The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-03-31
Amateur
Matchmakers
By GRACE sEwELL

uiun I CoSt SOIutNHtEt ufouhu @io ~
ton In Kenboro. aud Lucille watched
the thin blue flames that quivered over
the top Of the fire like dancing furlcs.
Roger Frear watched her adoring-
ly. They had only been engaged "A
short time and each day he discovered
new and enhancing beauties about his
betrothed. lie offered her a bright
penny on the end of his finger and h
Tipped 1t away and turned bright, seri-
Gus eyes upon him.
I'm thinking about Aunt Barbnra,"
she said. "She's not so old and she Is
still sweet and pretty In her W way
and she ought to get married"
"Of course she could II she wanted
to-" agreed Roger. who was In the
state Of mind where all OF Lucile's
relatives shone In the girls reflected
glcry. II heard my Uncle Don used
to be sweet on Miss Barbara"
"i,eally2" gasped Lucille, Il believed
I was the only one who guessed there
was an old attachment between them.
| wonder what parted. themF"
perhaps he was scared stiT at the
idea OF proposing to u girl, and 1t dled
a natural DEATH said Roger, wise In
his W recent experience.
"Were you afraid to ask me,
Roger?" asked the girl shyly.
lie shook his handsome head. "You
helped me out u bit, you know" he
confessed.
Lucille stiffened into hauteur and
moved to the other end Of the old sofa.
II was hat | helped n
teeny Bit" she protested. "Are you
sorry that l didn't discourage you-or
refuse your II Is not too late now y
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 IL,
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 n Of
e%agerness. "You are right, dear, our
love IL great and we must not fall to
measure up to Il. a.How can we help
those two old young people to be
hnppy3 You really, really believe Mr..
Trevor cares yeti"
"Seems to. somehow. Banks out
something now and then about her be-
Ing n fine woman, and even said you
did not measure up to Miss Barbnra's
beauty when she was your age-rot
like that"
Its not rot and you know Il, Roger
Frear! l am proud to look like Aunt
Bah and l should love to grow into
n sweet middle age like hers. Suppose
you send her a valentine u I'll
send him one-they might thlnk-you
know"
"Fine-let us go down to Mr.. Potts
shop now" Bundled In furs the lovers
walked brlskly down the village street
to a tiny s%tatloner's shop In the cen
ter. Mr.. Potts shop had stood there
:. for forty years, and the little old mai
had dispensed valentines and writing
, paper and other stationery to severa
| generations OF his fellow townspeople
Lucille and Roger found the old sta
|, toner all alone amid his deplete'
B STOCK OF Nulentlnes.
"The choicest have been selected
8 Mr.. Frear," he explained.
Haven't you got any old ones Il
! stock? Not last years or the year be
fore that, but twenty or thirty year
3 back-those dear old lace pape
r things?" asked Lucille with a winnin
E smile.
Mr.. Potts became thoughtful. "
dessay | have,' he admitted. II don
sell u every year and there's a bi
box up In the loft here with n hodge
podge OF valentines and greeting card
and such; there's cards with sill
fringe all around, real beauties"
q "Iet us see the box" said RogeI
"Tll fetch 1t down, Mr.. Potts"
you'll get considerable dusty" sal
the old man, but you're welcome I
pull 1t down. Go up that ladder |
n the back room"
9 Presently Lucille and Roger wer
q porting over cardboard boxes file
t with old valentines which had M
found a customer. The different la.
l. ers marked the changes In the tasi
of the people, but at last they can
Q to the mes they wanted. Delicate an
4 falryllke In structure, with rath,
@ stilted verses, the old love mlsslve
y had a tender appeal. They picked OF
+ a dozen. and paid lavlshly for ther
h Mr.. Potts was so pleased that he p'
T. the remainder on his counter to he
out his thinning stock.
Let us go home and each select OF
e to send-I hope the dears will |
;. pleased" Chartered Lucille as the
g paused In front OF the shop window
look at the display.
lr Look herel" whispered Roger
some one entered the shop. Luci
stared ut the trim, dignifed form
MIR. Donald Trevor approach the cou