The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-08-28
A SITUATION.

the drops filtering playfully throu q
the clouds, interspersed with dazzi l
outbursts of sunshine, but now a pelt
ing, merciless torrent rushed sharpl
downward, gathering vehemence frou
past delay. 81
And there stool Bessy in the mi5s
of it, one pretty foot stretched doubt
fully outward to feel for a stepT Iug
stone midst the torrent that swept owe
the crossing.
Quite by accident, of course, young
Brownley, dawdling at the depot il
doubt whether to take the next TRAIN
caught sight of this vision, as he drum
med with idle fingers on the gray-greer
panes of the waiting-room. it vas
quite by accident also, of course, bal
in second after this he was crossina
the street a little further up, armed
with a big umbrella. As Bessy, ill
doubtful, glanced ruefully about tr
see if she could reach the nearest tree
or had better brave it out, this stranger
picking his way through the mud and
wet, stood by her side.
Now we all know that it does not do
for a woman to overstep conventional
limits she must keep to the bars Of
her gilded cake, and twittar happily
behind them. To allow a gentlenan
to speak to her without an introduction,
even if he were on a raft, while she
flOated by, going politely to the bot,
tom, would be thing of very doubtful
etiquette. But down came the shower,
and there stood Bessy with an umbrel.
la. Under some circumstances, it must
be owned, cOnventionalism makes a
poor show beside savageism, and young
Brownley, having more or less of the
savage lingering ,about him, proffered
his umbrella. 1t was promptly accepted
by the girl who had evidently far less
regard for the proprieties of life than
fer her dripping dress.
"Oh, dear I" she said, sits CON.
pletely spoiled, suppose. This is the
second time have started out to see
poor little Tom, and been stopped by the
rain. Ihope it won't rain this way every
after noon"
81 almost hope that it will" said
/ flushed face beside him. 81 always
carry an umbrella"
Now it must be confessed that this
commendable prudence and foresight
had sprnng up in the young man within
Reforms must begin at some time, Ipre-
sumo.
1 have observed that, as a rule, most
heroes of romance are well provided
for. They have a higher sphere of
troubles than the mere harassment of
looking for bread and butter. And
right enough it should be so, say /. It
is pity if we can not have place 'of
refuge, between book covers at least.
where the contemplate commonplace
of life is not thrust upon us. Ali has
to the heroes with rich uncles and old
aunts, and good-humored mole-eyed
grandmothers, and forthcoming lega-
cies I'm sorry can't place my hero
among them but he's an intensely
everyday fellow, not fit for such high
society. He hqsn even distant rela-
tive in India with one foot in the grave
The fact is, the youth had actually
come up to Evansville looking for
situation in the big country store Of
Wander & Co., and what is more, he'd
been refused it.
But here, however, with the incorrigi-
bic hopefulness of youth, he walked
along beside Bessy, and forgot all about
it. He expected to leave her at some
cottage gate near by, and so he did
presently. A pretty low-roofed house
s'ood Just in sight, with a row of rel
and white hollyhocks nodding up to its
caves, A scarlet-runner, dripping an
shining in the shower, half hid littla
window facing on the lane, wherein
fantastic assemblage of spools, beads.
and jars of confectionery looked out with
an eye to trade.
The pirl dunU oman tho oaka
wont you come imp" she said
" Aunt Polly will be glad to see you.
"No, thank you," said the young
man, staring stupidity after her, as shs
disappeared among the hollyhocks.
Lives there, does she ?" he sai6
contemplating the tiny shop-windov
" Tn too late for the train to-day
Guess I'll call in tomorrow. Wonder if /.
they keep fishing lines p
The next morning, after lounging
about the village, and trying vainly to |
get a sense of his situation, or rather |
want of one, young Brownley brushed |
his coat with extraordinary care.
"No signs of a show to-day" he said, |
IS he strolled up the road. Wonder |
if I'd better take the train"
And with that he turned up the lane
toward the little shop. A clean ole
woman, in a wide-frilled cap and wrink-
led face, sat rocking herself in the
doorway. She looked up as the gate
latch clicked; a great at purring cat her
feet rose sleepily, curling its tail, as the
lntruderentered. Fishing lines ?" ThC
The old woman set taboutfumbling spec
tacled search among her motley stock
but none were to be found. He coulC
get them up at Squire Vander's BIZ
store IN the village. All well, the
young man reco1lected just then that
he wanted some thread. He was often
IN want of bit to sew a button on with.
l. Poor young fellow said Aunt Polly
70 herself, cOmmisertingly; boarding,
suppose |" And needles would be
nave needles? He couldn't get no bet
er than her'n any where. No, to be
lure not. And while the good woman
vas putting up a parcel sufficient to re-
store all the stray buttons in Christen-
lom, her customer sat expectant, wait
ng, but not for the package perhaps q
rim little figure might suddenly alight
n the room, coming in from among the
lollyhocks, or tripping daintily down
The old stairway visible Just beyond.
" Did-did your daughter get very
Eet?" he inquired, very abruptly at
asst, considering how long he had been
contemplating the query.
"Salry Jane? hain't seen her to-
put day their house do leak some,
hats certain, which is bad for Tom,
Who's got the whoop-"
But suddenly the old lady grew en-
ightened. Her spectacles seemed to en-
arge themselves. The frill on her can
Eidened out interrogatively.
"Bless my soul she said "what
Ipon airth am thinking of, to be sure 4
do get things a little confused, what
With so many inquiring arter Sairy Jane
nd Tom. And you be the young man
hat see her home with the umbarel p
Hiss Wander, mean. Oh, bless your
leart she only stopped here to ask
fter Tom, and to get in out of the wet
hough she-did match some worsted,
ecollect, and what's more, left them
ehind her when she hurried off arter
he shower. I'd be obleeged to you,
ir, if you're going that way just le.
er know they're all safe" il