The anti-monopolist., 1876-05-25

garrison after the fever had carried off her
husband The speculation answered pretty
well at first, for many of the officers wives,
knowing what on industrious women Mrs.
Evens was, made point of buying there
tapes and cottons and sticks Of sealing wax
Of her. Then Jennies pretty face was seen
behind the counter, and the shop was filed
from morning to night with officers and
frisky young cadets, and the original Gus
toners took fight-though Mrs. Evans did
not know it, for she. believing the business
was safe in the keeping Of Jennie, worked
hard a, dressmaking, (she had three
children to support, and the shop alone
would not doit.)
The officers were not profitable customers
for they only went to fiirt with Jennie un
der the excuse Of buying penny paper, or
perhaps asking for timetable. Jennie
made the most trim and pretty and obhging
of shopwoman, and the place itself was al
ways pattern Of neatness; but the officers
wives did not care to 60 and buy their
thread where they were evidently Interrupt
ting Irritation, and SO the business contln-
ued to fall of, and Mrs. Evans began to get
quite unhappy about it. Jennie-pretty,
kind-hearted, thoughtless Jennie-had no
idea that she bad anything to do with it. OF
she would have sent every one of her ad-
mirers off at q pace that would have aston
ished them. She had only been too delight
ed. after her brother-in law had died, to
! come from Devonshire and live with her sis
ter at Woolwich-not only because she was
very fond of her sister, but also because she
had wished many times to see John Weare
again She had made his acquaintance
when her brother and he-for they had
been in the same regiment-were stationed
at Plymouth, and she had paid them flying
visit with her father. John had told her
then that he WAS tired Of the service and
wanted to settle down, and she iDwardly
thought that he could do no better than ask
her to settle with him. He had been very
attentive when she came to Woolwich, and
gradually established himself on the footing
Of a lover till he found the shop always fill
ed with the officers and cadets. At first he
was shy Of appearing before his superlors,
then he got jealous and at last angry, for
he felt and knew that they meant her no
good, and besides it was doing real injury
to the business of the shop. At last he
spoke his mind and told the coquetiish Jen-
ME what he thought, and was snubbed for
his pains.
..if you think don't know how to take
care of myself, Mr. Weare, you are much
mistaken, and don't want any one to tell
me what's right or wrong. l know for my
SELF
.Wel, Miss Jennie, didn't mean to give
offence. only told you what thought
Then you might have kept your thoughts
to yourself" she said with q little toss o.
her pretty head-"unless they hti beer
nice ones," she added. He heard the aside
and picked up his courage.
"lt's awful hard, too, when one that care:
for you really can't get near you,' heplead-
. ed; Just then Jennie caught sight of Cap
. tain McGee, . tall and handsome man, will
long whiskers and red nose, coming in ih'
direction of the shop, with . big bunch O
flowers in his hand. She had heard Johr
Weare's last words, but she was secretly Of
opinion that ..he ought to have come up t.
the scratch BEFORE" SO she thought lit'l
jealousy might do him good.
.sOh here comes Captain McGee," sh'
said in delighted tone.
"Well, he's just the biggest blackleg il
! the service, Jennie, and if you take my ad
wise you'll send him of sharp.
Il believe you are jealous, Mr.. Weare
and telling stories about the captain; be il
E always very polite to me, and she smoo,het
her Pretty A0iE auu AIf0ueeu VIC H'nes VI
the counter.
r "oh, he's polite enough. NO doubt"
r And he's bringing me some flowers"
Now 10 here, Jennie, are you going I.
: take them"
r ..Of course an
r well, then, good-by."
q "Good-by," she laughed. OF course SD
knew he wouldn's 60.
k~n - oh
be OF. but you must choose between hil
and me- II you are going to keep On tall
i ing to him shall never come in the plac
again, 50 which is i, to bey''
The captain
6 again
/ Good hy'-and be went.
!. II.
u He kept resolu.elv away for . who
:, month-never once went near the place.
c Jennie wanted him she might send for hil
or &c, her sister TO invite him 10 tea. IS sh
hail done before. But John Weare Was D,
sen; Tor neither was he invited to tea, an
his spirits began to wax low.
If she'd cared about me she'd have e
Y IN ny way somehow before tLis-tr as, y,
man, he thought.
Il The idea Of not being cared for vas q.
cheerful That night be strolled careless'
:. by the shop. but on the opposite side Of Il
i way Nothing Was to be seen Of Jenni
: He walked on il brown study, then crosl
ed over. and went deliberatelyby the shol
With only enc eye, however, turned IN ]
direction. but not = sight Of Jennie I
went back to the barracks in . dejecis
frame Of mind
e '.It's an awful pity-such nice girl; ~
q there's the cottage all ready for her to sis
= into, and me ready TO retire from the servi'
re and gooi trade At my back; it's too b.
10 all along Of that Captain McGee too Al
ae the fruit in the garden (of the cot'age) .
le ripe and no one TO pick IL
8 The very next morning John We4re wasl
q, ed deliberately into the shop and asked for
= penny newspaper, and had the felicity Of b
D. ing served by Mrs. Evans.
ID '.Quite strangers, Mr.. Weare, she sal
ID but that was the only remark she made, q
y for The life of him he could not screw up b
- courage TO ask for her sister