Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-04-22

An" cried Clare, gratefully, her face
radiant as involuntarily she extended
her hand, "you think he may be truey"
| He'd be the greatest villain under
the sun II he were not, my dearr' 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 though,
about as littler"
After this, still protesting it was
cheaper for him, as miser, to supply
Mrs. Weston's fire than burn one Of his
own, he frequently passed his evenings
with them. He also procured Clare
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 Glare came to pay the
rent
"Take it away" he said; "let it stand
over"
"Oh, we could not think of THAR! be-
gan the girl. We were going to ask ii
you would not mind portion of it being
| left for next"
take it awsyr' reiterated Jerry, get
ting into fury; ~ won't touch a
farthing! like being creditor-for ]
can charge INTEREST,"
This kindness, after all you have
done" sobbed Clare, her tears falling.
Go away" roared Jerry; i Amt go
ing to have scene here-tbey1l be tax
ing me up for assault and battery next!
Be of and I'll be up to tea in five min
utes."
| Bless your generous heart, which no
assumed roughness can hide" exclaimed
Glare, gratefully, as she hurried from the
| shop.
Sitting down, Jerry bent his head on
the counter, and bright tears trickled
from his eyes into the boot on his lap.
Poor thing-poor thingp he MUIR
INJURED; "she's yet to learn that vows
are broken easier than shoe-strings,
and -'
He was interrupted by the shop-door
opening. Looking up he found before
him tall, addressed man, with a
bronzed face and thick beard and mus
tache. Jerry started.
| pardon my intruding," said the
| stranger; "but can you give me the ad-
dress of Mrs. Weston and her daughterS
/ heard they were living somewhere in
this street"
"No" said Jerry. "What do you
want with 'emy"
"They are friends of mine"
| "Swells such as you don't often, l
| should think, have friends in this neigh
| borhood"
"In the land / came from, friend, the
rank is not the guinea's stamp. But I'll
seek elsewhere"
"Stay moment; I'll inquire"
Jerry, carefully closing the door be-
hind him, sat down on the stairs and en-
| joyed a mute chuckle, fearfully apoplec-
| tic in character. On the landing he re-
peated it, with much movement of the
legs. Then he entered his dodgers par
| lor.
Dropping into the chair placed ready
for him by the fire, rubbing his knees,
his face one beaming smile, he cried:
"Does anyone believe in man? / don't!
Does anyone believe i'm Australian gold
diggers? don't! Does anyone believe
in lovers keeping their vowsy Lor bless
you, / don't-not syllable" Then,
| turning abruptly to the astonished
women, he proceeded: Look here; I'll
give you riddle. Suppose a certain
| Australian should come to England
suppose he should come TO me; suppos-
ing he should come into this room, how
would certain party behave! Would
she laugh? Would she faint?"
I "Oh, motherw cried Glare, starting
up, II know what he means. 1t is Gil.
bertp
"My dear, reflect" interrupted the
widow, restraining her.
eyes, she's rightw exclaimed Jerry,
with caper. "It's Gilbert-Gilbertw
Flying TO the door, almost precipitat-
ing himself over the balustrade, he shout,
ed: "You Australian, come up! You
nugget of fidelity, come here"
! There was the bang Of a door, firm,
| rapid tread on the stairs, and the beard.
ed stranger shot past Jerry into the
room.
"Clare!-my poor, poor Clarel" he
cried.
"Gilbertr she calculated, rushing into
his arm.
The cobbler, after another caper, dis.
creetly retired to his shop, and let of his
superhuman excitement by charge at
the boys In the street.
Gilbert Fernside, a rich Australian
cattle-owner, proved indeed nugget of
fidelity. There was grand wedding, TO
which Jerry was asked, but he answered
he was far too wise man to make him
self uncomfortable Indeed, he sent the
bride pretty gold bracelet as his wed
ding. gift--a pres1t aftectionately treas
ured by Glare.
Years after the young wife, in her
home at the antipodes, received the fol-
lowing characteristic letter:
MY DEAR-While writing this I'm going
Off When you get 1t, shall have left. SO
this is TO say good -by. Bless you! / am a
kinless old man, and, you know, miser; but
I'm not going to give my money to you
| What would I'll 900 be TO your Australian
digger drop in the ocean. Besides, you
can do without 1t. No; it's going To the hos.
pital for children, to which have long been
an unknown subscriber. Good-by! Bless
you-bless you all! Your old friend,
JEKKT, Co6BLER AND mfsER.
That letter, too, was treasured; and in
the heart of the bright, cheerful home, in
the wealthy land, Jerry, the Mser, was
ever held In cheerful memory.