The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-04-22

Hard! 1t breaks my heart to con-
template it when l think of you, Clare.
What different future did I and your
father intend you. love! But who could
imagine such villain as John Burge
ever existed?"
"Ah, me-ah, me! to look round at
this place, and remember the pleasant
| home which once was ours! Now, we
are alone, with not single friend in the
| world"
"Not one! Oh, yes, mother, believe
me, one!" cried the girl, quickly. "He
-Gilhert-will be true-trust me, he
wilt"
"Why, then, Glare, has he not writ
tenn"
~ do not know-I cannot tell" ex-
claimed the daughter, piteously; "but,
oh! pray, pray, mother, do not take that
hope from me! Let me believe in Gill
bert. 1t is my only support in this bitter
misery!"
The widow, touched with a pleading
interrupting herself, she said: "Clare, l
is, dear"
The girl obeyed, and started at the
| weird scene she beheld.
SSutSN OSAOhS VAS saw VII - INV
legged stool was the cobbler, yet in leath-
ern apron and cap. On his knees was a
bellows, which he was working with con-
summae skill, evidently a master of the
art, sending the Goals into bright blazes
that threw flashes of lurid color over the
quaint figure and the room.
Upon hearing Clare he turned, almost
with snarl.
"How do you expect to boil sauce.
pan with such fire as tbis?" he growled.
"Never was halter as mad as you, I'm
certain. Now, look at that; amt it a
picture?"
Clare did look, and saw that not only
were the Goals increased, but that they
were not from their own store.
cit is quite cheering" she managed to
say, but-but, l fear, Mr.. Craysha W,
you have been robbing yourself"
"Robbing myself?-me?-not Bit
Pm miser. Didn't you hear the boys
call me so-Jerry, the miser?" he snapped.
I'D rob anybody sooner than my
self. am miser, and I'm proud of 1t.
Some men are called painter ard poet.
Well, I'm called cobbler and miser"
"Really!' said Clare, little amused,
little frightened, looking at the glow
ing Goals; II should have scarcely
thought so.'
THAT shows your ignorance" re-
sponded Jerry. "Can't you see, by cal
culation, it's cheaper to keep up one good
fire than two small ones? So I'm going
to sit by yours. Also, clubbing two per-
sons, tea together is cheaper than taking
it alone. 1t makes only one for the
pot necessary. You perceive, now, I
AM miser. want to have my tea here. l"
Glare looked at the table; upon it was
new loaf, fresh butter, eggs, and neat
package of tea.
"Oh, Mr.. Crayshaw-" she began.
care you going to refuse?" he snapped
| "Mayn't have tcas"
"How could refuse" she began,
| when he interrupted by:
"Then don't lose time. See to the
kettle. I'll boil the eggs"
Similar behavior from some people
might have given offense, but there
was such quaint, odd way about
Jerry that robbed it of that power.
He was so old, and snapped and
! snarled as if really his suggestion
instead of the contrary. Mrs. Weston
| did make some demur but jerry shut her
up at once.
II see. She's frightened at your TAX
| ing tea with such a fascinating young
fellow as / am" he said leave the
door ajar; then the old lady can take o
squint at US now and then and join the
talk. I'm wild young sprig, I con-
fess."
Glare could not refrain from bursting
into merry peal of laughter Jerry's
gray eyes twinkled with delight under
his shaggy brows as he looked up at her.
Well, the two hustled about, the cob.
bier certainly the brisker, until finally
they were seated at a very comfortable
tea. During the meal Mrs. Weston
| deemed it right to inform their new
friend of something of their history.
In her husbands lifetime they had
| been well-to.do. At his death they yet
could have lived con- fortably had not a
! Mr.. John Burge suddenly brought heavy
claims on the dead mans property.
II never quite understood what it was
Il only know he must have been paid"
said the widow, dolorously. "But we
hadn't some papers we ought to have
had to prove it. So he took from us
every penny, and left us as you now
seer
"a COMPOUNDED villainw exclaimed
Jerry, cracking his egg with the bowl of
a spoon, as if it had been Mr.. John
Burgess bald head he had got under it,
"Then all our friends deserted US"
Except one," broke in Clare, with
heightened color, which was not unno-
ticed by the cobbler.
But one as yet," added the widow.
" He is gentleman, Mr.. Crayshaw, who
who was once a great friend of my
daughters. He was in Australia at the
time of our trouble, and though we wrote
to tell him we have not heard syllable
since. You know the world, Mr.. Cray
shawn
II do, ma'am!" answered Jerry, em-
phatically; land know it's a sight bet
ter than people would try to make it,"
"Ah" cried Glare, gratefully, her face
radiant, as involuntarily she extended
her hand, "you think he may be true?"
"He'd be the greatest villain under
the sun if he were not, my dear" said the
old man, cheerily; adding to himself:
Poor child-poor child! she, then, has
to learn that lovers vows are easier
broken than shoe-strings, and thought
about as little!'
After this, still protesting it was
cheaper for him, as a miser, to supply
Mrs. Weston's fire than burn one of his
own, he frequently passed his evenings
with them. He also procured Glare
some shoe binding to do, which, though
hard and difficult work, was something.
At the end of the week he was grim
acing at boy through the boots in the
window when Clare came to pay the
rent.
"Take it away" he said; "let it stand
over"
"Oh, we could not think of that" be-
gan the girl. "We were going to ask if
you would not mind portion of it being
left for next"
"Take it away" reiterated Jerry, get
ting into fury; II won't touch a
farthing! l like being a creditor-for l
can charge interestr'
"This kindness, after all you have
donep sobbed Clare, her tears falling.
eco away" roared Jerry; II amt go
SvSr. -,