The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-02-15
A Valentine
Return
By SADIE OLCOTT

The words were spoken by Jimmy
Emerson on the 18th day Of February.
He had gone to a box in his closet and
taken out a bundle OF valentines he
had received the year before and was
trying to remember from whom they
had come.
This one is daisy. This ~ win
dow built out from the main part is a
/ peach. III there's no mark on it I'm
going to take the risk of using it"
He examined the valentine with a
hand magnifying glass and, not finding
any mark on it. laid 1t aside to send
to his best girl Then he selected an
other to send 10 his next best girl and
In this way made use of not less than
a dozen valentines
On the valentine lie sent to his best
girl, Helen Strong, he wrote a couplet
indicating that he was pining for an ex-
| preston of her love, which. If received
he would treasure forever. Forever
and rimed with sever" the last word
of the first line. lie didn't disguise
his handwriting. for he was proud Of
his cOuplet and didn't wish it or thu
beautiful valentine to 20 10 waste.
Jimmy addressed. stamped and mail
ed his valentines early In the after
noon OF the 18Th Of February The
next morning the postman brought
him batch of valentines The first
one he opened lie recognized as one hr
had sent out himself the day before
There was an Endorsement on It as fol
lows:
My love for you is Just as warm as
when | sent you this Just one year ago
The blood mounted to Jims cheek ut
being detected in using al 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 for? don't
want 1t.
Jim had grown somewhat eallous 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 trace whatever of
having been sent by her.
iii get it by the next mail" he NUT
tered and tossed those he had received
on to a table from which they were
destined later on to he brushed into n
waste paper basket During the day
he loungel 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 lIel.
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?
We'll, I'll run in for little while.
did you get many valentines to-
day?
Il sent YOU one. 1t was beauty;
cost $3.50
Yes. mine was the one with the
couplet.
I'm glad You liked 'em.
"Yes, | tatter myself that protrud-
ing-what dye call IL ?-is very pretty.
Il didn't write anything under the
Cupid.
Cant you tell me what it was on
the hone?
I'll be over In few minutes" ;"
nen immy 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 10
take lot of time in doing So When
the last one had been admired she took
up Jim's valentine. She read the
couplet over 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. 1t took all my saw
ings."
I'm sure it didn't cost so much"
why are You sure?"
Because l bought it myself a year
ago, and paper wasn't near so high
then as it is today"
This was said with twinkle in her
, eye.
Jim resolved to make bluff.
I've heard before this of girls accus
ing fellows of sending back their own
valentines. You can't come that racket
| on me-"
"Whatll you bet?"
! Bet what?'
That | can't prove you sent me back
a valentine l sent YOU"
Make it pound of candy against a
/ box of cigars"