Carrizozo outlook. [volume] (Carrizozo, N.M.) 1910-1945, 1916-02-18
When the
Valentine
SaiintE


luiolu nthINh hnu piueIlU
boned gewgaws that other lit
lie girls received with bushes and
giggles from tho boys across the aisle
were not In her line.
Dorcas did not take after her moth
or. Mrs. Carter always explained when
%apologizing for her daughters wall
flower tendencies.
Drrcas wal like her fathet-thln.
brown, serious. eyed and sensitive. Her
fathers side OF the house also was to
blame for her name. which the school
children derlsively shortened to Dor
KY" Tho name belonged to Mr.. Car
ter's aunt, n klllJoy sort OF u person,
who sent Dorcas union suits and nit
tens at Christmas time.
Although Dorcas. being eleven years
old, had undergone five ordeals OF the
Valentine box. Mrs. Carter never was
able to understand why her daughter
came homo each time without any
trophies OF masculine alteration.
Sometimes Dorcas fancied her moth
or had been like Clara Jane, a freckled,
tomboy girl. When Clara Jane was
winked at she Immediately waved her
hand in the air indignantly and blurt'
ed out, THAT old Happy Finnegan's
winkin' at me, and II you don't make
him stop I'll slap his face"
Miss Stanton interrupted, senteno-
ing the impotuous Clara Jane 10 NJ
teen minutes stay after school for her
rudeness.
But at AIS Clara Jane found the
same freckled urchin who had winked
his blue eyes at her waiting outside to
carry home her books.
And so II came February IS. Mrs.
Carter made the discovery at the din
ner table.
why, honey" she exclaimed de-
ilghtedly TO Dorcas. and speaking In
the confidential tone OF one girl to
another. honey. tomorrow's Valen'
tine day. Have you laid in yours Il
for the box?"
II got them this Afternoon" the child
replied. trying to speak naturally.
You dld7 Why didn't you tell me?
Who are you going to send them tor"
Dorcas replied with her eyes still
On her plate:
Miss Stanton. Ably Morgan, Gene
We've. and I've got a little n for
Nose. the %janitor. He never gets any
and he always fixes our box up In the
morning and"
"Oh. but dearIe," interrupted her
mother, What about the boys? | was
hoping they'd send you some this year
and II they do you'd feel cheap not re,
m%embering them. Why don't you send
Happy Finnegan one, anyway? Why
when | was In school"
MY dear. would you mind getting
me another cup OF coffee?"
Mr.. Carter had seen Dorcas sudden
ly cram bread between her qulverinR
lips and n vision OF his wi sensitive
bashful boyhood came before him.
As quickly as she safely could, Dor
cas- slipped away to bed.
III | could Just get one valentine
from a boy" she pleaded In her pray
ers. Il wouldn't ask for anything els,
for n long, long time. It's not for my
self, but for mother. | can't disap
point her again tomorrow"
Below In the sitting room MIR. CarteI
suddenly lost interest In tho embroi
derry club
"i believe I'll go down to the drui
store and get n cigar" he told hil
wife, handing her the evening paper
It's pnges neatly turned to the DR..
goods advertisements.
How long Il took TO get the cigar
Mrs. Carter did not know. She wa.
asleep when her husband came home
aud he never explained to her that h
had visited i've drug stores and endel
up with a call at the back door OF Ia.
little shanty belonging to Nose. tn
school %janltor.
A spirit OF Santa Claus anticipation
nlled Miss S%tanton's room the uex
morning Little girls with bobbed hal
took little girls with braids and BIZ
bows IN corners and show d ther
fancy creations OF lace and tissue ps
per, and pert round.faced little girl
Uttered whenever one OF tho boy
across the aisle tramped IN smilin
consciously with a queer.shaped pacl
age under his coat.
The arrival OF Happy Flnnegan, hi
coat having a mysterious square o
feet IN front. vas the climax OF tn
morning COradell and Clara Jan,
their arms about each other, smile
knowingly. each confident In her ow
mind that his smile. his blush and hi
squr re.shapcd box were for her, HaI
ny hadn't decided yet himself.
At last. finding that Billy EyereI
was sending an expensive winged q
MA Ia Coradpll. he Rant his rpm 4