The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-12-08

01DDS----kAA Love story.
; FtbnFcagselss 'MagaziuC.1 '-','''T5
!s There was no doubt about 1t :; John
3 ~ care was perfect Nv wretched that night.
!, he had quarreled, with Jennie Bell, and
was going to make it up. The fact was
she gave herself too many airs, and he
didn't mean TO stand it any longer. He
didn't care if she was pretty; that was no
reason why she should let half dozen
!. fellows at time hang about the shop, or
stroll in one at a time, and, leaning on
their elbows, chatter and smirk and smile
over the counter, cadets and officers too,
wild yeung fellows, who only did so for
their own idle amusement, and would no
more dream of marrying her than they
would of inviting her to a ball that was
coming off next month. To be sure, he
was only a common cavalry soldier, but
then he had been in the service a good
many years now, had an excellent char
acter and agood trade at his back, and
moreover, his father had died not long
since, and there was the cottage all ready
for Jennie to walk into, and they might
settle at once If she'd only be sensible.
Jennie acted as shopwoman for her sister,
Mrs. Evens. A very poor little shop it
was, very small and badly stocked, for
Mrs Eveus had only managed to get II
few pounds worth of things with what
had been subscribed for her in the garri-
son after the fever had carried of her
husband. The speculation answered very
well at first, for many of the officers
wives. knowing what nm industrious wo-
man Mrs. Evens was, made point Of
buying their tapes and cotton, and sticks
OF sealiug-waX of her. Then Jennics
pretty face was seen behind the counter
and the shop was filled from morning to
night with officers and frisky young cadets,
and the original customers took flight
though Mrs. Evens did not know it, for
she, believing the business was safe in
the keeping Of Jennie, worked hard at
the dress-making (she had three children
to support. and the shop alone would not
do it,.
The officers were not profitable Gus
toners, for they only went to hirt with
Jennie uuder the excuse of buying
penny paper, or, perhaps, asking for Il
timetable. Jennie made the most trim
and pretty and obliging OF shopwomen,
and the place itself was a pattern OF
neatness; but the officers wives did not
care to 90 and buy their thread where
they were evidently iuterrupting fllrta-
ton, and 80 the business continued to fall
off, and Mrs. Evans began to get quite
unhappy about it, Jomic-pretty, kind
hearted, thoughtiess JenRie--had no idea
that she had anything to do with it, or
Il IA ont g Iar u
mirers off, at IA pace that would have as
tonished them. She had been only too
delighted after her bTother-in-law died,
to come from Devonshire and live with
her sister, at WoOlwich only be-
cause she was fond Of her sister, but also
because she had wished, many times, to
see JohnrWeare again. She had made
his acquaintance when her brother and
he-fOr they had been in the same regi.
ment-were stationed at Plymouth, and
she had paid them a flying visit with her
father. John had told her then that he
was tired of the service and wanted to
settle down, and she inwardly thought
that he could do no better than ask her
to settle with him. He had been very
attentive when she came to WoOlwich,
and gradually established himself on the
footing of lover till he found the shop
always filled with the officers and cadets
At first he was shy of appearing before
his superiors, then he got jealous, and at
last angry, for hefelt and knew that they
meant her no good, and besides it was
doing real injury to the business Of the
shop. At last he spoke his mind, aud
told the coquettish Jennie what he
thought, and was snubbeI for his pains.
eff you think ! don't know how to
take care of myself, Mr.. Weare; you are
mistaken, and don't want any one to
tell me what's right or wrong; / know
for myself .
'eW ell, Miss Jennie, didn't mean to
give ofense L only told you what |
thought" ....... ...........
Then you might have kept your
thoughts to yourself" She said, with
little toss Of her pretty head-"unlcss
they had been nice ones she added. !
He heard the aside, and picked up his
courage.
ats awfully hard, too, when one that
cares for YOU really can't get near you"
he pleaded just then Jennie caught sight |
of Captain Melee, tall and handsome !
man, with long whiskers and red nose,
coming the direction of the shop, with a
BIZ bunch of flowers il his hand. She
had heard John WearGs last words of
opinion that she ought to have come up
to the scratch before" 50 she thought a
little jealousy might do him good.
ooh here comes Capt. McGee, sshe
said in delighted tone.
."Well he's Just the biggest bIacklcg in /
the service, Jennie, and if you take my
advice, you'll send him off sharp"
Il believe you are jealous, Mr.. Weare, /
and telling stories about the Captain; he /
Is always very polite to me" and she |
smootied her pretty hair and arranged /
the. trihes on the counter.
.'Oh, he's polite enough, no doubt
"And he's bringing me some flowers.
''Now, look here, Jennie, are you going
to take them"
s. "Of course / am."
"Well. then. good-by.'
fGood-by," she laughed. Ofcourse she
knew he wouldn't 60.
"Jennie, he'll be in directly, and /
shall be off, but you must choose between
aim and me. fyou are going to keep on
talking to him | shall never come to the
place again; 50 which is it to be -
"The Captain"
. But am not joking, I'll never see you
again '- ~-l' s9'." -
.ssNo more am l. joking, so goOd-by."
a;"Gopdsby''- and he went. b,
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