West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-02-27

oltI'N' anu "a CHIMNEY with 20 little slit
IN the center through which penny
might be dropped. The bank, which
was no larger than "A good-Sized apple.
dumping. contained Margery's entire
fortune.
She had been dropping her pennies
INTO IL for some time, and she deter
mined at last 10 pry the roof of this
institution and count its contents.
IL was the only way TO get at the
money Tor penny entering that bank
was in about the same position rs the
foolish fly in the SPIDERS parlor. 1t
'could ne'cr come out again.
And so the roof had 20 come of,
But when the pennies were counted
there were only seventy-four of them
seven hundred and twenty-siA less than
was required to buy the ST stes
Poor Margery buried h,r face dees
into her pillow that night. and cried
herself asleep. She had been swing
her pennies for year. and this was the
result She had hoped against hope
that the bank contained almost enough
for her purpose. She had fancicd her.
self gliding over the smooth ice, her
cheeks rs red rs roses. her head hall
dizzy rom the pleusurablc motion, her
feet making graceful circles. and her
hca beating hard and fast from the
excitement, the cNorc 80 and the fun.
And after all her plans and lancies she
had not onc-tcnth OF the amount needed
TO cary them out.
She was inclined to rebel aga'nst her
fate. There was not scholar i'm the
Dclying Seminary who had not a pair
of skates, and not one could skate rs
well aS she. Shc, the very best skat =
in the whole building, ha to 20 Dor
rowing whel she wanted to skate. II
really did not seem TO bc fair.
She never rcc.ted with TIC hoys. but
She used TO attend the opening exercises
OF the school She had habit of
shrinking into the corner where her lit
tie desk stood. and never looking at her
envled tormentors. On the morning
after her bank had burst, she had taken
her place u usual, and was surprised
to find number of envelopes on her
desk, directed TO herself, What did il
all mean? Who could have been writ
ing to her? The hot. angry color came
into her face rs sh remembered tnat
this was the l4th of February-St. Val
cntinc' Day.
She had reason TO remember il. On
this day year ago she had found the
same number OF envelopes. She had
opened each envelope with a foolish
hope that il contained something worth
having; and every time she had been
disappointed All of her valentine,
were hideOuS caricatures OF herself. i'm
which her nose and mouth received
particular attention. She had looked
at them all, hoping to find one that was
not ugly, If she could have found one
of those bits of lace paper. decorated
with roses, or cupids, or turt!e-doyes.
she would have been happy She had
not found anything of the sort when
she came to her sixth and last envelope.
This was directed in Hector Woods
writing. She knew it by the hourishes
on his capital letters. He, the best
tempered, best-mannered boy i'm the
whole school. would certainly not send
her one of those ugly pictures. She
was sure OF it. She tore open this last
envelope with fingers which trcmbled n
little with eagerness. And what did
she iind' Another ugly caricature and
this verse:
"Oh, Margcry Wright
Is such fright,
m always s4d
When she's ia sight"
She had burst into tears from dsan-
pointment and anger, aud she had torn
her valentines into thousand pieces.
When she saw Hector Wood her temper
arose afrcsh.
I'm glad your name is Hector" She
sad. lit is horrid name and Won
deserve it tor hcctoring girl who never
harmed you. I'll never count vour
collars any more,
All this had happened year ago.
But Margery was never revengeful All
through the year she had coupled the
linen as carefully rs ever, and when
she might have spent her sevepty-four
c1nts for ugly valentines to send back
to Hector and his companions. she had
no done it,
Still il was too bad for them TO send
her this second lot OF valentines. She
gathered them up, determining to burn
them in the kitchen range She would
no. even open them.
As she was about TO drop them into
the fire her attention was attracted to
the envelopes. These were very differ
ent from those She had received last
year The were Of various colors and
designs. There were little vines trail
ing over them ON which might be seen
some remarkable birds with very wide
tails. and with their beaks opened so
far that Mnrgery was sure they must be
exquisite singers She was too tender
hearted TO roast even the picture of q
bird, so she determined TO keep the en-
yelopes.
But when she tore open the first en-
velope out fell valentine which made
her open her ewes with astonishment.
TINS wa. no hideous picture Of herself
but delicate little sachct BAG Of satin
and lace q valentine worth having.
And the next was "a card and such "A
card all covered with flt cupids and
arrows and hearts and flowers. Was
ever anything so beautiful What
lucky chance had prevented her from
dropping them into the roaring fire,
She ir"mblcd when She thought how
narrow had been their escape. And
The next valentine and the next
There was no ugly ones among them.
She had discovered Hector Wood
writing upon one Of Che envelopes.
There was no installing lhoB flourish.
ing cap tai letters. She saved d. until
Che last because she was afraid 10 open
10 Test all her happiness should vanish.
She remembered what she had said to
him about bis name Snc had been
ory for DO for % long time. and had
told him sO Wa he angry with her
yet. IN spite Of what she lad said. and
bad be- sent her 20 valentine worse even
Than bis last Ono2 Well. She must mus
ter mp courage and find out.
There was nothing inside hi. enyclope
Euf fif. I.ff.-.