The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-12-27
BIBRS.

There was no doubt about it; John
Weare was perfectly wretched that
night.
He quarreled with Jennie Bell,
and he wasn't going to make it up
The fact was she gave herself toe
many airs, and he didn't mean to
stand it any longer. He didn't care
if she was pretty ;;--that was no reas'
on why she should let a half dozen
fellows at a time hang about the
shop, or stroll in one at time, and
leaning on her elbows, chatter and
smirk and smile over the counter
cadets and officers, too, wild young
fellows, who only did so for theil
own idle amusement. and would nc
more dream of marrying her than
they would of inviting her to ball
that was coming off next month
To be sure, he was only common
cavalry soldier, but then he hao
been in the service a good many
years now, had an excellent charac
ter. and good trade at his back, his
father had died not long since, and
there was cottage all ready fol
Jennie to walk into, and they might
settle down at once if she'd ONLY be
sensible.
Jennie acted as shop-woman fol
her sister, Mrs Evans A very poor
little shop it 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 at the garrison
after the fever had carried off bel
husband. The speculation answered
pretty well at first, for many of the
officers wives, knowing what an in
dustrious woman Mrs. Evans was
made a point of buying their tapes
and cotton. and sticks of sealingwaS
of her. Then Jennie's pretty fac,
was seen behind the counter, anc
the shop was filled from morning
until night with officers and frisky
cadets. and the original customers
took flight-though Mrs. Evans die
not know it, believing the bushes:
was safe in the keeping of Jennie
and she worked hard at dressmakins
(she bad three children to support
and the shop alone would not do it.
The officers were not profitable
customers, for they only went te
fiirt with Jennie, under the excuse
of buying penny paper, or perhaps
asking for time table.
Jennie made the most trim, and
pretty, and obliging of shop women
and the place itself was always q
pattern of neatness but the officers
wives did not care to 90 and buy
thread where they were evidently
interrupting a Irritation. and so the
business continued to fall off, and
Mrs. Evans began to get quite unhap'
py about it. Jennie-pretty. kind
hearted. thoughtless Jennie-had nc
idea that she had anything to do
with it. or she would have sent every
one of her admirers off at a pace
that would have astonished them
She had been too delighted, afte,
her brother-in law died. to come from
Deyonshire and live with her sister
at Woolwich-Dot only because she
was very fond of her sister, but also
because she wished to see john
Weare again. She had made his &C
quaintanee when her brother anG
he-for they had been in the sams
regiment-were stationed at Ply
mouth, and she had paid them fly.
ing visit with her father. John
had told her that he was tired of the
service and wished to settle down
and she inwardly thought that ht
could do no better than to ask hel
to settle with him. He had been
very attentive when she came to
Woolwich, and gradually establish.
ed himself on the footing of lover
till he found the shop always filled