The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-08
A Corner in Valentines.
(By Clarissa Mackie.)

'I'd like my New York paper, saio
Mr.. Timothy Scott, for the fourth liiiio
that morning. .he
"Just a moment, Mr.. Scott, salo Inc Inc
are very busy today" he conti ,I a; Il
hastily making change for a small 81. giri
who had purchased valentine.
morrow's Valentine day, you know
II ought to know, grower Az W, a
Scott irascibly; you have informed me
of that fact four distinct times TINS
morning. Do you mean to say that al
these people are buying ldlotlc plcluie'
to send to their friends?"
'"They are buying valentines, yes
prehensive glance toward the several
customers. "Your paper will be reauy
ina moment. sir: the package mas iio'
been opened yet"
so busy selling valentines, u
course. You needn't repeat the ex-
planation,' snapped Mr.. Scott turning
toward the door. Paus1ng IN tne tn
trance he looked back. The little sta,
toners was the only SHOP OF It's ~
in the village; here alone Dloomed lne
flower garden OF valentines
alone was the source of his ANNOYANCE.
A diabolical plan entered MT, llniotny
Scott's clever head. A voice lh'ei-
rupted his musings.
Here is your paper at laS.' W.
Scott said the clerk, affapiy. inc gu
RenIIeman lOOkGu dDOul otOAN
pocketed the paper; the other custom.
ers had departed. he was the only one
there.
"Show me all the valentines you
have in stock" he ordered sharplN.
"Yes-yes, SIR" gasped the per
turbed clerk as he dived beneath the
counter Presently he emerged. Dusty
and breathless, bearing several large
green pasteboard boxes.
These in the store" he said, lndl-
Of tha small room,
land these in the boxes are all we
have!"
Mr.. Scott looked around at the rows
of valentines. There were picture pos,
tails lace paper misstves, Few SILK anu
satin beauties and an assortment or the
coarse comic valentines. All OF
them expressed varied degrees OF sentl-
ment and they were all respondent IN
cupids, intertwined hearts, flowers anu
tender verses. r.
othy Scott, reaching for his pocket
book.
The agitated shopman stared vacu-
ously until he caught the fierce CLEAN
in the customers eye; then win
trembling fingers he collected the val
entines and placed them in boxes. In
ten minutes the store was denuded OF
its festive array and Mr.. Timothy Scout
was the proud possessor OF SIX huge
boxes OF valentines.
can you OBTAIN any IilOl z lOA AiS
he asked, sharply.
mo, SIR said the clerk; there
isn't another one in the village, and 1
couldn't get any one to drive twenty
miles to Millertown after some"
Very good" said M Timothy Scott
as he paid his bill. 81 will send my
man after the boxes" he said, as he
left the store and entered the storm OF
flying flakes. There promised to be a
heavy snowfall, and Mr.. Scott tramp
ed cheerfully toward his handsome
home very we'll satisfied with the re-
suit of his mornings work. e.,
Late that afternoon old Benjamin
staggered into the house under the
load of boxes from the stationer's, and
his master ordered them placed in a
corner of the library, where he sat
toasting his feet before the pleasant
blaze.
dis year paper is all de mail dey
was, sah." said the negro as he placed
the evening newspaper at his masters
elbow. Somehow, Mr.. Timothy, seems
like dey's powerful lot O. excitement
down to de postorfis. sah!"
What sort of excitement. Benja-
MINI asked Mr.. Scott. absently.
Why. 1 dunno 'sackly. sab. I
body had boughten cherry valentine dey
was in Beechcove, and dey want one
to be he'd fer love or money, nohow.
Some axis like dey was put out about
it! 1 'spect some gemman has lot ob
lady fren's he's gwine to member dis
yer day." he chuckled gleefully.
Timothy SCOTS weakened little face
flushed under it's mat of snow white
hair. THAT will do. Benjamin." he
said gravely, and the old servant re-
tired.
Il dunno, Hetty." he confided to his
better half. who was washing dishes in
the kitchen, seems like Mr.. Timothy's
growing pesky irritable lately"
Whats he been a sayin' now?"
wheezed Hetty. numbering across the
room. 81 don't set no store by ole
bach's; dey's powerful peevish and
hard to suit
IT don't recomember what he
sayed," returned Benjamin, obviously;
"but he did look like he mought be
saying something befo' long!"
Mr.. Timothy Scott sat late before
his cheerful fire that evening, with
white waist-coat whenever his gaze
encountered the pile of boxes in the
corner of the room.
What are you going to do with
us?" they seemed to ask, reproach-
fully. Are you going to send us on
our several ways to cheer sorrowfuI
lovers and make little children
smile?"
No. Mr.. Timothy Scott was not go
ing to help the valentines to fulfill
their several missions. He frowned
sggressively into the fire and the
glowing embers sent shafts of light up
the chimney and framed pictures in
which valentines played many a part;
and that was very strange, tool
There was picture of a girl, such
q pretty girl, small and dainty, with
black hair and soft black eyes. She
wore a white gown and a blue rib
bon, and she was giving Mr.. Timothy
Scott a valentine and Mr.. Timothy
Scott seemed to be very glad to get
it! And there was another picture of
the same girl, in a white gown and a
blue ribbon, but her eyes We're full of
tears and pleading. while Mr.. Timothy
Scott was frowning at her with thick
hroMs drawn closely together and a