"Why, Mr. Weeks," she cried in astonishment, "what's took you all of a sudden?"
"It's sense, I reckon, Elmiry, an' it's been a long time comin'. I was huffed 'cause you never made no answer to the valentine I sent you, an' I thought you didn't want me, so I just stayed away."
"What valentine?" Elmiry's eyes were very big and fearful.
"Don't you remember that valentine I sent you?—Let's see, it's so long ago—I've most forgot what it was. It said:
"'The rose is red, the violet blue,
Pinks are sweet and so are you;
Give me your heart, you have mine—
Will you be my valentine?'"
"Yes," said Elmiry slowly, "I remember." She went to the Family Bible which lay on the marble-topped table in the front room and took it out. It was worn and faded and there were spots on it which looked like tears. "Did you mean that," she asked with difficulty, "for a-a——"
"Yes, I did," answered John, "an' I thought it was cunnin', but I see now, what a blamed fool I was. I should have come and asked you like a man an' not trusted to your understandin' no fool valentine. I made a great mistake—Elmiry, dear, won't you never forgive me?"
The poor little old maid smiled through her blinding tears.
"Oh, John," she said, "I've waited so long!" Then she broke down and sobbed helplessly in his arms.
Elmiry forgot the empty years, and the pathetic valentines, so dearly bought—it was so sweet to be loved and taken care of by a masterful man.