The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-19
,Ria's Story.

1t happened more than nine years ago
but | remember every bit of it.
The weather was cold and dampish that
spring; and Jenny's lame hip used 10 hurt
her so much, after she had been out, and
would keep her and me both awake nights,
with bathing of it, and plying her, poor
dear that after a while she took to stay
ing at home the most of the time, and
managed the business of the firm.
The business was shoe strings and corset
laces on the curb stone. The firm was
Jenny and me.
Sister, Bless you, no! Jenny was no
chick nor child of my family but somehow
after we got acquainted with each other, it
seemed as if our plans ran together; and
first thing we knew, we were firm-as l
said before, shoe strings and corset-laces
on the curb-stone.
Cheap enough they were, too-four for
cent-and none of your aggravating slip
perry kind, neither, that were always COM
ing united.
Jenny she says to me one day, "Ria,"
says she, "we mustn't sell slippery shoe
strings if we want to please our custom
ers."
"All right" says land we never did.
Most days we had good luck, especially
when the boys from the High school want
ed plenty of shoe-strings- them that didn't
wear top-boots, | mean.
There was one boy that used to come as
often a, two or three times week to buy
shoe-strings articularly on days when
Jenny was with me. | asked him one day
if he didn'i use up his hoe-strngs pretty
fast, and he said he didn't put em In his
shoes, he tied up his lead pencils with 'em,
and then, if he couldn't pick the knots out,
he just cut 'em loose.
He was such 4 nice, hearty-looking boy,
with curly hair, and bright eyes, (grey they
were) with a smile full of mischief; but il
was kind and pleasant, too. He had freck-
les besides, but that didn't hurt him any
such nice, honest look ing ones they were
I'm freckled myself. He might have been
about thirteen years old, leastways he was
young to be in the High school; but his
head was big, and have heard folks say
that big-headed boys do get into the high
school young.
One drzzlng afternoon, just as 1t was
growing dusk, l was packing up the laces
and shoe-strings into the old PASTE board
box that l used to carry them home in.
My umbrella was thin and old, and the
steels were easy bent, and all of sudden
the wind jerked it out of my hand and car
minute.
If | could have seen where il landed,
would have gone after it, for, poor as it
was, it was better than none; but would
you believe it, that gust of wind took it
round the next corner, where the little wo-
man sat, who was in the cheap stationery
and mucilage line.
| was covering up the box with my
shawl, only the corners would stick out,
when
"Hallo," said fresh, hearty voice at my
elbow.
turned around and saw that high school
boy, with his oil-clo:h cap and water
proof on, his umbrella 10 one hand, and
his bundle of strapped up books in the
other.
"Thats a go, isn't itp" said he.
laughed out loud, | couldn't help it.
at isn't go for me-" says l, "Im
afraid it will be a stay, till the rain stops,
for don't want to get the stock wet, it
makes the laces yellow, and the box is most
as old as the umbrella was"
"The rain won't stop all night" says he
"but never mind, don't you worry. Hold
this umbrella over you, and my books, and
I'll be back In two minutes and quarter"
He ran Off and l waited. seemed as
well acquainted with him, as if he was next
door neighbor to me, yet didn't know his
name. Pretty soon he came back with the
water-drops falling off his cap and water
proof, and carrying a covered. tin pail IN
each hand.
500 you know what this means?" says
he.
''No," says 1, 81 don't"
81 thought you wouldn't" says he; sit
means mullins and hot coffee from the cook
ahoY Arli nd
to take you home, then you will invite
me to supper, and Pm going to accept, you
see."
/ felt better and better acquainted with
him every minute; so we walked along to-
together-hm carrying the two tin pals
and the umbrella, and me with his bundle
of books, and my paste-board box.
just walked alongside, at first, when pref
tY soon he says
"Why don't you take my arm, and come
closer under the umbrella?"
"What, mel" says l "take your arm ?
"To be sure" he answered, "what else
did | say2"
He didn't seem one bit ashamed, mol
afraid of meeting any other OF the higl
school boys.
cts good thing the other one ain't on
such day, isn't it ?" says he.
"Who?" Jenny do you mean?" said.
$50 her names Jenny, is III Delicate
isn't she?,"
eyes," says I, she has hip disease"
"Whe-e.ew r. said he, and never spok
another word till we got to Delevan court
Delevan court was where we lived. /
wasn't as fne place as you might thinl
from the sound of the name.
When we came to the door he put dow
the umbrella, and shook the water off hi
cape.
''Are you sure your folks WON'T mind ?
SAYS |, for felt little anxious.
''Not bit of it," he said, and laughed a
IDLY as could be. 81 always tell my folk
everything whenever go home from an
place."
"Then it's all right, said l. "Won't yo
come in and stay to supperr
"Thank you, will, he said. We open
ed the door--and Jenny sat in her it'll
rocking chair by the fire. She locke
so pretty always-and when she saw tn
high school boy, she looked prettier tina
ever.
Her face was round, and pink, and sweet
like baby's and she had great, innooer
blue eyes, and lots of fine, crimpy hair, jul
the color of corn silk. 1t hung below he