Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-03-24
B I B B S

Ihoro was no QOODC ABOUT IL, JOnn
Weare was perfectly wretched that night.
He had quarreled with Jennie Bell, and
he wasn't gong to make up. The fact
was she gave herself too many airs, and
he didn't mean to stand it any longer
He didn't care if she was pretty; there
was no reason why she should let half .
dozen fellows at time lean on their ell
bows, chatter 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 ball that was coming off
next month. To be sure, he was only a
common cavalry soldier, but then he had
been in the service good many years now,
had an excellent character. and good
trade at his back; his father having died
not long since, and there was cottage all
ready for Jennie to walk into, and they
sensible. Jennie acted as shop woman
for her sister, Mrs. Evans. A very poor
little shop it was, very small and badly
stocked, for Mrs. Evans had only manag-
ed to get few pounds worth of things
with what had been subscribed for her at
the garrison after the fever had carried off
her husband. The speculation answered
pretty well at first, for many Of the Off
GERS wives, knowing what an industrious
woman Mrs. Evans was, made point of
h,,x, fhni. Toy I'D NJ; nI>o
of sealing-wax of her, Then Jennie's
pretty face was seen behind the counter,
and the shop was filed from morning un-
til night with officers and frisky young ca
diets, and the original customers took fight
though Mrs. Evans did not know it; be-
lieving the business was safe in the keep
ing Of Jennie, she worked hard at dress
making (she had three children to support
and the shop alone would not do it.)
The officers were not profitable custom
ers, for they only went to firt with Jennie
under the excuse Of buying penny paper
or perhaps asking for timetable.
Jennie made the most trim and pretty
and obliging Of shop women, and the place
itself was always pattern OF neatness,
but the officers wives did not care to 60
and buy thread where they were evidently
interrupting Irritation, and SO the bust
ness continued to fall off, and Mrs. Evans
nie-pretty, kind hearted. thoughtlsss Jen-
nie-had no idea that she had anything to
do with 1t, or she would have sent every
one OF her admlrers off at a pace that
would have astonished them. She had
been only too delighted, after her brother
in-law died, to come from Devonshire and
live with her sister at Woolwich-not only
because she was very fond of her sister,
but also because she had wished many
times to see John Wears again. She had
and he-for they had been in the same reg
iment-were stationed at Plymouth, aud
she had paid them flying visit with her
father. John had told her that he was
tired of the service and wished to settle,
and she inwardly thought that he could do
no better than to ask her to settle with
him. He had been very attentive when
she came to Woolwich, and gradually es-
tablished himself on the footing OF lover,
till he found the shop always filled with
the officers and cadets. At first he was
shy of appearing before his superiors, then
he got jealous and at last angry, for he felt
and knew that they meant her no good,
and besides it was doing real injury to the
shop. At last be spoke his mind and told
the coquettish Jennie what he thought.
and was snubbed for his pains.
s'If you think I dom know how to take
care of myself. Mr.. Weare, you are very
much mistaken, and don't want any one
to tell me what's right or wrong. I know
for myself.''
"Well, Miss Jennie, didn't mean to
give offence. I only told you what 1
thought"
''Then you might have kept your
thoughts to yourself - she said, with lit
tie toss of her pretty head-"unless they
had been nice ones," she added. He heard
the aside, and picked up his courage.
sits awfully hard, too, when one that
really cares for you can't get near you,"
he replied.
just then Jennie caught sight Of Cap
tain MCGEE, q tall and handsome man,
with long whisksrs and 4 red nose, coming