The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1892-02-13

1880 "NSi
carelessly. I'm going down the street
presently"
His uncle glanced hastily at the table
and a 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 baize top of the table.
Mo- 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 mailbox.
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 a round o and sent forth
IA sharp shrill whistle.
my eyes," he said, ''if that doesn't
go ahead of anything / ever see!" and
he danced around the room on one
foot Then he sat down to read, for
the fifth time, a 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 n
mischievous forefinger.
Twill 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.
''IIiram Brown thinks he's smart
he finally calculated. I'll show him
to write me such stuff as this, mean
old codger, Hes mad at me cause l
tripped him up with a string last
April Fool,p 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?"
II sh'd say l had!' grunted Tommy.
Just read it," and he d~isdainfully
tossed it to Helen.
20, that isn't so very bad" she said,
laughing. You had better let me
keep it. It might make Mr.. Brown
some trouble" But a 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 raj as fast rs 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. hat she hardly saw him.
His eye fell on the valentine and his
face heightened. He saw it all now,
and, finging the letter down on the
counter, he cried, angrily:
Take your old valentine. lie got
'em mixed, | know and was off ike Il
shot.
That very afternoon. Miss Robins
locked her shop door and, arrayed in Il
'.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-faccd old thing as she was, he was
attacked by something very like stage
fright and. for the first time in his life,
prevaricated.
'I-I-' he stammered. Are you
sure ! wrote it? Changed letters, you
say-probably lone as a joke on your
self and Tommy Davis, (the little
rascal)" he muttered. in an undertone.
"Wait a moment, dear Miss Robins. las
if she had the slightest thought of
lcaving9 will speak to Jed. Some
prank, probably"
But when Jed came he de MED writ
ing such a 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 shriekcd. And
then deny the letter you wrote. l will
sue you for breach of promise, you
old sneak she screamed. Il certainly
will
jed, Jed whispered his uncle,
hoarsely. drawing him to n side.
me ont of this and l will do any
thing you want-anything.'
Il will on one condition, uncle and
one only"
Dear, dear" moaned the old gen.
Its a little rough, Jed, to IN
sist upon conditions, when I'm in such
a fix"
Cant help it, unk," returned Jed,
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, I wouldn't care"
IF it was anybody but Helen l
wouldn't care. either. But as it is her
| must insist"
We'll, Jed-do the-the best you can
for me with that vinegary-faced spin
ster and I-Ill surrender"
Miss Robins" said Jed, returning
to the old maid and feigning much IN
barrassment, lit was all a mistake.
must say that l did write 'em, though
it did seem like adding to the richness
the Joke to throw it off upon uncle.
Tim sure I'm sorry, but"
Here Miss Robins, with an angry
snort, fiounced 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
is immense"
So they were married, and Uncle
Brown came down so handsomely that
it is quite probable Helen's first kiss
her wedding morning had re-
moved his unreasonable prejudices