The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1908-04-16
ACorner In
Valentines.
BY CLARISSA MACKlE.
Copyrighted, 1908, by P. c. Eastment.

I'D like my New York paper" said
Mr.. Timothy Scott for the fourth time
that morning
Just moment, Mr.. Scott" said the
busy clerk alphabetically. You see we
are very busy today" he continued,
hastily making change for a small girl
who had purchased valentine. TO
morrow's Valentine day, you know"
Il ought to know" growled Mr.. Scott
irascibly. "You have Informed me of
that fact four distinct times this morn
ing. Do you mean to say that all these
people are buying idiotic pictures to
send to their friends?"
They are buying valentines-yes
sir" returned the clerk, with an appre-
hensive glance toward the several Gus
toners. Your paper will be ready in
a moment, sir. The package has not
been opened yet"
$50 busy selling valentines, Of course.
You needn't repeat the explanation"
snapped Mr.. Scott turning toward the
door. Pausng in the entrance, he look
ed back. The little stationer's was the
only shop of its kind in the village
Here alone bloomed the flower garden
of valentines. Here alone was the
source of his annoyance. A diabolical
plan entered Mr.. Timothy SCOTS clev-
er head. A voice interrupted his mus
ings.
Here Is your paper at last, Mr..
Scott" said the clerk affably. The old
gentleman looked about the store as he
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 sharply.
"Yes-yes, SIR" gasped the perturbed
clerk as he Owed beneath the counter.
Presently he emerged, dusty and
pasteboard boxes.
"These In the store" he said. indicat-
ing the interior of the small room, land
these In the boxes are all we have
Mr. Scott looked around at the rows
of valentines. There were picture
postals, lace paper missiyes, few silk
and satin beauties and an assortment
OF the coarse comic" valentines. All
of them expressed varied degrees of
sentiment, and they were all rcsplcn-
dent in cupids, intertwined hearts,
flowers and tender verses.
II will take them all" said Mr.. Tim
othy Scott, reaching for his pocket
book
The agltated shopman stared vacu-
ously until he caught the fierce CLEAN
in the customers eye; then, with trem-
bling fingers, he collected the valen-
tines and placed them In boxes. In
ten minutes the store WAS denuded of
its festive array, and Mr.. Timothy
Scott was the proud posseSsor OF six
huge boxes of valentines.
"Can you obtain any more for meY'
he asked sharply.
mo, SIR" said the clerk. There
isn't another one In the village, and /
couldn't get any one to drive twenty
miles to Mlllertown after some"
every good" said Mr.. Timothy Scott
as he paid his bill. Il will send my
man after the boxes" he said as he left
the store and entered the storm OF fly
ing flakes. There promised to be n
heavy snowfall, and Mr.. Scott tramped
cheerfully toward his handsome home
very well satisfied with the result Of
his mornings work.
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 II
corner of the library. where he sat
toasting his feet before the pleasant
blaze.
"Dls yer 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 postortis, sab"
What sort of excitement BenJa
MINI" asked Mr. Scott absently.
why, | dunno 'sackly, sab. | heerd
Mr.. Downs say as how somebody had
boughten ebery valentine dey was In
Beechcoye, and dey want one to be
he'd fer love er money, nohow. Some
axis like dey was put out about it. l
'spect some gemman has lot O. lady
frien's he's gwine to member dis yer
day" he chuckled gleefully.
Timothy SCOTS weakened little face
flushed under Its mat of snow white
hair That will do, Benjamin" he
said grayey, and the old servant re-
tired.
81 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. ~ don't set no store by ole
bachs 'Dey's powerful peevlsh and
hard to suit"
II don't recomember what he sayed,"
returned Benjamin obviously, "but he
did look like he mought be sayin'
something befo' long"
Mr. Timothy Scott sat late before his
cheerful fire that evening with feel
ing of discomfort beneath his white
walstcoat whenever his gaze encoun-
tered the pile OF boxes In the corner of
the ROOM
"What are Won going TO do with US Z"