RATE BILL IS PASSED.
THE HEPBURN MEASURE GOES
THROUGH THE HOUSE.
Opposed by Only Seven Votes Em-
hotlica Ideas of the President and
"Will Increase Powers of Com
merce Commission.
The House Thursday passed the Hep
JJL * burn railroad rate bill by a vote of
346 to 7. Those voting against the bill
were Littlefield ,
McGall , Perkins ,
Sibley , Southwick ,
V re eland and
Weeks.
Following M r.
Cochran's address
and the speeches
of Messrs. Mann
and Hepburn , the
House spent until
7 o'clock Wednes-
w. r. HEPBUitiV. day evening trying
to amend the measure. But after an
exciting session it was left intact , de
spite a flood of amendments launched
against it.
For three hours amendment after
amendment was offered , but all went
down in. defeat. These contained all
manner of propositions , such as regu
lating preferentials , the long and short
haul , passes , court procedure , whole
rate bills and parts of bills.
The minority leader , Mr. Williams ,
summarized the bill and all that bad
beeu. done by Congress , and went over
tbe ground that bad been debated at
length during the last ten days. He
concluded with an expression of the
liope that the House would stay in ses
sion 'until tbe beginning' the next
session before it would yield to an
amendment which might be put on iu
the Senate the effect of which might
be to weaken the bill.
Mr. Hepburn' , in bis concluding
speech , took up in turn the points
made in opposition to the bill. First
lie deprecated the effort to claim po
litical credit. He reviewed tbe prog
ress and development of railroads dur
ing tbe last twenty years to show that
the interstate commerce act of that
time bad not impeded railroad prog
ress. Touching the construction of
words which had been made a point
of opposition , Mr. Hepburn showed the
utter futility of getting unanimity on
that point. He asserted not a member
of tbe House could write a twenty-
word sentence that would not be capa
ble of two constructions.
Provisions of tlie Bill.
Congressman Hepburn explained that
his bill was intended and did , so far as.
it could be made to , comply specifically
V with the recommendations of President
Roosevelt on the rate question. It gives
the Interstate Commerce Commission au
thority , when a rate has been complained
of as "unreasonable" by a shipper , to in
vestigate that rate , state whether or not
n is unreasonable , and if found to be un
reasonable , to name a rate which is to be
just and reasonable nad fairly remunera
tive , which is to be the maximum rate to
be charged.
This rate so fixed is to go into effect
thirty days after it is announced by the
commission , subject during that time to
be set aside or suspended by the com
mission or by the courts. After it has
gone into effect it is to remain the rate
for three years. During this time the
opinion has been expressed by those who
have participated in the debate that the
rate may also be reviewed by the courts
and if found to be in conflict with the
terms of the art or with the Constitution ,
by being confiscatory , can be set aside
by the courts.
Another important feature is the defini
tion of the words "railroad" and "trans
portation" in a manner to exclude all
auxiliary instrumentalities of the common
carrier and to bring them within the con
trol of the commission. This power to
name a reasonable rate and the inclusion
of the auxiliaries within the jurisdiction
of the commission are said to be the new
features. All other provisions are modi
fications of existing law. They include
publicity of railroad methods , which is to
be aided by prescribing a system of book
keeping and enlarging the commission to
seven members and increasing their sal
uries to $10,000 a year.
George Edwards of London has com
pleted arrangements to take the entire
Gaiety company to America , opening in
New York Sept. 1.
Dr. Simeon S. French of Battle Creek ,
Mich. , claims to be the oldest Odd Fel
low in the State. He was one of the
founders of the Republican party.
Mrs. Frank W. Shattuck , wife of the
pastor of the Advent Christian church of
Whitman , Mass. , was burned to death in
the parsonage by the overturning of a
lamp.
A consignment of American school
readers printed in Japanese , believed to
be a violation of the copyright laws , are
held by the customs collector in San
Francisco , Cal.
The House committee on public lands
has decided to make a favorable report
on the Burnett bill setting aside 90,000
acres of mineral land in Alabama for
school purposes.
The trustees of the Carnegie school of
technology in Pittsburg , Pa. , have receiv
ed a letter from Andrew Carnegie thank
ing them for naming the woman's depart
ment after his mother.
Mmc. Sarah Bernhardt was given a
gold medal by the Circle Francais o
Harvard university in recognition of her
services to French drama. She is the
first woman to be so honored.
