Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-04-08
the suggestions offered by the sEall
"Well, kidl What is it9"


aim not kid. Pm girl. An(
my name is Zie. didn't know until
o-day that your name was Joe. Our
Pink nurse told me. Would you mind
telling me if you've an Annie-already3 2
''Tve no ANNIE" and Mr., Ripley
grinned.
"Would you like one9"
81 don't mind"
"Because-I know one."
"So2"
"Yes. That's our Pink nurses name.
She watches you from behind the cur
tain"
"Sol"
"That's ALL" added zie with dignity,
"You can go now"
And Mr.. Ripley went home, but Mr..
Ripley has since confessed that he never
felt so queer in all his life, and further
more acknowledged that if he had not
got religion during the previous spring
he should have been tempted to believe
in Fate.
And in fact Mr.. Ripley, the village
telegraph-operator, began to act as if
under some sort of spell. Just in front
of Catalpa Cottage, out near the print
tive horse-block, there was loose plank.
1t was singular fact that the window
where the Pink nurse lurked commanded
a view of this loose plank.
Now, avoid that plank as he would,
Mr.. Ripley no sooner reached that spot
each day, in the full consciousness of the
ewes behind the window curtain, aud the
calm, judicious aspect OF small figure
in the hammock, than some demon mred
him to it, stubbed his toe with it, and
allowed him to pass on with neck and
ears perfect match to the Pink nurse.
One day he distinctly heard litter
from behind the curtain.
"Never mind" came the small voice
from the hammock, "she likes you just
the same, if she does laugh at you. She
wouldn't watch for you every day, you
know, if she didn't" Which was a
sensible conclusion for fve-year- old
girl.
But that plank grew to be night
mare to Mr.. Ripley, the telegraph opera
tor. Every day he found it there.
One night at midnight Zie had a
dream. All in the moonlight of per-
feet June night she heard the fairies;
"Kuockl knock! knockl'
at sounded real," she announced
over her oatmeal pOrridge.
And it probably was, to somc extent,
for the plank was found firmly fxed iu
its place that morning by three bright,
new nails.
"Its coming true" whispered zie to
himself, and she told the same thing in
strictest confidence to three intimate
friends, after the fashion OF her sex.
But as they happened to be merely {
hop-toad, demure lady.bug and gaudy
humming.bird, the secret was still a
secret.
That night when Mr.. Ripley went
home to his supper, Zie sat on the horse
block.
"Did you nail it1' she promptly
asked.
"Nail whatl" responded Mr.. Ripley,
with a brief glance at the window cur
tain.
"The plank. think it was a fairy.
She thinks it was you. Was it9"
But Mr.. Ripley passed on speech
less.
Aud as he went he was quite angry
to find himself marching to the tune Of:
Soon they'll be married,
Never to part.
And, on the last day Of Jne, when tue
catalpa blossoms lay like silver upon the
lawn, Zie propounded remarkable quas-
tion at the luncheon table.
"Do all men say they never kissed
anyone else in all their lives Wher
they get engaged, l meau," she asked
with her mouth full Of sponge-cake.
"What can the child mean "
calculated Aunt Louise in amazement.
zie sat up very straight.
81 mean that Annie's got Joe, now.
OH, it's true And they say that I'm {
darling-but | knew that--always
That's a chestnut. And Joe told Annie
that she was the very first girl he had
ever loved, and she wouldn't believe him
but she didn't get mad one bit. Why
wouldn't she believe him "
"Because-they all say that" ex
planned mamma, stirring the cream in
cup of cotfee-New York Truth.
What Selectian VIII Do.