned across its knowing face was
sheet of note paper on which, in
Billie's writing, was scribbled the fol
lowing:
Frank, you dear, cross old Valen-
tine! Don't be horrid any more, but
give your heart-broken Billie forgive
ness"
The Imp, grinning in sympathy, was
left suddenly with his mouth ajar in
amazement at a long-legged mailman
tearing across the field, headed for a
brown and red apparition and, to the
Imp's disgust, carrying the kite with
him.
"Aint big folks silly?" remarked
| the Imp.
Copyright. by the Mcclure News paper
Syndicate.)
CUPIDITY