Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-02-07

Nell.,' he added, reassuringly, as he no
| ticed the droop of her red lip and the
a,,iek culver Of rschin, and Nell 8 face
: Grew brighter. aI'l1 tell yer what, Nell.
Unlike to send her real, sure-enough
! vaSsntine next week. In course she II
oet heaps and heaps, an p'raps she
would hot care for mine alongside OF
lem. but i d feel happy. -
.eOh. Tony, wouldn' { that be beauti-
fnl. lint Won doesn't know where she
lives ! HOW'LL ger dop' ~ Dunno,
Then a bright thought struck him.
She'll he sure to be at the church again
On that day. for these is the days as
how all them way-up folks, them Mob
Killers. We know, 60 to church every
| day now. They don't wear no fine
clothes. but dress humble like, but
when the time is past and their big day,
comes-Easter they, call Tiny. then
how them swell ladies will sPlurge. But
| she amt one of their kind; | bet she's
| real good all the time, an when she
comes out'n the church St. Valentines
| Day will give her my valentine.
| Hours afterward, the moon rising
| over the house tops sent a beam across
the dreary street into the one Wlndowo OF
that room, and, resting for moment
on Tony's face revealed an expression
of Joy and hope that told how brlght
his dreams were.
The valentine was bought. a pretty
thing, on one side a hand holding a par
tally opened, glowing rose budaon the
other picture of a young maid scarce
" more fair than she for whom the
card was intended. gs..,..s
How Tony and Nell gloated over the
~, OF Snanni0tpd
as to its fate. fE. y
In Tony's absence Nell would take
down the box, that held the precious
thing. reverently open it and gaze and
gaze, and then put it away with the
wish that it might safely reach the pref
ty girls hand.
It was growing late the afternoon OF
st. Valentines day; the Lenten service
at the great church was just over and a
crowd of worshipers issued from the
doors. A tall gentleman. in the prime
of lite, with dainty maid ciinging to
his arm tried to cross the street., though
there was a constant press OF foot pas
sengers and vehicles.
An extra amount of business in the
newsboy's line had made Tony a little
late. His face flushed, his dark eyes
shining, and holding the precious val,
entine in his hand, he darted to meet
the advancing gentleman and young
girl, breathlessly exclaiming as. he pub
the package into her hands: please
take this, cos you were so kind to me-
And then a passing carriage struck
him, and down he went under the cruet
wheels. s -t-.".aa3 s'3 f@H}
The gentleman, whom we will call
Mr.. Wright, now lifted the lad tenderly,
and calling a carriage, took the boy to
the. receiving hospital for. Children
where his broken ankle was carefully
attended to. Meanwhile little Alice
Wright, carrying the valentine which
had been the means of Tony's unfortun-
ate accident. fastened homewards,
while her father went with the in ,ured
boy. sci eie0 sfi4 st.ea6 ss9
After Tony's wound had been dressed
Mr.. Wright found out his name, the
dreary place that he called home, and
promised to see to little Nell, whom he
took to the gentle care of his wife and
daughter Alice. And that evening
while Tony tossed in the delirium Of
fever in his narrow; cot at the hospital,
Nell told the sympathizing circle around
the cheerful fireplace the story of
Tony's brave endeavors for their liveli-
hood, their home destitute of fathers
care or mothers love, and finally the
story of the valentine which occupied q
prominent place on pretty easel stand
ing on the library table.
A sorrowful ending to Tony's plan
you thinkp Not SO. Can you not see
bright picture unrolling itself in the
future? 1913 ..s ssaod
Tony's broken ankle is slowly erecov-
ering; he bears the pain right manfully,
and Alice and Nell leave no means un-
tried to cheer him. When he is quite
well he will go into Mr.. Wright's office,
who sees capabilities for business in the
shrewd little fellow. Little Nell will
go to school with Alice, who loves her
now as she might a younger sister, and
there we will leave them rescued from
. Kind of life from which your parents
would shield you with loving tender
ness. And. remember, when you see
such children, that there may be hidden
away under all their rough exterior,
tender, warm feelings, and hearts that
ire taught by suffering to be pure and
rue. Burlington Haackeye. 81 lai