The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-06-08
80 s-cSsessSsesssss~ S>>s22.S112::
The Biz thdaY
Party
80
Ey SUSAN CLAGETT

Copyright. I@t,, hy Tie Mcclure Ne~spl-
per SynlIcatcD

ii" glanced mt his desk piled high with
work, hc~iratrd, turned toward thn
window. paused again, then walked
across the room, threw up the sash
and Leaned out
Al the moment 10 one was III st-ht;
thn, amid a gale If laughter, q hpn-
Sled came from the end Of The house
rushing With thr tlrornrS> " ,hr wilma
down II" >t"orly slnpin- lawn Blair
counted rs the Sled PASSED. "W'harr
IN earth did tn" young~trr grt chrm
all, hc Wondered. His gaze followed
the children out Of sight then came
back to n woman standing near thr
steps leading up t. the house.
Sh" did not turn her head ana. given
the opportunity. hr watched her in
tcltly noting the windhtpwn hair:
the brilliant color II H. h.If->-,u
cheek. II" was struck. too. nv the pr
feet IaiSc Of his sisters friend who
had been guest in his home for >ry-
"ral weeks. Absorbed in his work hp
had scarcely noticed her before: had
shown her only such courtesy Us was
due her rs n house guest. meeting her
only at meal time. ana lately not then
He mad given this no heed. Now. ~
he watched her, he idly wondered ii
she had been away ana had just re-
turned As the thought came Il him
81" ran quickly up the steps ana into
The hall.
\ ~ 10 .,,ll II, i1y
rr"pt into his unclc'S arms to tell Of
his wonderful afternoon.
You know. it, my birthday, an
Muvvcr gave me q party I'M told me-
I could 90 out into the 'hyWay> and
hedges an gather 'em in. I didn't
know Just what She meant, Uncle Blair
an I didn't see no hedges an no by
ways. but | went out on the street an
found Jimmy who sells papers an
blacks shoes. He's grrat-and Jimmy
told me bout the apple boy WHO lives
way off from here. an we went for
him an he told me Of Bobby Burns.
He has only one leg, but that didn't
make any difference cause his crutrh
walks as fast az the good leg An
coming back we met the butchers
boy. and | asked him as nice as I
could an when we got back Tim was
here an cooks boy and girl"
The man laughed. Il hope your
mother had enough tn eat"
1T was just beautiful There was
ice cream hearts an cakes an san
wicheS an Ellen told us stories about
st. Valentine, cause I'm a Valentine
baby. Did you know that, uncle
Blair?"
Blair the elder drew the boy close.
Surely, the most wonderful valentine
ever heard Of. But who is 'EllenT"
The boy looked surprised. why,
yOu see her every day"
Il do? Then perhaps I don't know
her by that name. But It sounds
familiar" He thought for a moment.
diving back into old memories. Il had
Il little sweetheart by that name She
was just about as big as you ana She
sent me a valentine every year until
after I went to college. | have one Of
them in the back of my watch where
| can look at it now and then" He
pulled out his watch. opened it and
gaZed at the picture within with Il
reminiscent smile. THAT was the
last one she sent me ana never heard
from her again. I am always looking
for her and sometime I hope I will
find her"
fny. - Il
ing with interest. "Ellcn'S watch has
one. too" he said. "A big boy gave
it to her when She was Il little girl
Isn't it funny both of yoa've got pie
lures, only hers is lots pr2tiicr Two
little birds she calls them love birds
kissing each otker-lots prettier than
those hearts with stick running
through EN-"
The watch closed with 4 snap and i
look of keen interest crppt into the
mans eyes.
Il must make the acquaintance Of
this wonderful lady who tells stories
and carries love birds about with her
Where can we find herr"
Blair looked at his uncle in aston
iShmcnt. Don't You really. truly
know her? Shes been here lone
time She did go away but came bacl;
yesterday, an she's been Slidin' down
hill all mornn'. You're jokin' Uncle
Blair"
DO you mean Miss Fairbanks? Is
she 'ElIen|"
Blair junior nodded "An now
must go an It certainly is nice to have
parties" Slipping from hi
uncle's knees the boy marched from |
the room leaving the man in brown |
study from which he did not emerge
until aroused by the opening of the
library door.
The girl paused as she was about to |
inter, then came into the room. Even |
hen she seemed to hesitate. he |
thought. and watched her intently a> |
she approached. searching for som,
resemblance between this woman Of |
graceful hearing and the awkward bu' |
'oVable child who had grown into hi |
heart when a youth. He offered ne
MS chair and himself stood before III
diving fire.
H. was unconScioUs of the inteu,
loSS Of his gaze As h. searched h /
ace and as She did not speak NJ on.
d" said abruptly: /
NY repheu has made # my ~
ra.~. Of Ecmorips Ms Fntrhat 7
Nitl y".. m - good as to Dnsb ~