The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-03-09


all. Won't it be fun!'
But she was little ashamed ofit. al
the same She only gave Dotty a
glimpse of it; but that was quite
| enough.
'Oh. ,OouIdnt send It, Barbie," she
said, her little white face looking
troubled. II wouldn't, now."
"Well, shall, Bah declared, latter
I've been and bought it, and every
thing. And Jennie Hopkins is tickle
jade, just the way it says, so! And il
you much as whisper a word to
mamma, Dotty Tyler, you'll be q tat
tle-tale, and that's bout as badr'
And of course Dotty wouldn't tell,
for anything in the world. 1t wouldn't
be Of any use to say another word,
either, she knew, because Bah had a
| will of her own, as big brother Jack
said, and the more she shouldn't the
more she would. Did you ever see just
such another little girl?
But Dotty had wise little head Oh
her shoulders.
After Bah had gone out, leaving her
valentine in q corner of the secretary,
she lay very still and thought it all
over; and when Jack came whistling
through the hall an hour later, she
called him in and had long talk. AT
its close she questioned, anxiously:
cit won't be wicked, or mean, will
it, JackP-if can do it, you know.
Because / know she'll be real sorry
You don't b'lieve twill, do you, Jack?"
Somehow there was queer little stir
behind Jacks eyes and a queer little
lump in his throat. He stopped and
kissed the eager, anxious little face
against the sofa-pillow.
81 should say DON'T" he answered.;
"but / do believe if there were more
little girls like my sister Dorothy in /
the world, there wouldn't be half so
much trouble in it. I'll get what you
want, Dotty."
''Oh, thank your cried Dotty; ''and
| hope it will work just 'zactly right
hope everything will.
And so everything did, am sure.
Next morning, just as Bah. who really
did not seem to enjoy her half-score of
dainty valentines as much as she ought
to have done, had finished writing the
address on the pretty lowered envelope
which was to carry that dreadful val
entine to Jennie Hopkins, Jack put his
head in the door.
Hello, Bab!" said he, ''don't you
want to take valentine sleigh-ride?
Come on, if you dow And he rolled
his eyes in a funny way at Dotty, who
could hardly keep from laughing.
Hurry now, Bah, if you want to CO."
he said.
Of course Bah wanted to go. 1t was
a beautiful sunny day, and the sleigh
ing never was better. She dropped her
pen and flew around to get on her
things-her pretty. fur-trimmed cloak
and brown-and-scarlet hood with nit
tens to match.
':Now I'm ready" said she, throw
ing a gay little goodbye kiss at Dotty. |
She had forgotten all about the val
entine, but minute or two after she
came running back again. Il can
mail this while I'm out" she cried,
breathless with her hurry, land then
she'll just get it the right time. Oh,
didn't seal it; well there-'tis nowr'
Away she few again then; and Dotty
lay sback on her pillows with a con-
tented smile.
''May be it wasn't right" she said. |
"But anyhow I'm glad as can be that |
did; and wouldn't wonder if Barbie'll |
be, too. ] hope she will; 1 hope she
won't be 'voked at me. May be she |
won't ever know, though, and that'll
be better, l guess"
But Bah would know. The ride |
lasted an hour or more; and then Jack |
cd fn hR1u of fnr
Dotty, and that kept them out a little |
longer still.
1t was just before noon that Bah ran
into the library again, bringing rush
of the fresh, breezy, outdoor air with |
her; and it was just after noon that |
there came a loud ring at the door |
and quick scamper of feet through
the hall.
"Why! whyr'cried Bah, "why, its
And as true as You live it was
Jennie Hopkins! She held out both |
hands towards Bah, but Bah drew back |
looking very sober.
81 don't blame you one bit for being |
mad at mel" burst forth Jennie then, |
half-laughing, half-crying; "but it |
wasn't nv fault, Bah, dear. 1t was |
that horrid Jip that did it. He's
Aunt Amy's dog, you know, and he |
hid your invitation under the drugget |
that way he's always hiding things and
we never found it till to-day. And I've |
come after you, Bah, just as quick as
could"
A flash like sunshine frightened |
Bab's face that had been SO cloudy.
''Oh, I'm so gladr' she cried. /
s'pose 1 might have known twas some !
thing like that, but didn't. Oh, I'm
so glad! thought was left out"
"Well, you wasn't" laughed Jennie.
''Only Jip was bound you should be, / |
guess-horrid thing"
Then they both laughed, and Dotty |
no less merrily than they.
''You dearl little thing" cried Jennie.