Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-10-18
Bibbs---A Love Story.

CHAPTER /.
There was no doubt about it John Weare
was perfectly wretched that night. lie had
quarreed with Jennie Bell, and he wasn't
going to make il up. The fact was she gave
herself too many airs, and he didn't mean 20
stand it any longer. lie didn't care if she
was pretty. that was no reason why she
should let halfa-dozen fellows at a time hang
about the shop, or stroll in one at time
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 of next month. To be sure
he was only n common cavalry soldier, but
then he had been a good many years in the
service now, had an excellent character and
a 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. very
poor little shop il was, very small and badly
stocked, for Mrs Evans had only managed
TO get few pounds worth Of things with
what had been subscribed for her in the gar
rison after her husband had been carried of
by fever. The speculation answered pretty
web at first for many of the officers wives,
knowing what an industrious woman Mrs.
Evans was, made point of buying their
tapes and cotton and sticks of sealing-wax
of her. Then Jennie's 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 flight.
ct Il.
for they only went to firt with Jennie under
the excuse Of buying penny paper, or per
haps asking for a timetable. Jennie made
the most trim and pretty and obliging OF
shop-women, and the place itself was always
a pattern of neatness but the officers wives
did not care TO 60 aud buy their threads
where they were evidently interrupting a
| Irritation, and SO the business continued tc
fall off, and Mrs Evans began to get quite
unhappy about it. Jennie pretty, kind
hearted, thoughtless Jennie, had no idea
that she had anything to do with it, or she
would have sent every one of her admirers
| off at pace that would have astonished
| them. She had only been too delighted, af
| ter her brother-in-law died TO come from
/ Devonshire and live with her sister at Wool
wich-not only because she was very FOND
/ of her sister, but also because she had wished
many times to see John Weare again. Sh,
/ had made his acquaintance when her brother
| and he-for they had been in the same regi
| ment-were stationed at Plymouth, and sh'
/ had paid them flying visit with her father
/ John had told her then that he was tired oi
| the service, and wanted TO settle down, anC
l she instantly thought that he could do nc
/ better than TO ask her to settle down will
| him. lie had been very attentive TO hel
when she came TO Woolwich, and gradually
established himself on the footing of lover
till he found the shop always filled with th'
officers and cadets. At first he was shy o
appearing before his superiors, then he go
Jealous, and at last angry, for he felt anC
knew that they meant her 10 good, and be
sides it was doing real injury to the busines
of the shop. At last he spoke his mind
and told the coquettish Jennie what h
thought, and was snubbed for his pains.
"lf you think don't know how TO tax
care of myself, Mr.. Weare, you are mucl
mistaken, and | don't want any one to tel
me what's right or wrong, | know 70
myself"
.Well, Miss Jennie | didn't mean to Civ
offence. | only told you what thought"
"Then YOU might have kept your thought
TO yourself" she said, with a little toss c
her pretty head" unless they had bee
nice ones" she added. He heard the aside
and picked up his courage.
ats awfully hard, too, when one tina
cares for you really can't get near you, h
pleaded. just then Jennie caught sight {
Captain McGee, tall and handsome maj
with long whiskers and red nose, comm
in the direction Of the shop, with a hi
bunch OF flowers in his hand She ha
heard John Weare's last words, hut she wa
secretly Of opinion that " he ought 10 hay
come up to the scratch before" so 81
thought little jealousy might do him goo
J "Oh here comes Captain McGee," 81
said in delighted tone.
"Well, he is just the biggest blaokleg
, the service Jennie aud, ii you take my a
vice, you'll send him off sharp
81 believe you are jealous, Mr., Wear
and telling stories about the captain he
always very polite to me" and she smooth'
4 her pretty hair, and arranged the triiles
{ the counter.
2 "Oh, he's polite enough, no doubt"
/ " And he's bringing me some flowers
"Now look here, Jennie, are you going
e take them 2"
r "Of course am"
( Well, then, goodbye"
Y Goodbye" She laughed. OF course 81
j knew he wouldn't go.
t Jennie, he'll be in directly, and ! shi
0 be off, but you must choose between hi
4 aud me. If you are going to keep on talkil
20 TO him, shall never come in the place agai
r so which is it to be 2"
a "The captain"
0 "But am not joking. III llnever see "
i again."
, "No more am joking, so goodbye"
"Good. bye" and he went.
, CHAPTER II.