Old Valentines / A Love Story

you may walk in a crowded street, eating a twopenny bun, without attrac

ung woman of unusual beauty, and a very self-conscious young man, sit

suggest

he very beginning," said

bought matched perfectly. Standing at the street corner, waiting for her, John counted the money in his pockets; enough for luncheon, fares, and even contingenc

at," he said, trying to remember other

very much," replied Phyllis, s

ecoming," John assure

d Phyllis. "And I am p

e one before," said John. Phyllis didn't answer that; and John added, "Your

up two slen

anything from him now. I really could not." She stopped suddenly "I must have my valentines, though. They were my mother's. They will go wi

ed at hi

ing, too, and making the most of the pronoun. "I

ed, but she meant to forget all that, and the thought

bearings as

ort distance, there is

nswered; but she thought

s with rolls, and something hot in pr

all we do? What is the best for you?

looked

bound hand and foot, and lect

nly put you up for the night. O

a moment she went on courageously-"Did you hear me say 'we,' a little while ago? We are going togethe

sincerity. "I won't pretend to misunderstand your meaning, an

She put her elbows on the table, and flashe

scarcely dared hope that you might be willing to wait years for me to-to earn enough with my pen to ask you to share my lot. To-day-the doors

For better or for worse John, dear. But I trust you, and believe in you, and think perhaps there is a high destiny for you. I want to share in that, too, if you will let me, please. And I can't do so fully unless we go, hand in hand, all the way, together. I am not dismayed by the thought of doing without a great many unnecessary things. And th

ead Valentine Germain! your daug

into her trustful eye

my dearest," he said solemnly. "And-oh! Phy

or I honestly believe I am to be the ha

hocolate, and wich the

Doctors' Commons. In the Faculty Office, through an open doorway, Phyllis caught glimpses of the formalities incident to securing a license. A clerk filled up a printed form; John made affidavit to the clerk's a

ry now, darl

ad to hurry away from here. That c

uiet church, the clergyman, with a cold in

er as Mrs. Landless, before Phyllis realized that it was really all over-that the

ts advertisements. They started on their search for lo

the week's washing of the submerged ten

el impressed Phyl

e must look for a new tree

staircases they climbed; how many rooms they peeped into-one look enough; how many others they viewed at greater length, but

gings were undergoing inspection. Most of the lodging-house keepers asked John

e your last plice?" w

she should be called into counsel only in promising cases. They were few enough. She walked up and down

se to his difficulties. But Phyllis's eyes grew more and more troubled when dark

hemselves in a small square, surrounded b

id Phyllis. "We must go to a hotel after all, tho

her took off one shoe, and then the other, and carefully fitted

shall be a cobbler,"

t is. Perhaps I should have sought advice from Mrs. Thorpe. Perhaps I should have insisted on a hotel, for a few days, until we could look about. At least, we might hav

te. She was too dispirited for wor

aw a lighted shop-window,

one, I will call a cab and we will go to a hotel. Think of the beautiful dinner we shall have. Our wedding dinner

whose wedding day had been so different from all her girlish dreams of it. She crie

the run, from the

what we want. There are three rooms, though one is very small. There is the coziest little sitting-room, with a fireplace and an easy-chair. Adjoining it is a smaller room. But the bedroom is large, and has two windows. The place is spotlessly clea

t you could see these for yourself? It isn't far, and I will n

s hopefulness They walked th

od aside to let them enter. Phyllis stood directly below a f

d and her hands w

Oglebay!" s

lis. She was too tired to be surprised

must be little Phylli

llis. "Farquharson! Oh!

her's arms, repeating names