The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-02-12

the fifth time, letter which he had
just received. For it was st. Valen-
tines day and he had already opened
a 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 read.
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 smartr'
he finally calculated. "rll show him
to write me such stuff as this. mean
old codger! He's mad at me cause l
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 a
bad valentine?"
~ sh'd say hadr" grunted Tommy.
"Just read it." and he disdainfully
tossed it to Helen.
20, 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 a comic
valentine, that she hardly saw him.
His eye fell on the valentine and his
face heightened. He saw it all now,
and, tiinging the letter down on the
counter, he cried, angrily:
Take your old valentine! He got
'em mixed, knowr' and was off 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
fright and, for the first time in his life,
prevaricated
IL" he stammered. care you
sure l 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, (as
if she had the slightest thought of
leavingD will speak to jed Some
prank, probably"
But when Jed came he denied writ
ing such letter, and asked to see it.
"Uncle's 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 a picture to a poor, lone
woman like me-" she shriel1ed. 'And
then deny the letter you wrote. / will
sue you for breach of promise, you
old sneak" she screamed. 81 certainly
will.'
jed, Jedr' whispered his uncle,
hoarsely. drawing him to one side.
Get me out of this and will do any
thing you want-anything!"
81 will on one condition, uncle-and
one only"
Dear, dear.' moaned the old gen.
tleman. Its a little rough, Jed, to In
sist upon conditions, when I'm in such
a fix"
Cant help it, unk," returned Jed,
coldly. you've been hard on me. Just
say that Helen and 1 can marry, and
I'll shoulder the whole business"
''If it was anybody but those Davis,
Jed, wouldn't care"
"If it was anybody but Helen 1
wouldn't care, either. But as it is her
/ must insist"
"Well, Jed-do the-the best you can
for me with that vinegary-faced spin
ster and I'M surrender"
Miss Robins" said Jed, returning
to the old maid and feigning much en-
barrassment, ''it was all mistake.
must say that did write 'em, though
it did seem like adding to the richnes
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 must marry
as soon as she will name the day"
"All right, Jed; but if it was anyone
but those Davis I'd"
.'Yes, but you will, anyhow, unk.
You'll never miss it, and it will set us
up for housekeeping. The whole
scheme is immense"
So they were married and Uncle
Brown came down so handsomely that
it is quite probable Helen's first kiss
upon her wedding morning had re-
moved his unreasonable prejudices
against those Davis Matte o.
Campbell, in Yankee Blade.
My Wish.