Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-12-22


Bobbie. Two little black block. and
one littl. red one. Oh, Mary, but
they re FIVE cents, and I've only got
four :"
She held out the coveted penny.
q think Katie Smith might like one
for a Christina, gift
"Oh, no, no, no p shouted Bobbie
"but it's not for Katie Smith, its fol
-" Then he put both hands over
his foolish little mouth and chuckled
softly.
You'd better go away, or you might
tell me secrets, laughed Mary.
And Bobbe, chuckIing harder than
ever. ran out into the street.
The littl. old lady who kept the
little old shop where he had slied the
pen-wipers was very busy that after
noon. The tiny place was full Of old
fashioned people who were buying her
scarlet mittens, or her dainty tasseled
hoods and jackets, or even the glass
eyed Canton flannel elephants that
stood in her windows and stared out
at the naughty world.
Bobbie slipped into corner, away
from the crowd of bustling people, and
looked on.
Presently the door-belI tinkled, and
another customer came in. He was a
tall man with a very brown face, and
he wore shaggy coat that fell down
to his heels. He stood there at the
door and scanned the faces Of the buy
ers, one by one. Then he caught Bob
bie's eyes, and smiled down at him.
I'm looking for somebody, " he said,
"but | cant find her at all. ~ Now the
smile died out of his face and sad
look came instead
A queer idea was in Bobbles head.
He looked up at the shaggy man and
said wistfullv
Are you the prince? Areyou look
ing for the princess Did you go away
and never come back any more, till
now?'
"Who told you that ?' asked the
shaggy man.
MY sister, said BObbie "it's a
story. Once there was a prince, and
he loved the princess but he went
away and never came back any more.
That's sad story, said the shag-
gy man.
"It'.good enough for Happy Court, -
said Bobbie and, oh, but that was a
wise thing for him to say
There only Mary and me, he be-
gan but just then the lady called :
And what can I do for you, sIr?'
and he went forward to buy his little
red and black pen-wiper
He looked very important as he
trotted out into the street with his
precious present tied up carefully in
pink blotting paper. He opened a
corner of the tiny package and let the
man who had followed him take peep
at it.
"It's for my sister. Amt it beau
tiful for only five cents p
Very" said the man, gravely.
"Will she use it often-does she write
a great deal-your sister ?"
well, no, said Bobbie, looking a
shadow less happy, but and bis
face lit up sgain-"she used to, when
we didn't live in Happy Court letters
and letters, and they went cut to a
big ship in the waterway off over
the water
Now they had reached the corner Of
Happy Court.
"Good-by, said Bobbie, blithely.
But the man caught hin fast by the
arm.
Little boy" he said, haven't I
seen you somewhere before Now tell
me true.
NO, you haven't" said Bobbie,
promptly; "and l never saw YOU
either"
Well, SAID the shaggy man,
guess I am fool. Merry Christmas,
laddie -
Down the court, through the windy
yellow light and the falling dead
leaves, ran Bobbie as fast as he could.
But the man followed him. He fol-
lowed him up the rickety stairs and to
the very door of the shabby little
room.
"Ob, Mary, said Bobbie, "it's just
beautiful !"
Mary's head came out Of the dark
ness by the cupboard door
well, Bobbie, she began-but
there she stopped and stood still as a
stone.
"And the prince came back again,
IL L.