The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-06-04
By DONALD CHAMBERLIN


neighbors. taking Jim with her. There
was a little girl in the other family
named Laurette. She was ten years
old and a very pretty little girl indeed
Since she was the first girl except his
sisters Jim had ever seen he looked
at her wonderingly She eyed Jim
askance. Her mother told her to take
Jim out and show him the place. the
horses the COW and other things Jim
went with her and looked everything
over while she told him about her own
favorite horse and bunny she had
and all that When they had seen CIV
erything they went back into the
house Jim's mother had finished her
call, and she and Jim took their dc.
parture
"Jim. as I have told you before. hav
ing never seen a girl except his own
sisters, thought lot about Laurette
and was very anxious to go to see her
again. But since she lived at dis
lance and Jim was very bashfuI boy
not at all used TO girls. he didn't go
One day when the rural deliveryman
drove by Jim happened to be out by
The letter box.
Heres something from your swee,
heart. Jimmy. he said and handed Jim
an envelope stamped all over with
bleeding hearts and cupids
Jim saw his name on the envelope
and something strange weled up with
In him. He had the only valentine he
had ever received. and he had sweet
heart He did not know who that
sweetheart was. but she was undoubt
eddy a girl. and she had sent him Il
valentine. 1t seemed that this was
Jim kept turning the envelope over and
examining the bleeding hearts and the
cupids as though he feared that II he
opened Ii the rest of this deirium OF
Joy would be too much for him. But
ut last he broke 1t open very carefully
SO as not to tear any of the bleeding
hearts or the cupids and drew forth
ii very pretty valentine with couplet
ending BE my valentine.
"Jim took his valentine into the house
and showed 1t to all the family. asking
who could have sent IT.
"'Oh, dear. exclaimed his sisters.
'Jim's got a sweetheart
"'WhoT asked Jim. blushing.
why. Laurette. of course. There's
no other girl about here to send It.
with the word Laurette Jim felt
sudden warmth about bis heart he had
never felt before THAT'S the reason love
is considered % be in the heart. ! sup
poser, He went or by himself to es
cape the other children's gibes. He
looked at the valentine, then at the Ell
velope. turning from one to the other
till he knew every cupid and every
bleeding heart and the couplet and
everything else there was about 1t.
"Jlm was too young to go alone to
see Laurette and asked his older broth
er. Dick. II be wouldn't go with him.
He only got laughed at 'Haw, haw.
said Dick. .Jim's in love Jim felt
as though his heart had been torn out
of his bosom. He went of and pined
alone.
Meanwhile Jim's valentine must have
been pining for him. for one morning
Laurettes father drove by and asked
II Jimmy might not go home with him
and spend the day. When Jim heard
IF the invitation II almost took his
breath away. His mother took Off his
suit and put on better one and brush
ed his hair and stuffed handkerchief
In his pocket. and he climbed into the
wagon. and away he went to Laurette.
Jim remembers that day now. when
he Is forty years old. as the happiest OF
his life. His wedding day was very
tine-he married Laurette- but for pure.
unalloyed quintessence Of bliss there
has never been anything like that 6rst
whole day he spent with her. though
the receipt of the valentine was won
drous Joy Of its own kind. unlike any
thing else and never TO be experienced
again"
mo one but the fellow who expe
rienced all that" said Swift, could
tell Il. You are jim"
IL certainly am Jim. and there
pointing to Mrs. Twining-"is Laurette
Don't you sneer any. more at st valen
tines day. II may be fitted on!, for
children. but It's mighty well fitted
Tor them. though don't admit that
It's never fitted for older persona"
II promise you that | will not" said
swift