In the case of Mayor McCarthy of
Richmond , Va. , for calling a News-Leader
reporter a liar in the police court and
placing himself in contempt he was fined
$20 by Che justice. He took an appeal.
The first formal reading of the state
hood bill was begun in the Senate Fri
day , but Mr. Teller objected , and con
sideration of the measure was postponed.
The shipping billwas the subject of con
siderable debate , Mr. Patterson attack
ing and Mr. Gallinger and Mr. Perkins
supporting it. The provision prohibiting
vessels from receiving subsidies for more
than ten years was struck out. One
hundred and fifteen pension bills were
passed. Another measure adopted pro
vides for a survey for a new deep harbor
on Lake Michigan. The Senate adjourn
ed until Monday. Speeches on the rail
way rate bill occupied the House for six
hours. Mr. McCall of Massachusetts at
tacked the measure , while Messrs. Bur
ton of Ohio , Russell of Texas , Thomas of
North Carolina , Burke of South Dakota
and Goulden of New York supported it.
*
Various phases of the railroad rate
question were thrashed over in the House
Saturday in the course of nine speeches
which occupied six and one-half hours.
Messrs. Clayton ( Ala. ) , Henry ( Texas ) ,
Esch ( Wis. ) , Kennedy ( Ohio ) , Crum-
packer ( Ind. ) , Ellis ( Mo. ) , Hogg
( Colo. ) , Floyd ( Mo. ) and Page ( N. C. )
spoke. There was no session of the Sen
ate.
_
* *
The Senate was treated to a sensa
tion Monday when Mr. Patterson ( Colo. )
introduced a resolution in effect declar
ing the action of tbe Democratic caucus
against the Santo Domingo treaty Sat
urday to have been contrary to the fed
eral constitution. Consideration of the
resolution went over. It was decided
that a vote should be taken on the ship
ping bill Wednesday , Feb. 14 , at 5 p. m.
Mr. Teller made a speech against the
measure. Several bills were passed and
the Senate adopted a resolution calling
on the Postmaster General for informa
tion as to the number of postal clerks
killed in railroad accidents during the
last five years. Considerable fault was
found with the railroad rate bill in the
House. Mr. Littlefield ( Me. ) opened the
session with an attack on the measure.
Mr. Grosvenor ( Ohio ) ridiculed the al
leged popular demand for the legisla
tion. Ten other speeches were made ,
all favorable to the bill. The fortifica
tions appropriation bill was reported.
The Senate Tuesday gave up the sn-
tire session to a revival of its preroga
tives in the framing of 'treaties. The
question was raised by Mr. Bacon in a
speech on his resolution requesting infor
mation concerning the Algeciras confer
ence. He was followed by Mr. Spooner ,
and there were several sharp clashes be
tween them. The discussion of the Pat
terson resolution concerning the Demo
cratic caucus action went over. A reso
lution directing the committee on immi
gration to make an investigation of the
Chinese boycott was adopted. The House
fixed the nd of the geneial debate on the
rate bill at 4:30 p. m. Wednesday , and
then seventeen speeches were made , all
of them for * thc measure. IvTr. Gillespie
( Texas ) expressed dissatisfaction with
the reply of the interstate commerce
commission to his resolution concerning
the Pennsylvania railroad combination ,
and announced that he would address a
request to the President to have the com
mission make a thorough investigation
along indicated lines.
V * _ . . *
The Senate chamber Wednesday was
made the scene of an effort to administer
party discipline to a member of that
body and the proceedings were filled with
dramatic interest. Mr. Patterson was
the subject of the effort and Mr. Bailey
the instrument of the Democratic party.
The proceedings arose in connection with
Mr. Patterson's resolution of remon
strance against the Democratic caucus
action opposing the Santo Domingo
treaty , and although the subject was
thrashed over thoroughly no vote was
taken. The House concluded all prelimi
nary steps to the passage of the railroad
rate bill , ordered a roll call on the meas
ure , and put off the final action until
Thursday at noon. The closing speeches
were made by Bourke Cockran , Mr.
Mann (111. ( ) , Minority Leader Williams
and Mr. Hepburn. The time for amend
ment came at 4 o'clock and for three
hours scores of changes were offered ,
but all were defeated. The test came
with the first one and the vote on this
was 119 to 140.
_
M * *
The Senate devoted a short session
Thursday to routine business , the caucus
question being sidetracked temporarily.
