Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-11-17
BIBBs "A LOVE STORY.
From cssae,,,s AIarsz,,

From Csssells Magazine.
There was no doubt ABOUT IL Jonn
Weare was perfectly wre.ched last night.
He had 1narreled with Jennie Bell, and
ho wasn't going to make it up The fact
was, she gave him too many airs, aud he
didn't mean 10 stand it any longer. He
didn't care il she was pretty that was no
reason why size should let half dozen fell
lows at time hang around the shop or
stroll in one at time, leaning on their ell
bows, chatter and smile over the counter,
cadeta and officers, too, wild young fellows,
who only did 50 for their own idle III use.
nent, aud would no more dream OF marry
ing her than they would OF inviting her to
a ball that WAS coming off next month.
To be sure, he was only common cavalry
soldier, but then he had been in the service
good many years now, had an excellent
character and good trade at his back.
aud, moreover, his father had died not long
since. and there was the cottage all ready
Tor Jennie to walk into, and they might
settle down at once If she's only sensible
Jennie acted as shopwoman for her sister,
Mrs. Evans. A very poor little shop it
was, very small and badly stocked, for
Mrs. Evans had only managed to get o
few pounds worth Of things with what had
been subscribed for her in the garrison alter
the fever had carried off her husband. The
speculation had answered pretty well at
FIRST, for many Of the officers wives, know
ing what an industrious woman Mrs Evans
was, made point of buying their tapes
and cotton aud sticks of sealing wax of
her. Then Jenny's pretty face was seen be-
hind the coulter, and the shop was filled
from morning to night with officers and
frisky young cadets, aud the original GUS
toners took fligh,--though Mrs. Evans did
not know it, for she, believing the business
was safe in keeping Of Jennie, worked hard
at the dressmakipg (for she had three chill.
dren to support, and the shop alone would
not do it
The Offices were not profitable custom
ers, for they only went to flirt with Jennie,
under the excuse OF buying penny paper,
or perhaps asking for timetable. Jennie
made the most trim and pretty..and oblig.
ing OF fshopwomen, and the place itself was
IA pattern Of nea,ness but the officers
wives did not care to 60 and buy their
thread iwhere they evidently were interrupts
ing filtration, aud so the business con-
tinuea to iall off. and Mrs. Evans began TO
grow quite unhappy about it. Jennie
pretty, kind .hearted, thoughtless Jennie.
had no idea that she had anything 10 do
with it, or she would have sent every one of
her admirers OF at pace that would have
astonished them. She. had been only too
delighted, after her brother -in-law had
died, to come to Devonshire aud live with
her sister at Woolwich. not only because
she W a. fond Of her sister, but also because
she had wished many times to see John
Weare again. She had made his acquaint.
ance when her brother and he--fnr they had
been in the same regiment--were stationed
at Plymouth, and she had paid them fly
ing visit with her father. John had told
her then 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 at
tentivc when she came to Woolwich, and
gradually established himself on the foot.
ing Of lover till he found the shop always
4 filled with officers anc cadets. At first he
was shy OF appearing before his superiors,
then he got jeaionP, and at last angry, for
he felt aud knew that they meant her no
good; and, besides, 1t was doing a real In
jury to the business OF the shop. At last
he spoke his mind, and told the coquettish
Jennie what be thought, aud was snubbed
FOR his pains
"i, 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
I right or wrong. know my business"
| "Weil, Miss Jennie, didn't mean to
give ofieuse. ! only told you what l
| thought"
"Then you might have kept your
thoughts to yourself she said, with lit
tie toss o, her pretty head, sunless they
bad been nice ones,' she ad.ed He heard
the aside, and picked up his courage.
"it's awfuliy hard, too, when one that
cares for you really can't get near you," he
pleaded. just then Jennie caught sight Of
Captain McGee, a tail and handsome man,
with long whiskers and q red nose, coming
/ In the direction of the shop, with big
bunch of flowers in his hand She had
neard John Weare's last words, but was
secretly Of the opinion that he sought to have
come to The scratch before 80 she thought
little jealousy might do him good.
.0h here comes Captain McGee," she
said in delighted tone.
| "Wel, he's just The biggest blackleg in
the service, Jennie. and ii you take my ad-
vice, you'll send him off sharp"
II believe yon are jealous, Mr.. Weare,
and telling stories about the Captain he is
always very polite to me- and she
smoothed her pretty hair, and arranged the
trifes on the counter.
"Oh, he's polite enough, no doubt
"And he's bringing me some flowers
sNow, look here, Jennie, are you going
to take them ~
s'Of course am
swell, then, good-by."
"Good-by,' she laughed. OF course she
knew he wouldn't 60.
"Jennie, he'll be in directly, aud shall
be OF, but you must choose between him
and me. If fyou are going to keep on talk
ing to him shall never come in the placs
again, so which is it to be ~
"The Captain"
"But am not joking, Ill never see you
again.
! mo more am joking, % good-by.
sGoc,l-by,"-and be went.
III.
He kept resolutely away Tor whole
month--neyer once went near the place
II Jennie wanted him she might send fol
him, or get her sister to invite him to tes
as she had done before. But John Wears
was not sent for, neither was he invited tt
tea, and his spirits began to wax low.
.sIf she'd cared abont me she'd have goi
in my way somehow before this trust q
woman he thought.
The idea Of not being cared for was moi
| cheerful. That night he airolled careleaaly