Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1892-02-11
Got any mail to post?' asked Jed,
carelessly. 'I'm going down the street

Got any mail to post?" asked Jed.
carelessly. 'I'm going down the street
presently"
His uncle glanced hastily at the table
and look of relief came over his face
as he noticed that the envelopes not
only contained the communications
that he had prepared, but lay, face
down, upon the baizc top of the table.
''No!' he answered, testify, at the
same time sealing and stamping the
envelopes. Jed watched him as he
waddled down the street and deposited
his letters in the nearest m ailbox.
''That's all right" thought Jed
Now for Developments" and he hast
ened off to see Helen.
Little Tommy Davis puckered his
mouth up into round o and sent forth
u sharp shrill whistle.
my eyes!'' he said, IF that doesn't
60 ahead of anything ever see"' and
he danced around the room on one
foot. Then he sat down to read, for
the fifth time, letter which he had
| just received. For it was st. Valen-
tines day and he had already opened
! number of suspicious-loOking en-
velopes.
The red legs that protruded from his
knickerbockers were gravely crossed,
and Tommy, with wrinkled forehead,
traced the lines of the letter with one
mischievous forefnger.
''Will you consent to be- he reNd.
Then he looked at the envelope again.
But all he saw was "Master Thomas
Davis, Center Street," in the same stiff
hand.
Hiram Brown thinks he's SMART
he finally calculated III show him
to write me such stuff as this, mean
old codger! He's mad at me cause
tripped him up with string last
April Fool" and Tommy chuckled at
the thought.
Just then his sister, a fair, womanly
girl, entered the room.
Whats the matter, Tommy? Got
bad valentine?"
II sh'd say had!' grunted Tommy.
'Just read it, and he disdainfully
tossed it to Helen.
80, that isn't SO very bad" she said,
laughing. You had better let me
keep it. 1t might make Mr.. Brown
some trouble" Buta new thought en-
tered Tommy's malicious little head,
just then.
Not muchee!'' he cried, and he
snatched the letter and danced out of
the room before Helen could prevent it.
| Down the street to Miss Abigail
| Robins store he ran as fast as his pudgy
little red legs could carry him, and in
| between the two short counters, where
he found Miss Robins, so indignant
over what appeared to be comic
valentine, that she hardly saw him.
His eye fell on the valentine and his
face heightened. He saw it all now,
and, flinging the letter down on the
counter, he cried, angrily:
Take your old valentines He got
'em mixed, know!" and was IF like a
shot.
That very afternoon, Miss Robins
locked her shop door and, arrayed in a
''sleazy' green silk dress, sought the
residence of Hiram Brown.
MARRY him?" Of course she would,
as soon as ever he wanted her to- She
had not powdered and crimped and
curled all these years for nothing, it
seemed. Rich old Hiram Brown had
ahem! fallen in love with her, and had
actually proposed! She would not
trust to the tickle mails, but would
answer this delightful question in per-
! son.
| But when Mr.. Brown saw her, vine
gar-faced old thing as she was. he was
attacked by something very like stage
| f,,;o IL e.
| prevaricated.
81" he stammered. "Arc you
sure I wrote it? Changed letters, you
say probably done as a joke on your
self and Tommy Davis. (the little
rascaD" he muttered. in an undertone
'Wait moment, dear Miss Robins, las
if she had the slightest thought of
leavingD will speak to Jed. Some
prank, probably"
But when Jed came he de MED writ
ing such letter, and asked to see it.
"Uncles writing-uncle's writing
he murmured, loud enough for Miss
Robins to hear.
! And Miss Robins? She fairly jumped
up and down in her rage.
"Send such picture to poor, lone
woman like me- she shrieked. ''And
then deny the letter you wrote. will
sue you for breach of promise, you
| old sneak" she screamed. Il certainly
will!'
jed, jedi whispered his uncle,
hoarsely. drawing him to one side.
Get me out of this and will do any
thing you want thing''
81 will on one condition, uncle and
one only"
Dear, dearv' moaned the old gen.
tleman. Its little rough, Jed, to IN
sist upon conditions, when I'm in such
fix"
Cant help it, unk," returned jed,
coldly. you've been hard on me. Just
say that Helen and l can marry, and
I'll shoulder the whole business"
If it was anybody but those Davis,
Jed, wouldn't care"
eff it was anybody but Helen
wouldn't care, either. But as it is her
1 must insist"
'Well, Jed-do the-the best you can
for me with that vinegary-faced spin.
ster and I'LL surrender
Miss Robins" said Jed, returning
to the old maid and feigning much en-
barrassment, sit was all a mistake. l
must say that did write 'em, though
it did seem like adding to the richness
of the joke to throw it off upon uncle
I'm sure I'm sorry, but"
! Here Miss Robins, with an angry
snort, flounced out of the room. Jed
turned to his uncle.
didn't do that neatly?' said he.
"And now, uncle no backing down
on your part. Helen and l must marry
as soon as she will name the day"
''All right, Jed; but if it was anyone
but those Davis I'd
eyes, but you will, anyhow, unk.
You'll never miss it, and it will set us
up for housekeeping. The whole
scheme is IMMENSE