Mr. Tillman again made reference to the
charge that the railroads in West Vir
ginia were discriminating against private
coal mines and had read a letter from
the Governor of the State , which was
referred to the committee on interstate
commerce. The urgent deficiency appro
priation bill was reported and the rail
road rate bill was received from the
House. A number of bills were passed ,
including the following : Placing tele
graph operators of the Civil War on a
pensionable basis ; authorizing the use of
$1,000,000 of the reclamation fund for
the drainage of lands in North Dakota ;
authorizing the construction of a dam
across Rock river at Grand Detour , 111. ,
and a large number of private pension
bills. The House pased the railroad rate
regulation bill by a vote of 34G to 7. The
pension appropriation bill , carrying $139-
000,000 for pensions and Sl.245,000 for
administration , also was passed. Other
measures passed were as follows : To pre
vent leaks in government crop reports ;
calling on the Secretary of the Interior
for information regarding charges of ir
regularities in the Kingfisher , Okla. , land
office ; to open for settlement 50o,000
acres of land in the Kiowa , Coraanche
and Apache reservations in Oklahoma.
N"otei of tlie National Capital.
The House committee will report bill
carrying army appropriation of $70,000-
000.
President Roosevelfurges Senators to
insist on the passage of rate bill similar
to the Hepburn measure.
Senator Carter , speaking for the ship
subsidy bill , declared it is favored by the
entire Rocky Mountain region.
Secretary Root , after reading the Cal-
houn Venezuelan report , sent word to
Minister Russell to insist on Castro
settling the asphalt claims.
. _
ii i iii t mil ! ' i - 7r
TREATY HAS A JOKER.
Slakes $7OOOOOO Worthless Do-
miiiKO Scrip Good.
The attention of Secretary Root and
of members of the Senate committee on
foreign relations has been called to a
"joker" in the Santo Domingo treaty and ,
according to a Washington correspond
ent , it is causing them worry.
" " article 1 which
Tbe "joker" is in ,
reads : "The United States undertakes to
secure an arrangement of all obligations
of the Dominican government , foreign as
well as domestic ; the arrangement for
payment and the conditions of amortiza
tion ; the cpnsideration of conflicting
and unreasonable claims and the decis
ion as to the validity and amount of all
pending claims already liquidated and
accepted or which may be established. "
It was the original intention of the
President that the money collected from
the Dominican customs should be used in
settlement of the foreign claims only.
Under the heading of domestic claims
will come between $8,000,000 and $9-
000,000 of scrip of "La Dauda Deforida , "
the deferred debt. This scrip for forty
years has been of practically no value
not worth five cents on the dollar be
cause of the doubt whether it ever would
be redeemed.
Now , the officials of the Dominican
government have bought all this scrip
they could reach , paying all the way
from 2 to 30 cents on the dollar. Emilio
Joubert , the minister from Santo Do
mingo , himself has admitted that he
would not now sell the scrip he holds for
75 cents on the dollar , as he believes it
will be paid in full , lie says it will be
worth par the minute the treaty is rati
fied by the Senate of the United States.
This "deferred debt" is the outgrowth
of the Dominican revolutions of the last
forty years , which , except the last one
headed by Morales , all have been success
ful. Whenever a revolutionary chief
while operating in the field requisitioned
cattle or services a voucher was given.
After the revolution was won this vouch
er would be exchanged at the capital for
scrip of "La Deuda Deferida , " duly regis
tered in the treasury books. The obliga
tions of both sides always were recog
nized because no successful faction was
ever sure it would not be among the
"outs" the next day.
Scrip also has been used by the govern
ment in the payment of the salaries of
officials and many influential men of the
republic now have considerable sums of
this paper. Revolutionary chiefs have
used it liberally to reward friends for
services. "
ARMY SNOB SCORED.
President Says tbnt Special Consid
eration Is Dne Enlisted Men.
That the uniform of an enlisted man
in the army or navy is a badge of honor
which entitles its wearer to peculiar con
sideration is the position taken by Presi
dent Roosevelt. The President himself
made it known in a letter to Secretary
Taft commenting on the court martial
of Lieut. Roy I. Taylor , who was reduc
ed twelve files recently for ordering an
enlisted man in his command to change
his seat in a theater because he was seat
ed in front of the lieutenant's party.
The President in his letter said in
part :
"In my judgment Lieut. Taylor com
mitted one of the most serious faults
which any officer can commit. I am glad
that he was reduced twelve files. It is
a pleasure to record the fact that his
offense was altogether exceptional in the
body to which he belongs.
