Why, Patty Fairfield, do you mean to say you sent this ridiculous thing to your Little Billee! I don’t wonder he sent it back! It’s silly beyond words! Why did you send such a horror?”
“I dunno,” said Patty, a little shame-facedly, “mostly because Lieutenant Herron dared me to, and I never will be dared. But, oh, Nan, I don’t care if it is a foolish valentine, he did send it back,—and, don’t you see, it says, ‘Send back this tender token, and let us never wed,’—and he did send it back!”
Patty’s eyes were large and scared-looking, and, though she didn’t cry now, she looked as if she were about ready to.
“But——” Nan looked bewildered,—“I don’t understand——”
“I do!” cried Helen, “and it’s awful! I don’t wonder you’re upset, Patty! But, hold on, maybe somebody else got it and sent it back.”
“No,” and Patty forlornly showed the envelope. “See, it’s his writing, mailed in Washington, yesterday—oh,—how could he? Why should he?”
“Patty Fairfield, behave yourself!” Nan gave her a little shake; “do you mean to tell me Bill Farnsworth means he returns your valentine—your love-token!”
“There it is! That’s the one I sent him, and it says to return it if his love is dead—and, he’s returned it! And that horrid Herron told me about a—a b-black-eyed b-beauty——”
“Nonsense, Patty! be sensible! It can’t be——”
“Very well, how do you explain it? Why should I send that thing to him a few days ago, and get it back today? Why would he return it—there’s no mistaking his writing, look at it—unless he meant me to take it as it’s printed there! He has been bewitched by that b-black-eyed——”