Smyrna times., 1876-02-16
mise eIIUH1 e OWS.
Bibbs A Love Story.

There was doubt about II; JOnn w care
was perfectly wretched that night. He
had quarrelled with Jennie Bell and he
wasn't going to make it up. The fact was
she gave herself too many airs, he didn't
mean to stand to it any longer. He didn't
care if she teas pretty; that was no reason
why she should let half a dozen fellows at
a time hang about the shop or stroll in one
at time and, leaning on their elbows,
chatter and smirk and smile over the
counter, cadets and officers too, wild young
fellows, who only did so for their own idle
amusement, and would no more dream of
marrying her than they would of inviting
her to the ball that was coming off next
month. TO be sure, he was only common
cavalry soldier, but then he had been in
the service a good many years now, had an
excellent character and good trade at his
back, and, moreover, his father had died
not long since, and there was the cottage
all ready for Jennie to walk into, and they
might settle down at once if she'd only be
sensible Jennie acted as shop-woman 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 a
few pounds worth of things with what had
been subscribed for her in the garrison
after the fever had carried off her husband.
The speculation 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 cottons and sticks of sealing-wax Of
her. Then Jennie's pretty face was seen be-
hind the counter, and the shop was filled
from morning to night with officers and
frisky young cadets, and the original custo
mars took fight-though Mrs. Evans did
not know it, for she, believing the business
was safe in the keeping of Jennie, worked
hard at the dress-making (she had three
children to support, and the shop alone
would not do it..
The officers were not profitable custo
mers, for they only went to fiirt with Jenn!
under the excuse of buying penny paper
or perhaps asking for timetable. Jenni
made the most trim and pretty and oblig
ing of shop-women, and the place itsel
was always pattern of neatness; but tn
officers wives did not care to 60 and bu
their thread where they were evidently II
terrupting Irritation, and so the busines
continued to fall off, and Mrs. Evans bega
to get quite unhappy about it. Jenny
pretty, kind-hearted, thOughtless Jenny
had no idea that she had anything to
with IL. or she would have sent every on
of her admirers off at pace that woul
have astonished them. She had been onl
too delighted, after her brother-in-law die
to come from Devonshire and live with h
sister at Woolwich-not only because 81
was very fond Of her sister, but also becau
she had wished many times to see Jof
weare again. She had made his acquair
ance when her brother and he-for th'
had been in the same regiment-we
stationed at Plymouth, and she had pa
them flying visit with her father. Joi
had told her then that he was tired OF Il
service and wanted to settle down, and s.
inwardly thought that he could do
better than ask her to settle down wi
him. He had been very attentive VIII
she came to Woolwich, and gradual
established himself on the footing of
lover till he found the shop always ill
with the officers and cadets. AT first
was shy of appearing before his superic
then he got jealous and at last angry,
he felt and kn@v that they meant her
good, and besides it was doing real INF
to the business of the shop. AT last
spoke his mind and told the coquett
Jennie what he thought, and was snubl
for his pains.
"If you think don't know how to q
care of myself, Mr.. Weare, you are mi
mistaken, and don't want any one to
me what's right or wrong. know for
SELF
awell, Miss Jennie, ! didn't meal
give offence. only told you wha
thought"
"fhen you might have kept J
thoughts to yourself" she said with a !