"There is no body of men in this coun
try of similar size which merits so well
of the country as the body of officers and
enlisted men in the army and navy of
the United States. Not only should the
country as a whole jealously guard the
interests of these men and regard their
honor as being identified to a peculiar de
gree and in a peculiar sense with his
own , but the members of the body should
themselves feel the same jealous eager
ness to uphold the honor and standing
of all connected with it. Above all this
should be the object of the officers as re
gards the enlisted man.
"To strive to discriminate against him
in any way is literally an infamy ; .for it
is in reality one of the most serious of
fenses which can be committed against
the stability and greatness of our nation.
If a hotel keeper or the owner of a the
ater or any other public resort attempts
such discrimination , everything possible
should be done by all good citizens to
make the man attempting it feel the full
weight of a just popular resentment , and
if possible legal proceedings should bo
taken against him. "
AWFUL MURDER RECORD.
With Exception of Italians , Ameri
cans Arc Most Homicidal Nation.
According to the unofficial statistics
gathered in 1905 , as in previous years ,
by the Chicago Tribune , there were 9,212
homicides committed in the United States
during the twelTomonth just ended. This
country remains on the bad eminence
it has long occupied in the history of
crime ; indeed , we have increased our
lead , for the number of homicides was
greater by 840 in 1905 than it was in
the previous year. The record consti
tutes a shocking indictment.
With the single exception of the Ital
ians , the American people are the most
homicidal nation in the civilized world.
In fact , we are running neck and neck
with Italy with respect to the ratio of
violent crimes resulting in death. In the
latter country the homicides number 105
per million of inhabitants per year ; in
this country last year the ratio was 115
per million.
A comparison with the criminal statis
tics of other leading nations will serve
to emphasize the indictment and make it
positively terrifying. Thus the annual
average ratio of homicides to population
is 13 per million to German , 19 per mill
ion in France and 27 per million in the
United Kingdom.
* Destructive Irrigation. j
Irrigation on the western Colorado riv
er has reached a point where the stream
is creating a big lake not wanted and
that will be destructive. Engineers are
trying to get the current back into the
old bed , and say it is a difficult problem.
The science of reclamation ought to be
sure it is right before going ahead.
A society , headed by the Rev. Dr.
Charles B. Jefferson of the Broadway
tabernacle , New York , was formed for
the promotion of the movement for peace i
nd arbitration. j
THE COQUETTE.
Yon'll know her by her winning ways ,
A droop of eye , a truant smile ,
A heart that 13 reversible
And up to any woman's wile.
You'll know her later by the way
She apes an air of girlish art ;
And turns the old reversible
To any flaming crucible ,
In glad exchange for any heart.
The Resurrection of a Valentine.
By Mary Wilson.
"Well , I believe everything's ready for
the Valentine Festival ! I've baked and
Iced heart cakes till I can see them , no
matter where I look. " Serena Allen bus
tled about her bright kitchen busily. She
was a large , fair woman , handsome and
energetic and capable. She was packing
baskets with all manner of things good
to eat. Her mother watched her with
quiet interest.
"I hope we'll make enough to pay off
the church debt , this time. Is that my
buggy ? " She went over to the window
and looked out. "No ; it's Mr. Billy Har
rison. You remember him , don't you ,
mother ? He was laid up with rheuma
tism when you were here last winter.
They Bay his boys are powerful good to
him. He rents his place to the Masons
and boards with them , since his wife died.
He has no daughter , and you know what
living with daughters-in-law is like ; but
I'm not saying but wnat Katherine and
Marie are not as good to you as they
know how to be. They don't realize your
diseases. "
Mrs. Bently was leaning over , looking
out of the window. She was a plump ,
eweet-faced little woman , with wavy ,
white-touched hair and gentle brown eyes.
"Serena , " she said , timidly , "I don't feel
as if I have any disease at all , and I
should meet a lot of old friends if I
could go with you over to the school
house to-day. "
Serena looked up from the last basket.
"Why , mother , I wouldn't be guilty of
letting you go out in this snow for all the
festival is worth. Think how cold it is ,
end you had that bronchial affection in
November ! A person of fifty-five has to
be awfully careful. "
"I did want to go , " Mrs. Bently said ,
as she sat down.
"I wish you could , but it's bad enough
for me. I'm too old to be so foolish. "
Serena laughed in her comfortable way.
"I don't know why being old should
Bake any difference , " Mrs. Bently said.
