The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1877-09-27

BY ANNETTE /. NOBLE.
Out in the noisy world, where people
rum here and there, few stop long enough
to study out the soul behind their neigh
boris grimaces. If he smiles, he must
be happy; if he signs, dyspeptic, may
be. And, on the whole, what man is
does not come into account one-half 50
much as what he does. Out in the
world this is; still there are places where
it matters what he thinks of things. All
the public wanted to know of jacob
Strong was that he sold curtain fixtures
and cord, keys and screws, and that he
carried his stock in trade about with
him. One afternoon in June Jacob was
going home. Business after May was
dull; then every body was moving OF
cleaning house and he reaped his modest
harvest. He used to shudder as he
passed the swarming, dirty tenement
houses, for if his home had not CHANGED
to be where it was he could have afford.
ed no higher rent than was paid here
Thishot day he threaded his way through
the narrow streets and past stalls smell
ing OF stale fruit, stopping only once al
flower stand. Here somebody iostled
by the crowd had knocked off a tea-rose
bruising the flower and breaking the pot
Sell 1t to me for ten centsH' asked
Jacob.
The angry vcnder hestated q minute,
then rolling up dirt and rosebush togeth,
er gave the paper to Jacob. He hurried
on, turned into an old square, through a
by-lane to the rear of an ancient brick
building. Tho first floor was used for
offices and masonic hall, the second fol-
mission school and storing rooms. the
third for offices again. The style of
architecture suggested a church. and
such indeed it had been.
There was such a brilliant sunset light
without; but here Jacob stumbled up
and through shadows until he reached a
familiar door which he opened with soft
eagerness. Such quaint room was dis
closed. The new partitions were of I'M
plastered planks now neatly covered
over with brown wrapping paper; above
were the rich old oaken beams of the
ceiling; on the spotless floor were rugs,
SOFT and old-fashioned, an antique chair,
tall-backed and once richly cushioned,
stood at the end of the apartment, which,
tor some reason was fve-sided. The
pulpit chair was little removed from
the everyday cheap furniture as if it
were the only fit companion for the other
glory of the place, which was small
round window of stained glass having in
It's centre an Agnus Del EVERYTHING
else was homely, but sweet with clean
illness. A thick white curtain cut of
one corner of the room, and two door,
opened Out-one into tiny kitchen
where Jacob retired to wash his hands
and put down the rose paper. With his
forehead cooled and his gray hair pushed
otf,it, one had fair look at the tail, thin
man and could not learn much more
from his immovable face; but under
black, shaggy eyebrows were singular
eyes-blue and clear, like child's. AS
Jacob turned back, the white curtain
parted quickly and a small woman in a
short gown and striped skirt seemed to
have come suddenly out from a nap and
to be troubled on that account. She
tied silk handkerchief about her head.
which was covered with short hair as
white as silver, and in CHEEKY voice be-
gan TO chatter. Derrie me. jacob six
Q clock and no supper for you'll And |
lying there like Marjory Dawr'
"What. 1e haven't been and sold
yer bed, have We? 1t appears to be
there all the same There, there. old
lady, don't hurry Ye know well
enough how 1t takes the breath out of
ye,". and Jacob caught her by the ruffle
on her jacket and held her still for a
second, not in play, but soberly, to break
up her speed, she having started rapidly
toward the kitchen. She laughed, show
ing even teeth and gentle, good old
face, only unnaturally white.
ie're right, Jacob; if / go bit
slower | gain time in the end. | was a
little more tired than ordinary-I-"
!" Have We been down the long stairs
this day p
She stammered like a child before she
confessed she had.
Wei, if We go down tomorrow.
Dolly, hereafter IN fasten We in-that is
if | haven't Yer promise.
And if we have ito
Then what need of lock?'' and
Jacob ioosened his hold on her gown.
going himself to fill the tea kettle and
set If to boil on the stove. Dolly drew
out the table, putting ON bread. meat
and two or three simple viands. When
the tea was made the old couple drew
their chairs TO the table and Dolly bow
ed her head saying aloud: ~
We confess our unworthiness, we ac-
knowledge Thy goodness, We praise Thy
tender mercy and give Thee thanks"
She could not see that Jacob looked
open-eyed at the blue and crimson win
dow. She turned his tea from funny.
brown earthen pot, round like cannon
ball, and suddenly cried:
" Weli-a-day. Here We be q eating
away and the door not opened
50 she emphasized the words that
really they must be put in italics-quite
as il there had been but one out of the
room, not three 1t was plain what she
meant when she flung it wide open; for,
II theirslfome was queer, this outlook was
queerer. IN adapting the old church to
present assss all sorts of excreseences had
arisen out OF and overran it. Their own
snuggery was fitted into its topmost,
uha'aliapAe corner, and this door opened
into an unaccountable bit of flat roof
away, away up above the roar of the cltv.
under the glowing sunset sky. 81 bioh
that distance softened picturesauely all
ugly sights below, and the eve could take
In at a sweep the waters of the bay. re-
turning to rest just here again in the de-
hight OF Dolly's heart-her garden; for
a garden this was. That very moment the
soft June air stirred lilies aud roses and
violet and golden pansies, all planted in
broad boxes of earth and tended by
ItnlIY1s own hanl. SL- Ii e