South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1878-03-15

The old woman rubbed Ter aching
shoulder, and remained Silent few
minutes. apparently considering what it
was best to do.
well. DEAR she said at last. since
you are SO kind. / don't know but shall
nave TO give up my business to you, for
my shoulder is powerful bad, and il I
should get cold now I should be laid up
Tor weeks p'raps, and Heaven only
knows what would become OF Jennie
and me. But you'll get tired out before
long. know, and when you do just
beckon to me. 1 live up in the fourth
story OF this building.' pointing to a
dingy row of houses opposite, and I'll
sec you and como down.
And after enlightening lilly with re-
gard to prices, with many thanks and
blessings, she hobbled away and left
the little girl alone in her new dignity.
lilly liked Il. 1t wasn't very nice
place to stay in. to be sure, but rather
dirty and dark. with great shipping
stores and wharves on every hand hut
she had view OF the water where she
sat, and great many sailors were pass
on dignified, business air, and sat up
very erect and prim. ready to receive GUS
toners. And plenty OF customers, she
had. assure you. The sailors, especially,
seemed to be highly pleased with the
DAINTY little apple woman; and BUSH
ness men made the purchase or her Pipe
pins an excuse TO speak to her, it was
80 out OF the common course OF things
to see such delicate, fairy-like girl
presiding over an apple stand.
Before noon she had sold out nearly
all her little stock; and taking what
lew she had left with her. she went in
search OF the apple woman, to make her
eyes glad with the great heap OF PEN
MES that had accumulated in her box,
and urge her to replenish her stock for
the afternoons sale. But the old wo.
man wasn't able TO go out and purchase
any more apples, and was willing to
leave everything to Tilly. who was high.
ly pleased with her commission. So
she made nice bargain with fruit
dealer up the street, and by one o'clock
cstablishedherself again as an apple ven.
der at the old stand.
The sun came out in tho afternoon,
and business was even more brisk than
In the morning. 1t was growing late in
the afternoon, and Tilly's stock was al.
most exhausted again, and she sat look
ing somewha: weary. her head on her
hand, when some one came up on the
other side ami said business has been
good to-day hasn't it, my little woman?
l sec you are nearly sold out
with brown face and pleasant brown
eyes. scanning her closely "a gentle
manly looking sort of man, who looked
as if he might be the captain Of ship.
Tilly's heart gave a great bound, for
Tho gentleman's face seemed very ia
iniliar to her some way, and her first
thought was that it might be Jim. But
no; Jim wasn't rs old as that gentle
man looked, and his features in the pics
ture, though there might be n little like.
ness in them to his, we're different; and
then Jim didn't have those great whis.
kers, and fierce looking mustache. ANY
way. lilly couldn't keep her eyes away
from him, or find her senses long enough
TO heed what he was saying to her.
So she kept looking at him. and he,
surprised that she could look ut him so
fixedly, looked back at her without say.
ing word. But at last he smiled, and
said laughingly, as lie fumbled inshis
pocket for some change: DO you like
my looks so very much, you little blue
bird2'
lilly dropped her eyes. and blushed
scarlet, faltering out, timidly Il thought
that you looked like my brother Jim
Indeed /" said the gentleman. the ex-
preston of his face changing suddenly.
Where is your brother Jim
Il don't know SIR said lilly; but |
fear he is dead
You don't know then Whether lie is
alive or not? suppose you haven't seen
him for some time tbenp'
oh, no. said lilly. not since was
four years old but have his pic
ture, and look at IL every day. lie
was q sailor, & sailed away on foreign
voyage, and have never heard from
him since
What is your name, my deat?' ques-
TONED the gentleman, lifting Tilly's
surprised little face in both his hands,
that he might have n better view of it.
But he did not wait for her to tell
the name, but snatched her up in his
arms and held her close TO his heart,
calling her his only little sister lilly.
Are you really Jim?' sail lilly, when
she could recover her breath.
Are you really lilly said he, hug
ging her closer and closer.
But why didn't you come homer
she asked, looking up sbyly into his
face.
The ship / sailed in was wrecked, ;
said he, and all on board, save the sec
ond mate and myself we're lost. We
succeeded in clinging TO some floating
sPars, until another ship came up and
took us in. That ship was bound to
China, and so 10 China I was obliged to
go, Of course. Then when we arrived
there, I was taken violently i'll OF a fe-