She felt very old and miserable and use
less. "It is a terrible thing to be fifty-
five. I hope I'm not rebellious , Serena ,
but somehow I don't feel ready to be set
Wide. "
"I'm not surprised , mother , after the
way Marie and Katherine treat you. Well ,
I'm ready now. You won't have a thing
to do here's the wood right at your hand ,
and your tea will keep nice and hot here
on the hearth , and the table is all set for
your dinner. And now there's the buggy ,
and I must go. " Serena took her little
mother into her arms and kissed her.
Mrs. Bently went over to the window
and watched her daughter climb into the
buggy and draw the lines over the back of
the fat gray horse. "I might have gone , "
he said , wistfully. "It isn't so very
cold. "
The newly fallen February snow lay in
light drifts and patches over the brown
fields , and hung in pretty wreaths and
festoons among the dark-green pines and
yellowing willows and little naked shrubs.
"It looks all lacy , like a valentine. It
wouldn't have been too cold. I wish I
could have gone. " And then the soft ,
wistful look was gone from her brown
eyes and a little spark like the gleam of
fire shone in them. "Here I am , fifty-
five years old , and I can't remember a
single day when I did exactly as I pleas
ed , without thinking of what somebody
wanted me to do. I reckon I must be
awfully wicked and rebellious , but I'm
not going to take a dose of Serena's med
icine to-day. " She threw the window
open and slowly emptied the glasses that
Serena had so carefully filled. "It must
be terribly wicked , " she said , pouring the
liquid upon a little mound of snow , "but
somehow I don't seem to care if it is. Per
haps I shall be sorry when Serena comes. "
Mrs. Bently started guiltily. Some
body was knocking at the front door.
She closed the window and patted back
the little curls of iron-gray hair that the
wind had loosened. A quick color came
Into her cheeks. She felt nervous and
guilty. But she hurried to open the door.
A man , tall and broad-anouldered , wear
ing a fur cap and long , shaggy overcoat ,
stood on the piazza. When he looked at
her she saw that it was Billy Harrison.
The twinkle in his merry blue eyes
brought tttt hot blood to tor ehedki , just
as it had always done. She held out her
hand to him.
"Why , Calidonia , is It you ? I expect
ed to see Mrs. Allen. I didn't know you
were in the neighborhood. It's like old
times to be shaking hands with you , and
it's been a long time. Strange how a
body remembers ! The years have been
good to you ; they haven't hurt you. I
declare , you look younger than Serena. "
She laughed confusedly and led the way
to Serena's pretty sitting room. "Se
rena's gone over to Sugar Bottom school
house. There's a Valentine Festival there
to-night ; she's helping to decorate , and all
that. It's for the church , and she won't
be home till late bedtime , " Mrs. Bently
explained as the tall old man slipped out
of his cap and coat and sat down before
her fire.
"And are you going ? " Mr. Harrison
looked at her with his smiling eyes. Some
how the twinkle in Billy's eyes had al
ways brought an odd little quiver to her
heart.
"No , " she answered ; "Serena wouldn't
let me go out in the snow. "
"Such a little bit of a snow , too ! You
want to go , don't you ? " he asked.
"I should have liked it , but I'm too
old now to feel disappointment. Perhaps
you will leave a message for Serena , un
less you expect to go to the festival , " she
said.
"Maybe I may go. You see , I drove
over to Mrs. Burton's to see if I could
get a picture that my son John wants.
John's an artist , and he has a fancy for
family portraits. He wants one of my
mother. I thought Annie might have an
old picture , but she hasn't. She thought
she'd seen one here , and I stopped to ask
Serena. "
"I'm glad you did. I have a picture
of your mother , and I reckon Annie saw
it when I lived here with Uncle Hiram.
You know he willed the place to Serena.
It's a picture of your mother and your
self. You were a little boy , and she had
you standing by her. I'll bring it right
now. " She hurried out of the room and
returned with a little box in her hands.
"I can't turn the key ; the lock is rusty.
I thought you might unlock it. It hasn't
been opened since before Jasper and I
moved to East Bend.
Mr. Harrison took the box. She brought
a bottle of oil and a feather , and the two
gray heads were bowed together over the
little black box. He worked patiently ,
turning the box this way and that and
shaking the little key in the rusty lock.
Suddenly the lid fell back while the box
was upside down and the contents were
scattered over the carpet.
