Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-01-24
A Valentine
Return
By SADIE OLCOTT

already at hand to cost nothing but
stamp!'
4 The words were spoken by Jimmy
Emerson on the 18th day of February.
4 He had gone TO box In his closet ana
taken out bundle of valentines he
had received the year before and was
trying to remember from whom they
had come,
This ono Is daisy. This bay vim
dow built out from the main part is q
peach. II there's no mark on 1t I'm
going to take the risk Of using It,"
lie examined the valentine with
hand magnifying glass and. not finding
any mark on it. laid It aside to send
TO his best girl. Then he selected an
other to send TO his next best girl and
In this way made use Of not less than
dozen valentines.
On the valentine he sent to his best
girl, Helen Strong, he wrote a couplet
Indicating that he was pining for an cx
preston OF her love, which. II received.
he would treasure forever. Forever
was the last word Of the second line
and rimed with "sever," the last word
OF the first line. He didn't disguise
his handwriting. for he was proud OF
ILLS coupIet and didn't wish 1t or the
beautiful valentine to 90 to waste.
Jimmy addressed, stamped and mail
Ell his valentines early In the after
noon of the 18th Of February. The
next morning the postman brought
him a batch Of valentines. The first
one he opened he recognized as one he
had sent out himself the day before.
There was an Endorsement OIL It a. FOL.
lows:
My love for you is just a. warm m
when sent you this just ono year ago
The blood mounted to Jim's check ne
being detected in using an old valen-
tine.
Better luck next time" and he open.
ed another.
The luck was certainly better, for he
had never seen the inclosure before.
The third and the fourth were also
new to him. On the fifth, which was
one he had sent. was an Endorsement:
What did you send It back fory don't
want It,
jim had grown somewhat callous BY
this time but the truth is he was look
ing for his valentine from Helen
Strong. Beside hers the rest were OF
very little Importance. However. he
opened them all without coming upon
one that bore any truce whatever Of
having been sent by her.
I'll get 1t by the next mail" he NUT.
tered and tossed those he had received
on to table from which they weru
destined later on to be brushed into 4
waste paper basket. During the day
he lounged about the house. and when.
ever he heard the postman's whistle
he went to the door himself In eager
expectancy Of his valentine from Hell
en-. But no valentine came. In the
evening he called up on the telephone:
rs that you. Helen?
I'm Jim.
Got anything on hand this even.
ing?
"Wcll, Ill run In for a little while.
did you get many valentines to-
day?
II sent you one 1t was a beauty:
cost $3.50.
Yes, mine was the one with the
couplet.
I'm glad you liked 'em.
"Yes, fatter myself that protrud.
ing what dye call it?--is very pretty.
~ didn't write anything under the
Cupid.
cant you tell me what 1t was on
the phone?
well, Ill be over In few minutes"
When Jimmy arrived he found Helen
sitting by table in her own private
parlor with stack of valentines be-
side her. Before she would answer any
questions she insisted upon showing her
love missives. Jim took no interest In
those that had been sent by any one
except himself, but Helen forced him
to look at every one Of them and to
take lot Of time in doing So When
the last one had been admired she took
up Jim's valentine. She read the
couplet ever several times and said she
hadn't believed that he could write
poetry like that" This made Jim very
proud Of himself.
But, Jimmy" she said at last,
aren't you mistaken about the cost Of
the valentine?"
Certainly not It took all my saw
ings."
"Pm sure 1t didn't cost so much"
"Why are you sure?'
Because l bought It myself year
ago, and paper wasn't near 80 high
then as 1t Is today"
This was said with a twinkle In her
eye.
Jim resolved to make blum. ~
1--WE heard before this OF girls accus-
ing fellows Of sending back their own
valentines. You can't come that racket
| Oh me-" it 4,vt tDbNNaq sa
"What'lI you betl" Nv e mg
,l "Bet what?"
THAT can't prove you sent me back
a valentine ! sent you."
Make 1t a pound Of candy against
box Of cigars"
1 "lnnp"a 10