The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-02-19

! go to the workhouse, claim johnny,
and meet her lord afterwards at the
jewellers shop. She, good, motherly
/ soul, was trimming over with kindly
| delight In her errand. She carried
I large basket of cakes and apples as a
Christmas box to the other small
workhouse children, and the rosy
I glow on her sunny face rivalled the
j fruit in color Timmins, mean
while, proceeding to the jewelers.,
large magnificent shop In a broad
thOroughfare. When he reached it.
he stared through the plate glass win
/ dow IN admiration. It was already
dusk, AMI tie brilliant jets of gas,
sparkling upon the gems, seemed to
extract from them tiny streams of
light. while within could be seen a
sort Of dazzling vista of gold aud sill
yer. Timmins stood gazing for min
ute or two, and then walked Ia in'the
best possible spirits, and advanced to-
wards the. counter.
L called about this advertisement.
said he. showing one that he had cut
out of the paper; the box has come
into my possession.
o, indeed, replied the young mas
taxable sneer; 20, indeed!7
: 1t happened very curiously," Tim
Minis went on glibely. and my
wife were walking"
Don't tell your story to me, if you
please" interrupted the shoDman.
rudely, I'll mention your errand to
my master. Here, j Johnson, two upon
ten"
The shopman disappeared down an
inner passage, aud johnson advanced
from the other side of the shop and
kept very close to Mr.. Timmins in a
manner which he could not but think
offensive, especially as a man of far
less respectable appearance was
left standing unmatched at the
opposite counter. Worse than
this, the meaning of the mystic
rious order two upon ten" soon be-
came obvious in the gluing of Mr..
JohnsOn's two eyes upon the ten fin
gers, five Of which were resting inno-
Gently upon the counter. Mr.. Tim
Minis began to grow very uncomfort-
able. When finally the first shopman
returned aud preceded him into a
private room, and johnson, calling
another man to attend to the shop,
joined quietly in behind, Timmins felt
that all his good spirita had unac-
countably left him, and was conscious
Of wearing a hang dog look, and of
being treated surprisingly like
criminal.
Mrs. Timmins, with little Johnny
in her hand, lowered about the door
of the jeWeller's shop for a good quar-
70 Of IN hi h.af j.
his appearance. When at length he
did so, she fell back with a start. and
looked with terrified eyes into his
face; the gas-light showed it to be Of
a deadly white.
Heaven save us, Z what's the
matter? You look like a ghostp
Stuff and nonsense" be said, try
ing to speak angrily, but the words
came thick and faint out of his throat
WHAT you've got the brat have
yOu?"
Yes, T. Poor little man, he was
so pleased, and the wife crept timid-
ly nearer to her husband. We shall
never repent it anyway, I'm sure. |
could't have eaten my Christmas din
ner comfortable, if we hadn't done it,
but haven't you-haven't you got the
money!"
Yes, I've got the money" he
growled between his set teeth.
Mrs. Tinmins felt such lump rise
in her throat that she spoke no more
till they were at home and In their
own room. There she could no longer
restrain her tears; they streamed down
unnoticed over the new Christmas |
boz net-strings that she tied with such |
price an hour before. 20, Timmins I"
she pleaded. . can't bear this. Only
tell me what it means"
" Meansl" he exclaimed at last,
turning savagely upon her; 1t |
means that I've been treated |
like a common thief. They /
don't believe word of my
story, as any one might have known |
they wouldn't. They don't prosecute, |
but they are going to write and inform /
the Company. 1t seems that / shall |
lose my situation and my character,
and be ruined as sure as you're a liv- /
log womanj thanks to you and that
cursed bratl'
As he spoke, he raised his boot in
his blind passion and launched a fur |
ious kick at little johnny. It missed /
the child, but it struck the woodwork i
of the chimney piece, and made a dent
in it. The sieht sobered Timmins in
a moment. He looked at his heavy
boot, aud the mark which it had
made, and then at the little child at
whom the kick had been aimed Turn
ing away, he hid his face In his
hands and fairly burst into tears.
" God forgive me" he said, m
worse than a brute; but it's