Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 February 1919 — What a Valentine Achieved [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

What a Valentine Achieved

By Sadie 01coff

BILLY WALKER, aged seven, lived with his widowed mother next door to a goodlooking but grouchy bachelor, who had no use for either small

boys or dtf^s —and hereby hangs my Btory; for Billy was wild to possess a dog. One late winter’s afternoon came a whining and scratching at the kitchen door, which was opened by Billy, and there in the half-light sat a little brown dog .holding hisr front paws up in tse air in the most imploring manner, as though saying “Please take me fn.” Billy, with one howl of delight, seized the little dog in .his arms and ran to his mother, who was preparing supper. “Mother, see this dear little dog! Oh! Please let me keep It; you know

my birthday conies next month and I won’t ask for any other present.” In a moment of weakness the mother gave her consent. The dog was a podY, scraggly little creature, but had big soft brown eyes with a pleading look in them. However, the mother could see that with good feeding and good care it would improve in looks. The next day the widow’s troubles began. She tied the dog to a tree, thinking to keep him out in the air part of the day, but unfortunately the dog had had no training, so every passerby was jumped at, as far as the rope would allow, and a fierce-sound-ing bark accompanied the jump. Next door the lone bachelor, Mr. Hail, was laid up in his room for a few days by an attack of grippe. The barking of the dog soon got on his nerves, but he .was too much of a gentleman to complain to the widow. •However, he told Billy in very plain language what he thought of his dog. He had been in the habit of dozing comfortably till eight o’clock, but after the dog came there was no more Sleep -^£m^_hiin— Bob was let out to play and incidentally to bark. Billy declared he wouldn’t stop Bob from barking, for he would be sure to scare burglars away, the fact of the case being, however, Bob was a perfect coward and would have slunk away if threatened by anyone. Valentine’s day was near at hand and as usual Billy asked his mother for in order to purchase his love messages. “I guess I’ll send mamma a valeptine from Mr. Hall this year,’’ Biljy said. ......, Billy was anxious to have a friendly feeling in the minds of each for the other, for he thought it might be a

help to him in the keeping of his dog. He asked the man of whom he bought the valentine to address it to his mother. Then on St. Valentine’s day he left it at the front door, rang the bell afid while his mother was opening the door, he ran in at the back door and Op co his room. Soon he heard his mother calling: “Bitty I have a valentine. Who do you suppose sent It to me?"-

“I know who sent it; do you really want me to tell you?” “Yes, but I don’* see how y° u know unless you sent it yourself.” “Of course I know. Didn’t I see that gentleman who lives next door come through the hedge, go round the house with something, then go quietly back to his house?” For some time the widow .was inclined to disbelieve Billy’s version of the valentine, then she acknowledged to herself that she had fancied that the bachelor was quite often observing her and almost seemed at times inclined to speak. Her mirror could notbut tell her that she was still a very attractive-looking woman, though she would have to own up to thirtytwo years on her next birthday. As these thoughts ran through her mind she said: “Well, Billy, if I had a valeutine I might be tempted to return the compliment.” Then the wise Billy thought that a good idea; if he should send Mr. Hall a valentine from his mother, then he ' would feel still safer about his dog. The nex£ day just as Billy saw the i bachelor—approaching his—home. _ he dropped the valentine at the front door and ran, making sure that Mr. Hall should recognize him. , In a few days Mr. Hall asked one of thq neighbors to introduce him to the widow, and finally an interested party asked permission to bring him to call upon her. Each believing the other had sent a valentine, they felt somewhat flattered by the attention, and they proceeded to be very agreeable to each other. Mr. Hall called frequently after that. He made much of Billy, and even spoke a good word for the dog. Billy felt very proud of himself and his plans for his dog, but one day his mother said: - “Billy, Mr. Hall is going to be your new father.” Billy felt crushed, for as he told one of his boy friends: “I didn’t want any stepfather; gee, I was only planning to keep Bob.” But poor Billy not only gained a stepfather whom he did not want, but lost his dog. Bob had not been trained in any way and his barking at strangers continued and increased.

One day he tore the dress of a lady who was passing; she complained to the city authorities, and a notice was served that Boh should be sent where he would tear no more dresses. The order whs complied with, and now, well, now —to mention St. Valentine’s day to Billy is like shaking a red flag before a mad bull. However, on Billy’s next birthday his stepfather won his heart by giving him a full-blooded, airedale.

Holding His Front Paws In the Air.

Hie Barking at Continued.

Left It at the Front Door.