Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-02-29

Nell" he added, reassuringly, as he mo-
ticed the idroopof her red lip and. the
quick CULVER of her chin, and Nell s face
grew brighter. '.I'Il tell yer what, Nell,
I'd like to send her q real, s%ure-enough
valentine next week. In course she'll
get heaps and heaps, an p'rapss she
would not care for mine alongside Of
'em, but I'd feel happy"
"Oh, Tony, wouldn't that be heauti-
full; but you doesn't know where. she
lives. How'll yer doP" II dunno"
Then a bright thought struck him.
She'll be 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, go to church every
day now. They don't wear no fine
clothes, but dress humble lie, hut
when the time is past and their big day.
comes-Eastcr they call Tiny, then
how them swell ladies will splurge. But
she amt one of their kind; l 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, tie moon rising,
over the house tops sent a beam across
the dreary street into the one window of
that room, and, resting Tor q moment
on Tony's face revealed an expression
of JOY and hope that told how bright
his dreams We're.
thing, on Il side a hand holding par
TALLY opened, glowing rose bud; on the
other a picture OF a young maid scarce
ly more fair than She for whom the
card was intended.
How Tony and Nell gloated over the
beauty of the valentine, and specialized
as to its fate.
In ""ony's absence Nell would take
down the box, that held the precious
thing. reverently open it and gaze and
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 q
crowd of %worshipers issued from the
doors. A tall gentleman, in the prime
OF lite, with a dainty maid cljnging to
his arm tried to cross the street, though
there was q 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 vail
entine in his hand, he darted to meet
the advancing gentleman and younS
girl, breathlessly exclaiming as he put
the package into her hands: please
take this, cos you were SO kind to NEIL
And then q passing carriage struck
him, and down he went under the cruel
wheels.
The gentleman, whom we will call
MIR. 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 u%nfortunF
ate accident, fastened. homewardsl
while her father went with the injured
boy. !.
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 s~ympathizing circle around
the cheerful fireplace the story OF
Tony's brave endeavors for their liveli-
hood, their home destitute of u fathers
care or mothers love, and finally tho
story Of the valentine which occupied q
prominent place on a pretty easel stand
ing on the library table. +;
A sorrowful ending to Iony's plan
you think? Not so. Can you not see a
bright picture unrolling itself in the
futlre?
Tony's broken ankle is slowly recov-
ering; he bears the pain right manfully,
and Aliec 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
90 to school with Alice, who loves her
now as she might a younger sister, and
there we will leave them rescued from
a 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
are taught by suffering to be pure and
true.-Burlington HaWkeye.