The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1922-03-16
VALENTINE TRAIL
~ RUBY DOUGLAS

O. isas. ~ Mcclure N~wrpsper syndicate
ooh, I'm 80 tired OF lace paper
hearts and Cuplds made Of chocolate.
and boxes % violets that have been
taken out Of the ice-boxl almost
wish there were no such day as Val
.ntine's day"
The girl who made the remark had
bobbed hair and a oneplece frock.
"what would you suggest. Janer'
asked her chum. "what Is there
leftr
Jane did not reply nc once That's
just H.: I don't know what I want.
All know Is that don't want a lace
paper heart,"
Perhaps n real human heart. served
up on platter rs In ancient bsr-
barrie days. would please you more,
dearr"
"N-no. think just want 70 find
some one original enough 10 give me
something different" Jane explained.
The chum made audible signs Of
surprise. "Oh. Jane. you are funny.
you. trying To get out OF the conven-
ticnai calf pathl"
Neither Of the girls knew mat. as
they sat talking thus over their little
taboureite and ten table before the bic
Log fire in the country club house. a
man had been sitting close by con
stnntly reading u sporting paper.
Il think Ill be a sport myself" he
concluded quickly. Il like that girls
voice like her looks. I think I'd
like her philosophy"
Thereupon he set out 10 ind out
who she was. where she lived lie
then set his brains to work 20 origi-
nate an Idea for a valentine.
His mind had created thought.
"H depends on the snowfall. hut
I'm Just sport enough 10 think that
Cupid-though not Of chocolate-will
implore the. gods to see that I have n
snowy setting for February i4i"
Jane Hall lived In the community
adjoining the country club at which
she was having a tea the afternoon
that Tom Hayes overheard her petu-
liant remark about 81. Valentine and
his customs.
'The big Idea Tom decided, as 20
let the cir, guess who Is her valen-
tine.
TN the night Of February 10
wonderful carpet OF white snow GOV.
cred the ground.
Tom. feeling like a cut.throat or Sec
ond-story operator. stole nolselessly
through the virgin snow TO the Halls
garden.
He had garden trowel. a package
Of large red hearts cut from paper.
some red fluid that looked like paint
Underneath the window Of Jane he
dug out heart-shaped hole and
placed within II great red paper heart
Then he walked on through the gar
den. dropping drops Of red In the
snow and every few feet adding an
other heart. The trail wendell OF
down into the woods In the rear Of
the Hall home and disappeared into
space.
IF she's anything Of a sport she'll
follow this trail. and II leads straight
to my heart" he said triumphantly.
"I'll make her notice me. anyway"
he thought, by way Of exeusing him
self.
When Jane put up her shades to
look out at the weather on the morn
ing ~ 81. Valentines day she rubbed
her eyes to see II they told her the
truth.
Her heart thumped wildly as she
dressed and went out Of doors without
waking the family. She had put on
her rubbers and sport clothes, 50 she
followed the trail Of hearts to the
woods. At the end she found note
hung 10 the limb Of a tree.
III you want TO find your Valentine
play golf In the snow this afternoon.
The red golf ball I have placed be-
meath the last heart In the trail. III
be waiting for you nj the seventh hole.
and when I see the red bah driven
from the sixth | shall know that you
are on your way"
Jane did not know at first what TO
90. Her conversation with her chuin,
Grace. az the country club. came 90
her mind with the natural association
OF ideas. AZ first she accused Grace
of the Idea. and then she knew that
Grace would never have had either
the energy or the originality TO think
Of IL.
Il shall go. anyway" she decided.
After lunch she surprised the family
by announcing that she was going to
the club for game ~ golf.
You're nutty. sis" said her brother.
And on She went Ca the golf course.
the red hall hidden in her pocket. She
kept her golf clubs in her locker.
Her cheeks were the color Of the
ball she was playing with when she
reached the sixth hole and told her
caddy To- go ON ahead ~ her.
As she approached the seventh hole
across the wonderful white fairway
that led Ia II she saw man In golf
clothes awaiting her. Her excitement
almost choked her. her daring some
what stunned her.
I'm afraid I'm no, as pretty as a
lace heart" the man began. extending
his hand and himself little embar-