The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-02-11

and mammals amusement, and l make
lace now, and do some other kinds OF
needle work.
Valentines resolve number two was
also kept to himself.
80, must go home now," said Rose,
quickly, ''the sun is going down, and
will be expecting me-"
Il was going that way said Val, try
ing to invent some plausible errand on the
spur of the moment that would make it
necessary for his homeward way to lead
him across Vine Street.
''Val,,n said Frank West, thinking it
was time for him to interfere; he apollo
gized to Miss Dayton and said to the
other, ''you know we're going down
to meet Arthur Burton at seven O clock. "
"I'll meet you at the train" said Val
entine, ''but I-Agnes wished me to do
an errand for her in at Dartell's s." and he
turned away from his friend, asking Rose
Dayton if he might walk home with her.
She blushed and said simply: '1suppose
you may, if you were going my way, and
your friend, too" she supplemented,
discretely.
80, Frank has to go to the train - said
Val decisively, and without further talk
they separated.
Two days after, bouquet of fresh
blue and white violets, and other of the
earliest wild flowers found their way to
No. 105 Vine Street. The boy that
brought them answered Rose Dayton S
look of enquiry, as she took them, with:
81 dunno who twas sent 'em. He said
there want nothin' to say Before
she could question him further he had
bounded down the steps and was half
way up the street.
''What is it, my dear?" asked Mrs.
Dayton, as she came slowly in from an
adjoining room.
"Some flowers, mamma-wild flow
ers," said the girl, ioyfully, as she buried
her face in the cool moist blossoms,
''such as we used to find in the woods
at grandpa's. How kind he was, mann
ma, l told" she stopped abruptly, and
for the first time in her life fell to pre-
varicating.
"Who, Rosy? Who sent them? Who
brought them? What did he say? Where
did he get them?''
"Some one, who knew us, must have
sent Them said the girl evasively;
g perhaps some one who knew that
you were sick, and that you loved
flowers"
at might have been old Mr.. Wood"
said Mrs. Dayton, ''but | don't know,
I'm sure; or, maybe it was Charlie
Stone, he used to get them for me once
in the while, when we lived on the
avenue"
"Or, it might have been-some one
else," suggested Rose, and the truthful
ness of her nature urged her to add
''Perhaps it was Mr.. Clark, mamma; l
met him in the Park a day Or two ago,
and happened to mention to him that you
loved wild flowers
''Mr. Clark, did you say?n asked Mrs.
Dayton, with unusual animation for her.
Il don't know any Clarks here"
Don't you remember the two gentle
men who came on Valentine Day?" said
Rose. "Thls is one of them; | have
met him once or twice since then, and
he is very kind, and inquired after you,
mamma"
eff he sent them, I'd like to thank
him, I'm sure. Rosy, you might write
and thank him, if you knew his address,
suggested Mrs. DAYTON.
go, no, said Rose, quickly, ''perhaps
they are not from him. But, whoever
it is, we thank them
As spring passed and summer came,
Valentine frequented Central Park, hop
ing to meet Rose Dayton there again,
but, save once or twice when he had
caught a glimpse of her as he passed in
a car, he had not seen her for two
months. One day the opportunity of
executing a plan he had formed some
time ago, was offered him by remark
his sister made.
Mamma" she said, languidly, 'you
know how / have torn that beautiful
lace scarf that Aunt Grace gave me; who
can we get to mend it. that will not
ruin it?n
''I know said Val who seldom paid
any attention to his sisters perplexities
of this sort. g I know who you could
get to do it, and it would be well done,
too
"You? What do you know about lace
makers?" said his sister with astonish-
ment; ''what protege have you on hand
now?n
Mrs. Clark. with an eye to business,
piled him, with questions, and Valen-
tine, remembering the explanations he
must make, thought best to withdraw
with as few words as possible, and said
vaguely that he heard of her, and knew
where she lived, and Frank West had
seen her. too, and he guessed Che
thought the prevarication was pardona-
ble) his sister had ordered some lace
from her.
1t all led to Mrs. Clark and her
daughters alighting from their carriage
one day at No. 105 Vine Street, and the
unsuspecting mother explained inno-
Gently that her son had heard of her by
way of sister of his friend
A few days after, Agnes Clark came
to her brother, and said, sweetly, "Dear
Val, you are always so obliging, and /
am in such hurry to get ready for the
reception tonight, and John isn't here,
so won't you 90 to that Miss I've for
gotten the name-that lace-maker and
get my lace scarf? She must have
finished it by this time" She was sur
prised at the alacrity with which Val
complied with her request, but had so
far forgotten his unusual obligingness,
as TO be very much ont of ht1mnI when