Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-02-25

fed citizen that night got a refreshment
10 his soul quite unawares out of Melin-
dy's simple, bright face, glowing and
smiling with a cbild's delight at the brill
liant treasures of the windows If she
did not get good she gave it; and that is
more blessed, we know.
But who shall paint Mr.. Griffin's dis
gust the next morning when Melindy,
still absorbed in the novel and splendid
idea of valentines, while pouring on. his
coffee at breakfast, stunned him with the
innocent inquiry,
Griffin."
The man glared at her. He laid down
his knife and fork, and forgot to take the
cup she held out to him.
Il ! have valentine II
he Numbered with explosive disgust.
81 I! Do you think there is big
enough fool in New York to send me
oneg A valentine, indeedl Nasty, ex-
travagant, idle, useless things. Money
thrown into the gutter. Trash! stuff
folly ! nonsensel Have you lost your
senses, woman If anybody should send
me one OF the things, it would 60 into
the fire quicker Don't be fool, Me.
Indy
With which mild remark he seized his
cup OF coffee and swallowed it, devoured
his breakfast in silence, unbroken save
by intermittent growls, squabbled with
his overcoat, kicked his slippers violently
into the corner, slammed the door behind
him, and fed down street to his office,
much as If the idea of some small pursu-
| ant fiend impelled his footsteps.
Truth TO tie II, Mr.. Griffin once had o
valentine, and more than one, of de-
famatory and abusive character. He
suspected always-and perhaps Justly
that they were sent him by a clerk
whom he had discharged, as the easiest
way of venting his spite. There was
this to be said in favor of the idea, that
the literary part of the missives had
been selected with an eye to Mr. Griffin's
special failings and meanness, and in
closed In yellow envelope, TO make
sure of their being opened. He felt at
once trapped and insulted, and when his
greedy soul dwelt on the wasted money
those gaudy billets had cost il added
another element to his pungent dislike
OF the whole tribe, and he swore within
himself that if one ever entered his door
again it should make short passage to
the flames
Melindy was indignant enough; but
she was also wise to know that an angry
man had better be severely let alone,
and she went her way and did her daily
duty, hoping devoutly that she should
have valentine, if Old Griffin, as she
irreverently called him, did not; also
feeling certain surety that one would
appear at its season-John Perkins had
been so pleased with her pleasure, so
eager to find out which style she thought
prettiest.
The 18th was bright day for ev-
erybody, and Mr.. Griffin took his way
to the office, being vexed in spirit with
regard TO a certain man whose credit he
feared to be insecure and who owed him
ten thousand dollars. The man was
honest, hard-working and unfortunate
three facts of no more account TO Mr..
Griffin than his blue eyes, brown hair
and English whiskers. To be pressed
for this ten thousand dollars was u mat
ter of life and death to him; il was TO put
all he had TO the hazard of die; but
poor Mr.. Griffin could not risk so much
money. All the long way down town he
plotted his campaign against that luck
less man. The brilliant valentines that
drew his unwilling eye on either hand
affected him as red rag does turkey.
Ii he could have gobbled he would. He
did growl, half audibly, and almost
scared weak-minded old lady on the
other side of the omnibus out OF her lit
tie wits. She thought he was crazy, and
was afraid to get out, lest he should for
low her, afraid to stay in lest he should
attack; so she bore his presence in a
culver like mold of jelly till he got out,
and then almost tainted from relief. Per-
haps he was crazy. think he suffered
from emotional insanity, myself. think
all insane people ought 10 be hung, and
the wicked ones put into an asylum; and
there l take my stand and leave the
patient reader to classify Mr., Griffin
All that morning he hunted his prey like
bloodhound. He tracked him from one
place to another, and followed him up,
determined on personal interview,
which, after all, he failed TO obtain.
The day was very mild, and Mr..
Griffin got heated. His head began to
ache. He was as much surprised as a
lamp-post could have been TO feel sharp
pain in his lantern; but he was a coward
ingram, and the possibility of sickness,
and loss of time, expense of medicine,
doctors bills and watchers, startled him.
He believed In prevention; that sickness
might cost him coffin never came into
his calculations. He was practically an
utter skeptic, with God in none of his
thoughts, but the human aspect of sick
ness terrified him. He dropped postal
card into the nearest box, telling his
clerk he should not be down again that
day, went home in time to prevent su.
pertiuous dinner being cooked, and went
TO sleep, being merely overtired and
heated. In the meantime his clerk, who
was a sharp-witted fellow, and had a
brother in Washington, Congressional
reporter for New York paper, who with
certain fraternal interest occasionally
sent him bit of news in advance likely
TO be useful on the Stock Exchange, re-
ceived telegram that caused him 10 sit
down and write small note TO his chief,
as follows:
DEAR SIR--Congress will pass bill tomorrow
for half million appro triation 20 bniid zen
eral Hospital for the inebriate Senators, and the
Kanawha a. Deseret Railroad Company own the
land they have promised 10 build on. X. d -
shares viii 90 up by to morrow night like rocket.
Quick a. Qnaver have 5000 on hand at 80.
would buy in tonight; bat they are shut mp, and
have TO be off in the seven a m train 10 Albany.
Ny father just dying there. SO notify You, a.
time Is money. JOSEPH JONES.
Now Mr. Griffin kept everything In his