The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-02-19
TWO VALENTINES.
Tho Rich Girl and the Dress
Makers Daughter.

Gertrude Lewis had Just finished di
recting a valentine in a common. brown
envelope: another. in pretty box. la,
on the desk before her, when Araminta
better known as Mint" the nine-vear
old daughter of the colored cook, pcepet
in at the open door.
Come here. Mint" called Gertrude
catching sight of her, ''you arc the very
person | want
''Is glad Is de VERY pusson you
wants." said Mint, coming into tho
troom. "'deed is. Miss Gertie."
well. sit down and listen attentively
TO what | am going TO say to YOU"
as lis'nin' orful 'tenty, deed is. ~
said Mint. perching herself on the edge
of a chair. .'Oh, dear. Miss Gertie, how
dis Yer room do smell OBJ apples and
and" shifting loudly. with her head
first on one side and then on the other
land candy. Deed it do, Miss Ger
tic"
Never you mind what it smells of
III til you come back from the pyramids
on which l am going to send you. Then
if You have done them right you shall
smell and taste too. You see this?"
holding up the box.
deed l does. Miss Gertie. It's a
hansum box wild little flynn angels onto
it: deed it am. lite angels, dey am.
Nebber seen no box, no nothin' wild
brack angels onto it; deed l didn't,
Miss Gertie. Amt der no brack?"
Cant stop to answer questions now, "
interrupted Gertrude. Il want YOU to
take this boN," and she proceeded to
wrap it up in nice white paper, and
write an address neatly upon ito
Miss Kate Archbold's house. You know
where her house is?'
Deed | does. Miss Gertie. It's dat
splcnditicent house war dar'S two nor
meous big stone lyin' dogs. all of 'em
a settin' on de front stoop. rs seam
lousy 'fraid of dem dogs. Deed l is,
Miss Gertie.n
You need not pass them. Go to the
basement door and hand the box to
whoever answers your ring. Don't say
a word. leave the box and come right
away again"
Deed WILL" promised Mint, slip
ping down from the chair and holding
out her little black hands.
WAIT moment; I'm not through
vet said Gertrude. "After you have
left the box at Miss Archbold's l want
YOU to 90 around to Ray Martins S.
You've been there, haven't you?"
Deed | have, Miss Gertic. She
drug me dar BY de har of my head one
cause frowed a SNOWFALL at her. Deed
she did. Miss Gertie."
Miss Gertie burst out laughing. 81
don't see, Mint. how she could have
dragged Won by your hair" she said.
alt 5 so very crisp and short. And you
shouldn't have thrown snOw-balls at
her. But that's neither here nor there
present This letter. showing the
brown envelope, lis to go to her. Slip
1t under the front door. ring the bell and
run away. Now do You understand
perfectly what YOU are to do?"
Deed does. perfeckly, Miss Gertie.
Is to go to de big dog-hOuSe an Civ
dis yer box to de pusson dat opens dc
basement do An'Tsto 60 to Miss Mar
tins house an shove dis yer letter
under de front do an den pull de
bell an run like as a p'liceman war
after me.
That's all right. And now be off.
And come straight up to me when you
come back"
Deed. l will, Miss Gertie," snuffing
1gain. 20! wat lubly place dis yer
is to sniff in. Pears do l smells pea
nuts. too
And as she vanished out of one door
Mrs Lewis. Gertrude mother, came in
at the other.
I've sent Mint out with two valen-
tines, mother" said Gertrude; ..two
valentines TO two girls. The pretty one
] bought last night has gone to Kate
Archbold. I'm quite in love with her.
though I've only met her half-dozen
times She is SO sweet-tempered and
ladylike. don't believe she could do
or say rude thing. In her valentine
! have written some verses of my own
composing, wishing her all the happi-
ness the world can bring. and path
way strewn with roses. and all that sort
of thing. I'd like ever so much to have
her for an intimate friend"
isn't she daughter of the Widow
Archbold?' asked Mrs. Lewis.
Yes" replied Gertrude. .'the only
daughter. In fact, the only child"
And she has been reared carefully
and tenderly and has health, wealth
and beauty"
Yes, mamma" said Gertrude. look
ing at her mother with inquiring eyes.
well, under those circumstances. "
Mrs. Lewis went on. Il should be much
surprised if she were not amiable an0
ladylike. But to whom did you send
the other valentine?"
20. that was sort of comic one. !
sent it to Ray Martin. She's the worst
tempered girl in our school, and ready