The St. Charles herald., 1922-04-01
The Pink
Valentines
By CLARISSA MACKlE
g. 1922. by Mcclure Newspaper syndics

doing several very unexpected things;
one was to enter into the selling of
books and stationery, for he had al
ways worked on the farm near the vii
lage, but the investment Of some Of
his small Inheritance In a well-estab-
lished business was attractive. An
other thing, he was learning to meet
and mingle with people every day and
to lose some of the loneliness that Op-
of his empty house. And there was |
his painful shyness; that, too. was in
measure forgotten.
"You've got to have tongue in |
your head, lad, II you're going to keep |
customers" reminded Basil CrOwther |
after Philip had had an embarrassing
encounter with q talkative woman.
II can't seem to think Of anything
to say until after they 60 out" pleaded
Philip.
"He-he," chuckled old Basil. 1.-THE
women certainly do talk man down;
but remember this. lad, If man can
Just get good strong word in edge
wise and then follow it up and keep on
talking a woman will listen like any
thing. Try it,
Every WE'LL" said patient Philip as
he put away their entire assortment
Of note paper and envelopes. "Il
have to take your word for 1t, MI.
Crowther, because I don't know mucn
about some Of them"
| l. hnfaro long
Philip. Now that l have an up-and-
coming young man here, I've noticed
that trade is picking up wonderfully.
Some Of these young schoolmarms USED
to 90 way over to Deckerville for
school supplies-I counted five OF em
in here Yesterday all at one time!
"It is your new line of postcards
and the sheet music, and otner
things" stammered Philip. his good
looking face reddening as the door
opened to admit two more of the rem
inine sex.
l"Good evening. Philip" said stout
Mrs. Graham. I'VE just stopped IN 70
, wish you good luck in your new ousi-
ness: didn't we. Rosa?"
"Yes, indeed" murmured dark-eyeo
Rosa as she flashed a smile that mace
Philips heart jump wildly.
"Thank you; 1t Is very kind OF you
both-er-I hope you will come ID
often"
1--WE shall be steady customers aftei
this. but we must hurry-we are go
ing to the sociable and supper at Tue
church tonight. Coming"
"Not tonight; it is my turn to keel
the shop open."
"Haye you any valentinesE" askee
+ Rosa. looking around the little store
: "yalentines?" Philips voice pene
! trated TO the rear where Basil wal
bent over the bookkeeping.
"A whole box Of them. Come ant
omen them, they just arrived toda!
and I expect a whole lot of them VII
And their way into y9ur letter oo1
! Rosa Graham" teased the old man
he brought out large box ana pre-
u caeded TO unite the cords tina
q bound 1t.
"How you do love to torment mn
q Mr Crowther." pouted Rosa. IAN
she sighed as she began to open SOU
n. smaller boxes contained In the snil
n ming case. 81 am afraid will neve
rot one as lovely as this" She locke
d. vistfully at the box containing iars
mink lace paper heart. around whic
- - rosv Cupids danced with garlanos
" nale blue forget-me-nots.
,r. "See here, Rosy" and old Mr.. Grow
NJ theirs eyes blinked behind MS iars
lst .nectacles. Il will make promis
ca Tf M one comes in and buys tnat va
ontine or If it is sold and you 90 N
=, "a receive it. will send you one ou
By like it," =,
m. /. dear ~ and Rosa went away with NJ
an mother, laughing at the old statonel
aIf that one Is sold let me kno,
pbilin." smiled Mr.. Crowther.
Ta rent back to his little corner. ana
he he turned the pages Of his ledgers
w vas still smiling at the rapt, intent io'
ar ~ Young Philip, who was starl'
droamilv at the pink valentine.
The door opened to admit hos
Nd Darnell, popular you'n 0e
Girls. He had bold manner ana
cool insolence that was amusing .
in 4 the same time very unpleasant
valentines? Hey? Some asso
er- ment. Say, Philly, just wrap me
three or four of those pink ones II
7ou the one in your hand%
aThrough some mistake there is OF
1 vplsu nHvl
ms. one like this" said Philip eooiiy.
"Give me that one-and an envelol
zoe. then. I'll just send it along to III
La. Rosy Posy Brown Eyes. Hurry. <
am on my way to the sociabie.
Philip hesitateda a second, then
said grimly: you're too late, Rcs
SIN, this ones sold already. Here's o
Y q and this, and this
hat Roger grumblingly selected nan
,ton dozen for as many expectant g
and dashed out. His departure '
followed by strange explosion OF b
ory laughter from the corner.
line Philip hurried around there. "A
uch thing the matter. sir?" he wanted
-A0p Gunw