The Monitor-register., 1896-02-14
Robbie Fagan's Valentine.
ISABEL GORDON

Hopkins door bell, as any other we'll
regulated little st. Valentines night boy
would have done. The boys at school
never allowed him to forget that he was
''nothin' but a poorhouse Irish boy
ohorin' for old John Munger, an no
account to nobody" So Robbie crept
along stealthily by the Hopkins fence
with one eye on the road behind him and
the other on the big, dark house that
loomed up gloomily beyond the fence.
The Hopkins house never seemed cheer
ful or bright, even on the sunniest days.
1t seemed to have taken tone from its
mistress, and was trying to look as if life
was not worth living. But that night
Robbie was not going to let the old house
frown him down; he was too happy. He
hugged big, lace paper envelope close
to his breast under his ragged coat, and
his face glowed with happiness. He had
been saving pennies for that valentine
since last June, when he had ridden
home from the Sunday School picnic
side by side in the big hay wagon with
Hannah Hopkins. Robbie had looked
out in his sturdy fashion all that day for
Hannah. She was sach little pale
thing, with big, scared eyes and fluffy
brown hair that would straggle out irom
under her gray calico suubonnet. Her
aunt was the rich old maid Miss Hop.
kins, but she lived 'close," SO Mt. Car
al f.,lL nd
she had to work hard, study hard, live
constantly under the stern eye of her aunt
Maria, and wear all her skinny dust
colored gowns made over.
Robbie wondered if Hannah had ever
had valentine, as he crept in at the yard
gate, keeping in the shadow of the great
dark pines that ran in long line up to
the front door. 1t was very dark in the
narrow porch and he crept into its shelter
gladly, for his ears were stinning with
the cold wind and his fingers were SO
numb that he could hardly clutch the
precious envelope. He felt for a bell
handle but there was none; the old
knocker which had been put on the door
when the house was built hung there
still. He did not dare lift it, so he hung
the valentine with the little loop of white
thread be had tied in it, to the door
handle, then he crept back into the
shadow of the great wide-spreading pine
near by.
Suddenly there came flash of light, a
loud rasping voice, dogs excited yelp-
ing, and before he realized what had
happened, Robbie was in the anA
clutches of Miss Hopkins, who was shak.%
ing him, cutting him and screaming,
Thief" 'Scoundrel," "Poor-house
trash''
Poor Robbie, be scarcely spoke until he
had been dragged into the wide hall of
the old house, while Ellen, Miss Hopkins
servant, led the way to a big, dark
windowless pantry, that smelled of dead
mint and sage, which seemed chillier aud
more forlorn than the gloomy yard out.
doors. Miss Hopkins flung him in there,
the door was locked with vicious snap,
then Robbie tried to remember how 1t
|
| about.
He was leaning follornly against q
barrel, smearing his dirty eoatsleeve
across his wet eyes, when the door was
thrown open and he saw in a halfdazzled
stare Miss Hopkins h awk-like face peer.
ing ont at him from her black hood.
while at her elbow stood Titus, the big
policeman he had seen so often down the
street.
His father was bad lot, num- Oh,
| knowed him." said Titus, pompously,
"an' allus said this kid would follow in
his footsteps"
II didn't do nothin'," cried Robbie,
wildly. II was only
10, I know twas only" said Miss
Hopkins shrill voice, "only my chickens
an eggs an everything you could lay
your thieving little fists on"
Robbie stopped his sobbing suddenly.
for he had heard another voice, pitiful
wall from the wide staircase, and then
looking back he saw in the yellow glare of
Ellen's lamp little gray.robed figure
with pale face and frightened eyes,
The boy slept that night in the police
station. Nobody would listen to his
denials and he had stubbornly decided
that he would not tell what he had gone
there for. Next morning, in the police
court, things looked even darker for him
A village groceryman swore to having
bought fresh eggs more than once from
Robert Pagan. Even his old master.
John Munger, sturdily refused to say a
good word for him, and Robbie would
not tell why he went to the Hopkins yard
or explain anything except that the eggs
had been given him by peddling egg 4
and butter man whom he had helped
sometimes. He sat there silent and stub.
born. with great lump In his throat and
half indistinct vision of Miss Hopkins
stern face gazing at him across the
crowded courtroom. The Judge looked
puzzled, but not unkindly. Robbie re-
membered him as a mau who had once
given him dime for running after him
with cheekrein he had lost. But Titus
was making the most of his story, Miss
Hopkins was telling of the chickens lost
during the night, of eggs that vanished
through the day, of fruit cans which had
bsen stolen from her cellar by thief who
had to squirm through window ''iust
big enough to let him in, your Honor"
she concluded, viciously.
Robbie heard whisper about the iail
and reform school, his head began to
swim. Then there came loud knock at
the big door, childish voice calling
"Let me In, and Hannah entered. Her
brown hair had escaped from under the
little red hood and was blowing softly
about her face, which was flushed and
tear-stained. Miss Hopkins exclaimed
sharply. somebody called sOrder ia the
COURT" the judge commanded Hannah
to be brought to him, and then be said
something about the only witness for the
defence, while she handed him the
evidence and told her story In tear
choked voice.
81 found this in the yard this morning,
SIR" she said. "Rover had tore it some
but it has just the same writing on it as
this and they found it in Robbie's desk
! at school this morning. And Robbie
Pagan amt thief" she added, with a
loud outburst of tears.
Robbie's face crimsoned, while the
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