Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1917-10-27
TOUT A vOUS
BY CONSTANCE SEARLE.

looked as straight as circumstances
permitted, for the little old-fashioned
loOking-glass at its best was not very
good, was more or less crinkled and
mildewed on its silvered side.
1t was just one of the little crosses
she had to bear, this glass into which
she had looked all of her girlhOod. She
had seen herself in other mirrors and
knew that her eyes were bright and
that her skin was satiny, with tinge
of color that was the envy of the sum
mer bOarders who frequented the point
of land that stuck its nose into the
Atlantic ocean down Cape Cod way.
This day, Valentines day, she was
angrier than she had ever been in her
life before. Patience Cotton had shown
her valentine that had been slipped
under her door early that morning. 1t
was a homemade affair, two cut-out
hearts with a bunch of dried forget
me-nOts tied together with bit of blue
ribbon.
In one corner was family traced
monogram entwined with the outlines
of d rudely-draWn heart.
1t was this monogram that had
flared to white heat the anger smolder-
ing in Charity's breast. j. f. could
only mean Josiah FOote and he had
left her a few nights before with
look in his eyes that had turned her
world upside down.
- She agreed that it had come from
Josiah. And of course she was glad
he cared so much for Patience. But
little later she mounted the steep
stairs to her room with tagging feet,
walked slowly across the room to the
chest of drawers, and with face be-
straight in the eyes.
Her mothers voice brought her to
herself and recalled to her mind that
Josiah FOote had told her he was COM
ing over that evening to bring her
something he had bought in Boston
when he was there the week Before.
TO her surprise, Charity found him
in the hall taking off his nat and coat.
Guess l might as well give it to
you here" he said nervously. your
mothers in the sitting room and l
mayn't have another chance" He
handed her an envelope, his face flush
ing as he did so.
With hairpin she carefully slit the
envelope and drew from it a wonderful
confection of paper lace, cupids and
hearts with dear little house half
hidden by lattice covered with roses.
Tied to the top with a clumsy bow Of
blue ribbon was ring set in turquoise
to represent cluster of forget-me-
nOts.
"Oh" she cried ''for me? How did
you know | wanted one? How could
you knOwr
He came step nearer to her. II
didn't. But it looked so like you when
l saw it in the window in Boston that
had to go in and buy it. Patience
Cotton happened to come along, and
thought, as | did, that it was real pref
ty."
The name brought her back to earth.
Patience she repeated the name
slowly, but looking at him. "She was
here this morning and told me you
had bought ring for her and were GO
ing to bring it to her tonight-that
you had left it in Boston to have a
date, and your initials and hers, en-
graved in it. | had forgotten" Then
she fiared around upon him, eyes blaz-
ing, color deepening. How dare you
bring this to me? How dare your"
He looked at her in amazement, then
swift anger took possession of him.
"There is nothing | do not dare"
he retorted, catching her wrist in his
hand as she flung past him. moth
ing-dO you understand? But l will |
know what you mean. What's all this
fuss about? Are you going to tell
me-"
mo"
He changed his tactics. "Look at
head he put his disengaged hand under
her chin and lifted her face. There
was little culver of the lips and to
her everlasting shame the tears that
had filled her eyes rolled down her
cheeks
LET me go, 10. Let me CO."
"Not until you have told me. You
see, Charity, | care so much that
don't intend to let foolshness, or any
thing Patience Cotton may say, come
between us that is" he said diftident-
~, "if you have the least thought of
me. l bought the ring for you, not
for her. If you will look inside you
will see the letters j. f. to G. W. and
some French words.
81 told the jeweler that / wanted
something else besides the initials,
and he said tout vous' was just
The thing"
For moment he struggled with his
New England reticence before he could
speak the unaccustomed words with
heir note of tenderness. "They mean
wholly yours. Do you feel that way
.oward me, Charity?"
Now and always JO."
He leaned toward her, but a move
nent in the sitting room brought him
erect.
"Well, now that that is settled 1