, 1872-04-25

basket Of scrap paper 10 bsnk-notss, o
make coined out Of the cindezs unde
the CRATE.
THAT'S nonsense r. said Miss Pen
dexter.
"Of course it ID. Sense 10 ct . dis
count Just at present. Look at the pill
of manuscript, If you don't believe me
that no editor will buy; see those ele
CANT oil paintings that De Beaudin de
clines respectfully to hang up for sale
What's fellow to do!
"At least" said Jemima. tossing hel
handsome head, "you ought to pay
your honest debts r.
at know that. my DEAR" said Mr.
Allaire gravely. "And I've written aI
least seven earnestly entreating letters
to my hard-hearted old uncle. and oi
the seven answers that ought to have
come back, the first one hasn't made it
appearance. Jemima, I've an idea r.
"Pshaw !" said Miss Pendexter, try.
ing in vain to maintain the severe grav.
ity of aspect that was rapidly thawine
beneath the merry sparkle of the sloe.
black eyes. .r.l. .fes.s-
But 1 have, really. Suppose you
take me in part payment Of my bill to
Mrs. Pendexter. believe l have the
elements of frst-rate husband about
me-"
Miss Jemima turned resolutely away.
"Mr. Allaire, believe you'd joke il
you were upon your dying bed"
And she went down stairs.
"a man might do worse than marry
Jemima Pendextsr," said Mr.. Allaire
meditatively. "She's pretty. and she'a
spirited; and as for her mother keeping
clearinghouse. that's no particular
objection in my eyes. Halloo What's
that commotion outside r.
He threw up the window-sash and
stretched himself halfway out. Mrs.
Pendexter. q stout, thrifty matron, in
friiled cap and lilac ribbons, was bal
gaining with ragged itinerant Of the
gypsy order to have load Of wood
which had just been deposited at her
door, sawed and split and slowed into
the cellar.
"Couldnt do it for less than four dol
lars, men," said the Bohemian of the
streets.
ut isn't worth three r. cried Mrs.
Pendexter.
"Worst kind O. knotty wood. mem.
"I won't give cent more than three. :"
persisted Mrs. Pendexter.
Every well. it'll be to somebody be-
sides me-" said the man, shouldering
his axe and passing indifferently on.
He supposed that Mrs. Pendexter
would call him back and accede to his
terms, but he was mistaken in the bux-
ON widows mental cahbre. She was
turning indoors again, when, to her
surprise, she found herself confronting
Mr.. Ferdinand Allaire in his shirt
sleeves.
I'm your man. ma'am !" said he,
rubbing his white palms briskly to-
gether.
"My goodness gracious !" calculated
the widow, "what do you mean Mr..
Allaire p
"I mean that little job of wood-saw-
ing," said our hero. Bring ON your
axe and saw. Ill do it for three dollars,
and turn it in toward our small account.
Now then, ma am, wide awake, if you
please r.
"But-I beg your pardon. Mr.. Al
laire. if you please-you're q gentle
man"
every well, what of that Is there
anything to prevent gentleman split
ting up cord of wood ? A great deal
more Strengthening to the muscles of
the arm than dumb-bells and Indian
clubs, I am sure"
"Are you really in earnest 2"
Eyes, am"
And then Mrs. Pendenter, seeing no
reason why she should not realize q
portion at least of the back board for
the third-story hall bedroom in this
practical manner. sent Jack, the errand
boy, down after the axe and saw, and
Ferdinand Allaire set briskly to work.
whistling Banks and Braes " most en-
ergetically as he toiled.
Miss Jemima came and looked out Of
tho window. her eyes shining merry
encouragement, and her mischievoua
mouth framing itself in dimples. Miss
Lavina Jones, the elderly maiden lady
who occupied the back parlor. pursed
up her lips, and wondered "what n
diculous freak that madcap of . Mr..
Allaire would be up to next 2" Young
Jessamy of the Occidental Club nearly
got run over. starting back In amaze
ment at seeing Ferdinand at work