The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-02-16

|
| spend cent out of her store
" It's strange a woman never knows
how to make money" said Ben.
This seemed to be a subject requiring
thought, for they said no more until
they reached Johnny's house.
After much laughing and back-handed
writing, the COMICS were directed
and taken in charge by Ben, who had
to pass the letter-boX on his way home.
1--WE shall have some fun in the morn
ing" said Johnny, as they parted
That's so,'' said Ben.
That evening, as Johnny sat learning
a lesson, he heard his mother say to
his sister: Il went to see Mrs. Clifford
to-day. | didn't know Lottie hadn't
been out this winter"
80 no. said Sis one, two, three,
four, five"-counting the stitches in her
worsted work, she can't go out at all
six, seven, eight, nine, ten-poor lit
tie thingr'
"She has the doctor every day." said
her mother. And she is so sweet and
patient! went up to see her. She
said she had not seen you or Johnny for
a long time"
Johnny bent his head over his lesson;
but the letters seemed to fade before
his eyes and cruel, hideous picture
arose in his mind. 1t did not look quite
so funny as it did in Skips store.
His book fell from his hand and he sat
wondering what he should do. . Girls al
ways cry" he thought "When Sis was
sick, father said if l made her cry 1
might kill her. OF course Lottie must
be pretty sick to have the doctor every
day. Of course she will cry when she
gets the comic. That will kill her.
Then, of course, l am murderer. No
one knows it but Ben. But if she dies
| ought to be hung" He looked up at
his mother with such a serious face
she asked him what was the matter.
His face frightened. He thought
perhaps Ben had forgotten to mail them.
81 ans .Fng over to Ben's," he said,
trying to speak carelessly, 81 won't
be gone more than five minutes" and
rushed out of the front door.
Something is the matter" said Sis.
1.-TWO, four, six, eight, ten
Johnny ran to Ben's house and was
told that he had gone to a concert with
his mother. He started for home, walk
ing slowly. AS he passed the box he
said: "It's in there and can't stop it.
1t will have to 90. l wish l had never
seen old Skipr' He stopped at Miss
Palmer's window. Doves and roses!
Soft, of course, but pretty and 50 harm
less. How he wished he had sent Lottie
one of these. In his haste he had for
gotten his overcoat, and he stood dane
ing in the cold, with his hands in his
pockets, watching the Cupids who looked
at him from their warm bed of flowers
He opened the door and went in.
Glow much do you ask for the best
valentine in your store?" he asked.
GA dollar and a half" said Miss
Palmer.
"Whewr' said Johnny. "You can
buy good knife for a dollarr'
but a knife can only cut" said Miss
Palmer; "and valentine is so nice.''
"Why is comic like knife?"
said Johnny, laughing uneasily.
"No gentleman would send comic
valentine" said Miss Palmer.
Johnny blushed and asked if all the
valentines in boxes were a dollar fifty.
She said some We're dollar some a
dollar twenty-five.
II want the BEST said Johnny
" But | only have dollar. Now there
is the one want" he continued. That
is the prettiest one | ever saw"
Miss Palmer looked at the price
mark. That's dollar and a half" she
said
81 don't suppose you would trust
me for little while?" said Johnny,
looking closely at the valentine.
Il tell you what | will do" said Miss
Palmer. Il will call it dollar twenty
five"
but it is just as easy to get fifty
cents out of an empty pocket as twenty
five said Johnny, laughing.
THAT is very true" said Miss Palm
er.
Il want the best" said Johnny;
"because l am going to send it to lit
tie sick girl"
"How soon do you think you could
pay me?' asked Miss Palmer.
81 can pay you ten cents week,
sure" said Johnny, earnestly, and
perhaps lHOIt. rdlHcE uOcSn l. KNOW l.
am going to buy this and he might
think dollar and half too steep-I
mean too high-for valentine"
81 will trust you if you think your
father will not object" said Miss Palm
er. If the little girl were well |
could not think of it; but l do like to
see young gentlemen attentive to little
girls when they are sick"
The horrible comic rose again before
his eyes and he said at is awful hot
in your store, Miss Palmer"
When the valentine was neatly tied
up in snow-white paper he asked for
pen and ink, and in a bold hand wrote
" Miss Lottie Clifford 81 will leave it
as l go along" he thought.
As he came in sight of Mr.. Clifford's
house he saw the doctors carriage
standing before the door. He could not
stop now. How it would seem to them
all to have a valentine come if Lottie
were dying! He stopped, not knowing
why, and waited at the foot of the steps.
After little time the doctor came out.
" Is Lottie any-any worseP'' he asked.
1t was the same doctor who came to
see Sis when she was sick.
SIS that you, johnny" said he, al
most knOckino the how Ovar in hiS h a sto