Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1877-01-31

this time of the night; it's quite
common thing. Here, help me get
of this internal sleeve, So2hy. I'll
60 around there at once;n and Mr..
May began to tear OF his dressing
gown.
Quick. quick, para. you'll be loo
late. Oh, thank God, somebody has
come in over there! Hes saved,
papa, thank God,"
And Dir. May, with his dressing
gown hanging 60 his LEFT arm, turned
to the window again. "Why bless
my soul!r he cried, that's Robinson
Jack Robinson. You know Rob-
inson, Sopliy?v
"Yes, papa" said Sophy; and a
faint color crept Into her paid cheek,
which deerened and glowed as she
watched Jack walk over to the
wreiched man and fling his arm
about his shoulders, and take that
wicked left hand Of his in genial
grasp, and then walk over to the
bed, aud lift the poor little body in
bis strong arms, and bring 1t to the
knees of Higgins, and then sit close
down by them both, and take some
thing out of his vest pocket. Mr..
May thought 1t was money, OF
course.
Reckless young sealawag!" said
Mr.. May; but in the secretary's face
could be read bright things for Jack.
Sophy thought it was money, too;
but it wasn't. They could plainly
see him take something out ola little
case and hold it up before the light,
and, Stretching across Higgins, catch
the little thin hand of his daughter,
and put upon one Of the long slim
fingers ring.
Then Higgins bent his head, and
sobbed over that little hand all his
wrath and bitterness away. And
| Jacks head also bent before that
shower Of penitential tears. Mr..
May choked and blew his nose, not
withstanding his desire not TO arouse
Mrs. May; and as for Sopby, she
| neither wept nor bent her head, but
as she looked over there at Jack, a
tender look Of resolve deepened in
her face, and as it was the only thing
it wanted to make it entirely beau
tiful, it was thousand pities it
should be halfhidden upon the dress
ing. gown that still chung to Mr..
Mays left shoulder.
"IIe's given that poor little dear a
ring, papa. Wasn't that sweet and
beautiful?p
"But, Sophy, the absurdity Of it
ring, when they want bread! They
want bread, and Jack gives them a
stone. Think Of it!'
mo matter, papa. They'll have
bread, all they want. You'll give
them bread, papa, right away. But
It's only Jack that could ever have
thought Of such sweet, beautiful
thing IS giving that poor little dear
ring.
The next evening every blind at
the back OF Mr.. Mays house was Sc
cured and closed in such way that
no possible view could be obtained
Of that row Of back tenements.
TO do Mr.. May Justice, he had
made tour Of tho place on Christ
mas morning with Jack and saw that
| mono Of the inmates were without
the present necessities Of life. AS for
any permanent relief, that was out
Of the question, Of course, but Hig
gins was we'll provided for. Mr.. May
and Jack raped some Israelites who
had no especial aversion to selling
goods on that day, and managed to
get carpet for Higgins floor, pro-
visions for his closet, and blankets
for his beds. Jack didn't get through
lacking down tho carpet and put
ting up the shades till late in the
evening. Then he took bit Of cold
turkey and cup OF tea with Hig-
gins and little Belle, read the Christ
IN tkn pl, nj Ia IN
his very best style, and went home
to dress for Sophy's Christmas par
~.
As he put on Ills Piccadilly collar
with his nose close to the looking
glass, Jack couldn't but own that as
far rs manly beauty went, Smith
and Jones distanced him completely
also for style. The Piccadilly
would add new grace TO Jones, or
give a delicate finish to the toilet of
Smith; but rs for Jack, his neck was
too short and his head TOO round to
invest q collar with any conceivable
charm. He sighed, and began to
whistle a melancholy refrain, aud, as
he went out into the wintry night,
he thought to himself:
BE she failer than the day,
or the Howcry mcads in May.
Ifslic be not so 10 me,
What care how fair she be-
But he did care, nevertheless. And
when he got to the house OF the Sec
rotary, and found his beautiful
daughter floating about, a bewilder-
ing angel IN u clond of tulle, with
her hair more distractingly fluffy
than lie had ever seen it before, with
her eyes glistcning and beaming and
Drumming over with that kindly
genial expression to which Jones and
Smith had so feelingly alluded; and
,ulnu aha UliIn1 m IN him and mt