Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-03-10

'1'd as soon stay after hours as not. .
Excuse me-" said the dressmaker,
with awful stiffness of demeanor, "but
l prefer to manage my business fol
myself. Amabel Archer must finish
the dress rs she has begun it. Two
or three different hands on job are
sure to ruin it, and I don't desire to
lose Miss Waterson's custom"
But" cried Amabel, piteously, 81
promised Captain Juniper Il must
go!'
eff you co." said Miss Daffodil,
''you don't come back into my employ
ment again."
And poor Amabel thought of her in
valid mother and the three apple
checked little sisters who were clothed
and kept at school by her toll, and she
dared not demonstrate further.
''But 1 shall hear the sleigh bells, -
she comforted herself; "and 1 can just
run out moment and beg him to be-
lieve that it was not my fault"
And she sat down by the window,
after the other hands were gone-she
was the only one who boarded with
Miss Daffodil-to sew and sigh and
| listen.
But she heard no silver Ginning
sleigh bells. How should she, when
Miss Daffodil had quietly crept down
the lane and intercepted the cap
tain's gay little equipage just where
the old tinger-post raised its skeleton
form in the air?
"Oh," said the captain, frank,
handsome young fellow, with laughing
blue eyes and golden beard, sis it
you, Miss Daffodil? I thought per-
haps-"
''Yes, it's me-" said Miss Daffodil,
sweetly. 81 just came to tell you
that Miss Archer is very sorry, but
she can't go cutter riding with you
this evening. She's got bad sore
throat; besides, she's dreadful hurried
with her work"
Captain jumpers countenance fell.
He played with the handle of his whip,
while the horse paved the ground and
fecked his jetty breast with specks of
foam, all impatience to be gone.
81 am so sorryr' he said, with such
genuine disappointment that Miss DAT
fodil could have boxed his ears. ''But,
Miss Daffodil, may confide in you?"
"0h. certainly!' said the dress
maker, graciously.
''Do you believe in st. Valentine!'
he asked?
"Dear mel" giggled Miss Daffodil-
what very strange question! He's
supposed to be the patron saint OF
lovers, isn't hep"
said Captain Juniper, leaning his
head still closer toward the spinster's S
worsted hood. "Do you believe in
him?"
"Of course L do" smiled the lady,
with curious hutter in the region of
her heart.
''Then I am sure may trust you, -
said he, fervently. II shall be under
the easement at daybreak on st. Val
entine's day to claim Miss Archer as
my valentine for the year. Tell her
so, from me. Beg her not to disap-
point me again"
"Yes," said Miss Daffodil, turning
a dull yellow with rage and vexation
-''yes, captain, will. -
''I shall be so much obliged to your
said the unsuspecting lover.
"Oh, not at ALI" said Miss Daffodil.
you're quite sure she didn't send
me any message?" said Captain Juni-
per, wistfully.
"No message" said Miss Daffodil,
smoothly.
Poor Amabel could hardly see to
finish Miss Waterson's dress, through
her tears, and it was midnight wher
| she had laid it aside and went to bed,
y.ng herself to sleep.
''He has forgotten all about me, y
she thought.
st. Valentines eve was full of still
wintry splendor, with a golden line
along the west and great stars begin
ming to glisten in the sky above, whe.
Miss Daffodil put a preposterous splint
basket into Amabel Archer's hands.
II try 10 be a Dorcas in all good
works." said she, sand I've put these
jams and jellies up for the Widow
Bethiah Hull She's dreadful poorly
they say, and needs watchers every
night; so told her daughter-in-law
you'd come there and stay tonight.
| Amabel looked up, with a sudder
flush dying her cheek. She had MOI
forgotten that it was st. Valentine
eve.
| "Won'ttomorrow night do as well?'
said she, pleadingly.
"No, it won't!'' said Miss Daffodil
tartly.
Amabel said no more. After all,
what did it matter? If David juniper
had ceased to think about her, wha
meaning could the soft glow of st
Valentines morn have for her?
So she took the basket and spiritless
ly departed, almost wishing that she
too, were passing out of life's cheer
less confines like poor Bethiah Hull
Because" she thought, cit dom
seem as if life was worth living, afte
all"