"That's too bad , " he laughed. "I've
- _ *
poured all your little keepsakes oat. " HI *
face was suddenly graro and he stooped
and picked up a little worn baby shoe.-
"It was Bonnie's , " she said gentlytas
he laid it in her hand. "I didn't keep
anything else when he died. lie wasimy
first baby. " She began to gather up tho jj
fallen articles and he helped her. r
"Here's the picture , Billy , " and. sha
held up to him a beautiful old uaguerreo- j
type in a quaintly carved case. She wiped !
the glass with a corner of her apron and !
turned the curiously evasive picture BO 1
that he might see It. "Your mother' al- '
ways looked like that to me , and that la j
you beside her ; I could always Bee th
favor. You look like it yet. " I
He took the picture and went over to ]
the window and she gathered up tho '
things that had been in the box.
"I thank you for this , Calidonla , John
shall return it. I know you loved mj ;
mother , " the old man said.
"Yes , I loved her. "
"Did this come out of the box ? " Ha
was crossing over to her. ' 'See herej
Donie , did you keep this in the box ? " ,
"What is it ? " Her face was crimson
and she sat down in Serena's little sew *
ing chair. |
"It's this. " He held out a little yel
lowed , lace-edged valentine. She looked
at it silently. Inside the paper lacewort
a wreath of forget-me-nots was held ! to
gether by two extremely fat cuplds , whof
sat upon a scroll , on the flying ends of
which was inscribed a tender little verse.
Inside the wreath lay a large crimson
heart with a tiny tongue of flame at th
top. "Was it in the box , Donie ? "
"It was under the paper at the bottom *
I never could bear to burn It up. It didn't
hurt anybody , " she said , an odd littl
quiver in her voice.
"I remember how pretty it looked to m *
when I bought it over in Atlanta. It's
been a long , long time , Donie , but I re
member. I reckon you've been happy {
you look like it. You are as pretty oa
ever , Donie. "
"Everybody has been good to me. Tha
children are too good. You don't know
the boys. " She was nervous and she felft
safer , somehow , when she could speak tot
her children. "Actually they do tire mo
with kindness. At Charlie's they never
do anything without consulting me. It
it wears me all out. , And at Dick's they
are so considerate , and nere" she glanced
at the medicine glasses and laughed. " 1C
is only that I am growing old , " she said.
"I know what it is , Donie. We'va
missed "
"I reckon younger people don't under
stand what older folks need , " she Bald
quickly.
"Why should they think us different }
from themselves ? " he asked.
"I don't know. " She had taken thq
paper from the bottom of the box and was
wiping a speck of dust away. He look *
ed down at the little old valentine.
"Are you going to keep it , Donie ? "
"Yes. "
"Why ? "
"For the sake of old times. "
"They were good old times , Donie. "
"I don't know. I often feel sorry for tho
poor little girl" her voice broke.
"She was the dearest and prettiest lit
tle girl in all the wide world. "
"She didn't know it ; nobody ever told
her so. "
"That was because she would not let
them ; she was such a shy little girl. " He
laughed softly. "Donie , why didn't you
answer my valentine ? We've done the
best we could , we've had our joys and sor
rows , but through it all , Donie , I have
wanted to know if I was mistaken in the
old days when I thought you cared for
me. I wanted to know why your cheeks
used to flush. Tell me , why didn't you
answer my valentine ? "
She caught her breath sharply. "Why ,
Billy , there was no question "
"No question ! Donie " He took
the valentine in his hand and raising the
fat red heart revealed a written line.
" 'Donie , I love you. Will you marry
me ? I'll come for you to-night. ' You.
went to the party with Jasper , " he said , ,
reproachfully.
"I didn't -know tnat the heart
lifted up ! " she said.
"Now you know , " h said simply.
"We are old people now. " She was
trembling.
"We are not. That is you and this is
I. Give me my answer , Donie. " Her
smiled down into her eyes.
So that was how it happened that Se
rena Allen , looking up from her pink and
white heart cakes , saw her mother ra
diant and smiling in the midst of the Val
entine Festival !
"Why , mother , what have you done ? "
Mrs. Allen cried , and the blushing little
woman looked up helplessly.
"Why , I suppose , my dear , that we've
eloped ; haven't we , Billy ? " jj
"That's it , " Mr. Harrison laughed.
"We've run away and got married , Se
rena ; and see here , boys , it all came from
a valentine. They are good things , only
don't set them with the fuse too long. "
Ladies' World.
The beauty seen , is partly in
who sees it. Borce.
A PLATFOKM FOR OFFICIAL AND CITIZEN ATTTTR