The National tribune., 1883-02-08
The next question was, To whom should she

The next question was, To whom should she
send her valentine?
I'D better look on the telephone list. Seth
Bennett, VI. ID. That's the doctor who comes
| to see papa and me: he wouldn't be in-he is
/ always out. John Dixon, grocer, Thomas Irv-
ing, baker; OH here is L. H. Whitney! That's
/ the nice apOthecary man who brings the medi-
cines I'd like to send him a valentine"
Richard NhiJncy's clerk stood at the tele-
phone. Messages were coming in very fast
that February afternoon. Sam Jones, the un-
der clerk, was putting up the packages: One
porous plaster for Mrs. Lewis Two ounces pull
Verized slippery elm bark, sent Immediately to
~ Spruce st. Some one wants to speak TO Mr..
Whitney "All right" he shouted back
through the telephone. 81 He's in the back
shop; III call him.
There was Il smell of chlOrOform in the back
shop Mr.. Whitney, on top of step ladder,
was preparing prescription.
Lady wants 20 speak to you, sill" said the
clerk,
"Couldnt she give the message?"
"Said she couldn't"
"1lr. Whitney went to tho telephone and
called What's wanted?"
To his astonished ears came back: " send
you declaration Of affection"
Il do not understand" said the apOtheCary,
not quite sure OF his hearing
The message was repeated, each word very
distinct.
WHO is it ?"
Your Valentine"
Sam Jones, Judging from the expression of
Mr. Whitney's face that it was q case of strang-
ling, cOnvuIsions, or poisoning, had taken down
his hat ready to run. " No matter SAM" said
his employer, returning to the chOlofOrm at
mOsphere of the back shop. tt could not be a
Joke; the voice was too sweet and true 4
child's yoice-a little girls, he thou. .ht-but
he did not know any little girls. 1t might be
Of the ,rnlgrG a bu a-r-lrrv1 rr,l4 1ly-
WAS Every Christmas Richard Whitney had
been ~ the habit Of sending a number Of small
bottles OF cologne to the large brick house over
the way. lie did it from principle, not from
any acquaintance with the children.
Valentines evening there was an exhibition
at the asylum. Richard Whitney went. "Such
a kind gentleman" said the matron; he spoke
to every child"
Then the public school examinations took
place Richard Whitney attended them all.
lie became a SUuday-school superintendent;
next he got his sister to give a little girls
party.
Mr.. Whitney has grown awful fond of chill
dren all Of a sudden said the head clerk to
the second clerk. All, but no one knew he was
listening for the voice of his Valentine The
apothecary and lda's papa were old friends of
late years they had seldom met, but these last
months of Mr.. HammOndS illness had brought
them together again. Ida was a shy child and
kept out of the way of visitors. The apOthe-
cary was not aware that he had ever seen her.
One April afternoon he met a wOmanly little
girl coming down stairs with tray in her
hand. " Miss Ida, l suppose" he said passing
her Ida nodded gravely, and as Richard
Whitney looked over the balustrade he thought
What lonely life for a child l wonder if
She goes out much! will give her drive to-
morrow.
MIR. Hammond was very weak that night and
when Richard Whitney, bending over him.
asked, John, will you trust your little daugh-
ter to me? the only reply was a tighter clasp of
the hand
Early the next morning Sam Jones left a
parcel of gum-drOps and a note for Miss Ida
Hammond. Presently the telephone bell rang
and the head clerk said again, "A lady wishes
to speak to you"
The message was simply this: "Thank you
very much; | cannot go-papa is worse"
Richard Whitney started. 1t was the voice
he had waited so long to hear. why, it's
Hammond's little girl" !" he said, hurrying down
the street. Poor child"
Papa died few days later, leaving his little
daughter in the care OF his old friend; and
now, every day, a child in a black dress comes
into the shop, to walk home with uncle Rich
ard.
Wonder why he calls her Valentine;
thought her name was Ida," said the head
clerk.
Perhaps Valentine is her middle name"
suggested Sam Jones.
THAT must be it," said the head clerk;
yes, that must certainly be the reason. -
Hide drake for February.