El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-30

so in the case of Maggie Reilly, whose
affairs of the heart had been both
numerous and noted.
Often Tommie would come out of the
shop sInacking his lips with great rel
ish and say that he could still taste
that last chocolate mouse. Day by
day, too, he recounted the amount of
taffy and chocolate mice his mother
made him consume and told how she
felt hurt if he didn't seem to enjoy his
allowance. And week by week hope
and hunger increased among the ranks
of his army o. worshipers. But nei-
Their candy nor taffy nor mice were
Forthcoming. and at last sounds Of
doubt and dissension arose. All day
long hungry eyed group of children
hung about the shop window and gazed
upon the delicacies within, but never
were they invited inside by the obdu-
rate Tommie. Two glass jars, one of
peppermints and one Of red winter
green drops, appeared in the window
and added to the seductiveness of the
forbidden paradise, and one week later
these were followed by a pasteboard
box filed with all day suckers.
Two days after the appearance of the
box Of all day suckers Maggie Reilly
came into the possession of two pennies.
1t was believed by some that such
wealth was not come by honestly, but
this statement was frowned down, not
for any faith in Maggie Reilly's homes
ty, but simply because curiosity con-
Quered all other feelings.
With these two pennies she invaded
the sacred realms of Tommie Doyle's
candy shop. After much debate it had
been decided that she should be accom-
panied by Lou Birkins, her bosom
friend. The little bell rang with an
awe inspiring clatter as the two fortu-
nate ones entered the sacred portal.
Once inside, they gaZed with wide eyes
and open mouth on the strange treas
ures that lay before them.
In a way the sight was disappointing.
Mrs. Doyle was scrubbing the floor
when they stumbled and shuff1ed in,
but she wiped her hands and arms on
her mat apron and got up from her
knees when she saw they were Gus j
toners. She was a thin, gaunt woman
with a shrill voice, and she frightened
Maggie Reilly so much that that star
tied young lady didn't know whether
she wanted wintergreen drops or choc-
olate mice. She finally solved the prob
lem by taking conversation lOzenges,
six for penny.
While these were being counted out
the voice of Tommie Doyle came from
the little room at the back Of the shop.
ma, why can't scrape out the big
potr' The voice was tremulous with
fearful entreaty.
Because you can't, that's why, Tom
mic Doylew shrilly, sternly, called back
his mother from the shop.
But amt had taste of taffy since
we've come in this new shop" walled
back the boy.
"And you amt likely to get none
neitherw said his mother impaSsfvely
as she put the two pennies in an empty
cigar box placed on the shelf for that
purpose
The two visitors looked at each other
with significant glances. The revela-
ton had come. Tommie Doyle was a
sham and an impostor. Conversation
lozenges were forgotten, and the little
bell over the shop door had not ceased
ringing before the news was spreading
like wildfire down the street
When Tommie Doyle stepped out of
the shop that afternoon, smacking his
lips and rubbing his stomach, a jeer Of
laughter sounded through the crowded |
street.
ma, why can't 1 scrape out the big !
pot?' mimicked Maggie Reilly, with !
fiendish delight, for she felt her feel |
ings had been outraged by Tommie in !
days gone by. A score of voices took !
up the cry, MA, why can't scrape out !
the big pot?" and the taunt went echo |
ing down the street.
The boy who lived in the candy shop |
learned that day in the deepest depths !
of his heart that the way of the trans |
gresSor is hard.-From 1.-The Loom Of ,
Destiny" by Permission of Small, May |
nard & Co., Publishers.
A Pair of Baby Cyclists.
Though only a baby 16 months old,