The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-07-20

bOI vi AOh 10 sell 1iII 4I1So3 eshNa
meant to lie to her about it.
'sPoor Jack p was all she said. my
poor, dear old Jack to think that l
should have brought you such trouble !"
For she would persist in thinking she
WAS somehow or other to blame, witch
was the silliest thing in the worlo, of
course. When I told her what Mrs.
Blackjack said about her picture, she
colored up with delight.
"Jack, I've got an idea!' size exclaim-
ed, 'sit's no use asking me what it is,
for / shan't tell YOU
''Well, that's cool, said, .'when Tn
just turning myself inside out for you,
Miss
':Never mind Tn going to do some
thing, but I won't tell you; and she
wouldn't; and / never found out what
it was till days and weeks Afterwards
not till such as the Grand Mogul conde
scended to give US another bite on a
cherry, and was lucky enough to get a
warrant for two months salary You
can guess if any grass grew under my
| feet between the bank and Mr.. Black
locks house after [ got that warrant
cashed. I picked out (while was wait
ing in the library for Mrs. Blacklock)
| the newest and cleanest bills-seven
fives /; and I think it was the happiest
moment of my life, all things consider
| ,,,+o
don't know if I've said it before. but
say it now, at any rate she had beauti-
full hands. Molly's were pretty, and are
| pretty still, as you can see for yourself
but Mrs. Blacklock's hands had a deli
cate, refined sort of beauty that you
couldn't help noticing. l did, that first
night, in spite of the trouble I was in
and to-day, when she held ont the little
hand for me to put the money in, it
seemed more delicate than ever, in con-
trast with the color of the ring she wore
an amethist ring, SO like Molly's that
[ gave little start without meaning to-
She saw it-such quick eyes rs she had!
and in a second the ring was off her
finger, and she offered it to me.
''Take it back to your little girl" she
said laughingly. 81 think she had done
penance long enough for your sins but
it was not my fault, do assure you.'
''What does it mean 2" [ asked, light
breaking in upon me. els it Molly's
] ring ?"
eyes, certainly didn't you know that
she brought it here, the foolish child
and insisted npon my keeping it l''
No, indeed, I had never guessed that
as often [ had leased her to tell me what
was the thing she intended to do. When
/ asked her where her ring was, for she
had not worn it since that night, she
said, gravely, that it was put away in a
safe, but she could never wear it again
till she knew it was really paid for.
''She brought it here Mrs: Black
lock continued, ''the very day after I
had seen you, and I couldn't persuade
her to take it away again. 1 told her it
was unheard of for girl to part with
her engagement ring, but she would not
listen to me. 1t was not hers, she said,
until you had returned the money. And
[ sympathiZed with her feelings so much
that could not refuse to take charge of
it. You may tell her that have worn
it sometimes in remembrance of q good
little girl, and [ am very glad to send it
| back to her.
Well, had nothing to say, of course.
1t takes woman to have the right word
ready, and to understand what fellow
means when he can only blush and STAN
mer, and look like fool. Mrs. Black
lock did.
''You must give my very kind remem-
brance to your little Molly" said she,
as she bowed me out, 81 am sure she
will make you good wife, and my al
vice to you is to put yourself into her
safe keeping just as soon as possible. y
I thought that was such good advice
that l persuaded Molly to agree to it,
and the end of it was we were married
next month. We didn't have any cards
or nonsense, but we let Mrs. Blackjack
know it was to be on such day, at the
church where Molly was member land
| where she's kept me mp to one service
Sunday pretty regular ever since, and
prompt to the hour Mrs. Blacklocks
carriage was at the church door, I don't
know what her husband thought of it, or
whether he ever knew she went to Jack
Stebbins' wedding Anyhow she gave
Molly her kind good wishes, and when
we got home there was box directed
to ''Mrs. John Stebbins, with Mrs.
Blacklock's compliments, with dozen
silver spoons inside.
Since then there has been silver cup
for the baby, that came girl, you know,
and was Immediately christened (by per
missiOn) Helen Blackjack also, several
bits on forgery for the other two young
sters, that came boys, and consequently
didn't signify. All of which, suppose,
anybody must say, is putting premium
on fraud.
don't intend to justify such conduct
on any lady's part. L only mean to say
that, whatever happens in this world,
there are two women Ill it that viii al
ways make me believe in heaven. God
/ bless 'em both forever And that's the
end of my story.