Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1921-08-05
Amateur
Matchrnakers
By A sEwELL

didn't cost somewhere around $40 a
ron In Kenboro, and Lucille watched
the thin blue flames that quivered over
the top Of the fire like dancing furies.
Roger Frear watched her ad0ring-
". They had only been engaged a
short time and each day he discovered
new and enhancing beauties about his
betrothed. He offered her "a bright
penny on the end of his finger and she
dipped 1t away and turned bright. seri-
Gus eyes upon him.
"Tm thinking about Aunt Barbara"
she said. "She's not SO old and she Is
still sweet and pretty in her own way
and she ought to get married"
"Of course she could If she wanted
to-" agreed Roger, who was In the
state of mind where all Of Luclle's
relatives shone in the girls reflected
glory. II heard my Uncle Don used
to be sweet on Miss Barbara"
"Really?" gasped Lucille, Il believed
l was the only one who guessed there
was an old attachwent between them.
wonder what parted them?"
perhaps he was scared stiff at the
idea of proposing to a girl, and it died
a natural DEATH" said Roger, wise In
his Own recent experience.
Were you afraid to ask me,
Roger?" asked the girl shyly.
He shook his handsome head. "Y0u
helped me out a bit. you know" he
confessed.
Lucille stlffened into hauteur and
moved to the other end Of the old sofa.
81 was W that / helped n
teeny bit" she protested. Are you
sorry that / didn't discourage you-or
refuse your 1t is not too late nowi"
Roger slid along the sofa until his
arms went around her proud young
form. Darling, you were perfect"
he said, and she knew he meant 1t,
"but don't let us quarrel over some
foolish word, and perhaps be like Miss
Barbara and Uncle Don, lonely and
unhappy"
The girls face changed to one Of
eagerness. "You are right, dear, u
love is great and We must not fail to
measure up to 1t. How can we help
those two old young people to be
happy2 You really, really believe Mr..
Trevor cares yetT
Seems to, somehow. Banks out
something now and then about her be-
ing a fine woman, and even said you
did not measure up to Miss Barbara's
beauty when she was your age-rot
like that T.
Its not rot and you know 1t, Roger
Freari I am proud to look like Aunt
Bah and / should love to grow into
a sweet middle age like hers. Suppose
you send her q valentine and I'll
send him one-they might think-you
know"
"Fine-let us go down to Mr.. Potts
shop now" Bundled In furs the lovers
walked briskly down the village street
to a tiny ~stationer's shop in the cen
ter. Mr.. Potts shop had stood there
for forty years, and the little old man
had dispensed valentines and writing
paper and other stationery to several
generations of his fellesg townspeople.
Lucille and Roger found the old sta
toner all alone amid his depleted
stock Of valentines.
"The choicest have been selected,
Mr.. Frear." he explained.
Haven't you got any old one in
stock? Not last years or the year be-
fore that, but twenty or thirty years
back-those dear old lace paper
things?" asked Lucille with a winning
smile.
Mr.. Potts became thoughtful. II
dessay I have" he admitted. II don't
sell out every year and there's a big
box up In the loft here with a hodge
podge Of valentines and greeting cards
and such; there's cards with silk
fringe all around. real beautiesl "
Let us see the box." said Roger.
"rll fetch it down. Mr.. Potts."
You'll get considerable dusty" said
the old man, "but you're welcome to
pull it down. Go up that ladder in
the back ROOM"
Presently Lucille and Roger were
porting owe eardboard boxes filled
with old valentines which had not
AooA0 q SuStUucI. Lie u1lAcKCut Auy-
ers marked the changes In the taste
OF the people, but at last they came
to the ones they wanted. Delicate and
fairylike In structure, with rather
stilted verses, the old love missives
had a tender appeal. They picked out
a dozen. and paid lavishly for them.
MI. Potts was so pleased that he put
the remainder on his counter to help
out his thinning stock.
Let us go home and each select one
to send-I hope the dears will be
pleased" chartered Lucille as they
paused In front Of the shop window to
look at the display.
Look here" whispered Roger as
some one entered the shop. Lucille
stared at the trim, dignifed form Of
Mr.. Donald Trevor approach the u
fer and nalya a 0Iovod HuOor amanV