Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-11-10
From Cassell's Magazine.
BTBBS-A LOVE STORY.

Weare was perfectly wretched last
night. He had quarreled with Jennie
Bell, and he wasn't going to make it
up. The fact was she gave him 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 around the shop OF stroll in one at
time and, leaning Oh their elbows,
chatter and smirk and smile over the
counter. cadets and officers too, wild
ngyou 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 ball
that was coming off next month. To be
sure. he was only common
cavalry soldier, but then he had
been In the service a good many years
now, had an excellent character, and
a good trade at his back, and moreover,
his father had died not long since, and
there was the cottage all ready for Jep-
ME to walk into, and they might settle
down at once If she's only sensible
Jennie acted as shop woman for her sis
ter, Mrs. Evans. A very poor little
stocked, for Mrs. Evans had only man
aged to get a few pounds worth of
things with what had been subscribed
for her IN the garrison after the fever
had carried off her husband. The
speculation answered pretty we'll at first,
for many of the officers wives, known g
what an industrious woman Mrs. Evans
was, made a point of buying their tapes
and cotton, and sticks of sealing wax
of her. Then Jennie's pretty face was
seen behind the counter, and the shop
was filed from morning to night with
officers and frisky young cadets, and
the original customers took fight
though Mrs. Evans did not know it. for
she, believing the business was safe IN
keeping Of Jennie, worked hard at the
dressmaking flor she had three children
TO support, and the shop alone would
not do 1t.
Tie officers were not profit able Gus
toners, for they only went to firt with
Jennie, under the excuse of buying a
time table. Jennie made the most trim
and pretty and obliging of shopwomen,
and the place itself was pattern of
neetness; but the officers wives did not
care to go and buy their thread where
they were evidently interruptipg a fir
tation, End SO the business continued to
fall off, and Mrs. Evans began to get
quite unhappy about it. Jennie-pret-
ty, kind-hearted, thoughtless Jennie
had no idea that she had anything to do
With it, or she would have sent every
one of her admirers off at pace that
would have astonished them. She had
been only too delighted. after her
brother-in-law died, to come from De-
vonshire and live with her sister at Wool.
witch, not only because sac was fond of hez
sister, but also because she had wished
many times to see John Weare again.
She had made his acquaintance when
her brother and he-for they had been
In the same reglment-uere 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 he could do no
better than ask her to settle with him.
He had been very attentive when she
came TO Woolwlch, and gradually es-
tablished himself n the footing of a
lover till he found the shop always
filled with The officers and cadets.
At first lie was shy of appearing before
his superiors, then he got jealous and
at last angry, for he felt 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
and told the coquettish Jennie what he
thought, and was snubbed for his pains.
"Ifyou think [ don't know how to take
care OF myself, Mr.. Weare, you are mis-
taken, and [ don't want any ole to tell
me what's right or wrong. | know for
myself"
"Well, Miss Jennie, ] didn't mean to
give oaense. / only told you what |
thought
stThen you might have kept your
thoughts to YOURSELF y she said, with a
little toss OF her pretty head" unless
they had been nice ones" she added.
He heard the aside, and picked up his
courage.
ssIt's awfully hard, too, when one
that cares for you really can't get near
you," he pleaded. just then Jennie