Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-02-15
THE MISSION OF MABEL'S EALEN
,1'3t..+ TINE.

| % MIS- De NdSGFOs Salu IldclUo was
.'sure to make rise in the world. ;"
Placide was tai for a boy of twelve,
and all arms and legs. His eyes looked
large in his thin. salIow face, and his
! thatch of light hair stood out all around
| like adoor-mat. .s. ,I -~
The whole school made fun of the
roor boy; but he took it all with a pitt
fal kind of smile. Nobody knew how
cruelty it hurt him. nor how he longed
to be friendly with his school-mates.
On entering the school room he inva-
riably saluted Miss Rose, the teacher,
with an elaborate bow. Placide's ia h.
er had been little, broken down
French dancing-master, and the bow
was about all he bequeathed his son,
excepting fine sense of honor and a
sensitive social nature. ....
There was nothing French about Mrs.
De Ca tro, the mother OF ilacide. She
was American born, but of the most
commonplace type. She read every
word in her weekly story-paper, and
religiously believed in the poss bility, at
least, of all the wonderful occurrences
therein detailed.
The shop-windows were gay wi til re-
minders of the approach Of the great
February holiday. Mabel Lawrence
and some OF her school-ma. es were ex-
aiming an assortment of them one
morning in the bookstore. f.y
Some of her companions wished 10
send hideous comic valentine to Pla-
eide. But she, feeling how it would
burt him. refused to sanction such an
act, and. buying the valentine, de-
stroyed it,. much to the disgust OF the
Toys. ..... .... .-.. -.
Mabel had been looking wise ever
since valentines began to be mentioned:
she was planning a surprise. On the
table in her room was a pile of them,
very small but very pretty. in fancy en-
velopes, addressed 10 all her boy and
girl friends and associates. 1t had oc-
cup ed all her leisure tue for a week to
write, in a very slow and painstaking
manner. ON the blank pages: miss
Mabel Lawrence presents her compli-
Inents. and will be pleased to have you
spend the evening of February II at her
home.' Upon consultation with her
mother, she now added another pretty
valentine to the pile. 1t was addressed
to Master Placide De Castro. s.,.
They were all sent out on the 18th.
But it was nearly a week q ter the
party when the postr aster hailed Pla-
eide, as he was passing by, and handed
him his invitation. 1t seemed q pity
ON the face OF it. but no valentine ever
impaired a greater degree of pure felic
ity than this belated one. 1t was
be utiful thing to happen to the sensi-
tive, sighted, L diculed boy, to be SO
remembered He went singing and
whistling about his work, the weight
Ii. ted Oil his heart, the sorrowful look
oopn from, hi. faoo b;e oyoS h,.iubt will,
hope and pleasure.
Mrs De Castro accounted herself
strong in the usages of polite society.
"Now, Placide, she said .you must
acknowledge this complimunt by actin
accordin' to etiquetty." Ee5
"Yes, ma am" said Placide, more
than willing. ts-... rs-r
"Seein you couldn't attend. nor send
your regrets, you must make a party
call. Let's see. Placide, your pa was a
small man. shouldn't wonder if you d
most growed into his swaller-tail coat
by this time. This was pas dress-coat
she said as she laid it out on the bed.
NOW, slip in your arms and let's see
how it will do (The tails came within
six inches of the tioor.)
'''Taint so dreadful long if it is a lit
tie loose,'' she said. ''Coats is worn
long now-gentleman' overcoats come
clear down to their heels.
The white vest did pretty well by
pinning up broad plat in the back.
his mo hers black kid gloves didn't
wrinkle rerW much. and the shine on
h shoes couldn't have been improved.
After being thoroughly instructed
on various points, he set out
to make mis- ''party CALI think ng
lis costume Just about the tb ne.
Fortunately, darkness protected him.
Smiles strove for the mastery in
Dolly's faae as she ushered h m into the
sittin room, announc ng; II his young
gentleman wants to see Miss Mabel -
They We're all ladies and gentlemen at
DIR. Lawrence however. Mabel red |
dened. as he entered. but she arose as
grave as Judge, and offered him a
chair.
This is Placide De Castro, papa"
she said to the doctor. who eyed him
shrough his glasses iii some amazement.
Placide executed his bow with great i