Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1882-10-19
SHORT AND SWEET.
From Harner,s Weeklz.

From Harper's Weekly.
The death of little Miss Jem's mother
(she died suddenly one day in early Novem-
ber) revealed the hitherto unsupported fact
that her income-supposed to have been
derived from an estate OF her late hus-
bands, but now proved to have been the
liberal yearly allowance of a wealthy uncle
of his-died with her; and little Miss Jems.
after the funeral expenses were paid, found
herself and her maternal grandmother Ia
dear old lady, with "a bee in her head, it
must be confessed, but bee that never
stung) left to begin the world anew with
but hundred odd dollars and small
houseful of furniture.
Mrs. Jems had been of an easy going,
secretive, apathetic nature, obeying implia-
lily the command, Take no thought for
Tomorrow" and, strange as it may appear,
had never given even the slightest hint of
the real state of affairs to her daughter,
who was but three years Of age when her
father departed this life, and who, Blythe
bye, resembled her mother in no respect
and SO, as well may be imagined, when tn
disclosure came, little Miss Jems was much
surprised and COMPOUNDED.
She had been looked upon in her neigh
borhood quite in the hight Of an heiress. and
had been wooed by the butcher, the bak-
er, and the candlestick- maker" to speak
poetically, and last, but not least by great
deal, by handsome young BUILDER just
admitted to partnership with his father
who bui 1t the row of cottages in one OF
which the LENSES lived.
Idon't mean to say that it was entirely
on account of the fortune which it was
thought she would inherit that so many
came a-wooing the heroine of my story. Oh
no, indeed, for her face was fortune in it
self. It was one of those pretty, child-like
faces, with limpid hazel eyes, red pouting
lips, and pink dimpled cheeks, which one
longed to kiss as soon as one saw them,
and which everybody who could find the
slightest pretense for so doing did kiss as
soon after seeing them as possible.
"Just as though I were q baby" said
little Miss Jems one day to her intimate
friend Miss Serena Sloe. And hate it,
and I've almost made up my mind to strike
the next person who attempts it." Aud
she stamped her small foot and shook her
small fist in such cunning way that Miss
Sloo, who was several years older than ST e,
cheeks between her hands and and
Serena Sloo," said little Miss Jems, in
yourself" And then imagine, in addition
to the pretty face, wee figure, not very
slender on the contrary, delightfully."-
plump-with No. feet and No. hands,
and I'm sure you will acknowledge that
your minds eye" never looked on fairer
picture.
"'Oh, she's daisyp sang the butchers
boy while cutting the steak for Aleck Will
i.-artin, the young builder mentioned above;
and SO engrossed was ne with the, to him,
subject of the song that he cut the tough
part of the steak twice as thick as he did the
tenderloin, and as he handed it to his GUS
toner he winked slyly, and said, isn't
she?"
Aleck frowned upon him, and left the
shop in dignifed silence, which went to
prove that to two persons at least there was
but one ''daisy" in that vim entity.
Little Miss Jems wept for her mother a
month and more, though, to tell The honest
truth, their affection for each other had
been less strong than usually exists be-
tween parent and child; and then she dried
her eyes, and sat down in her snug parlor,
one bright December afternc on, to eonsid-
er ways and means for the future.
Grandmamma was there, too, in her own
particularly easy rocking chair, humming
softly to herself. in the widest of white
Cans, adorned with the futedest of fiuted
ruff1es, with ball of yarn and "a half fin
lshed stocking, which she was rapidly fin
ishing, in her black alpaca lap. And while
little Miss Jems was thinking so hard that
three wrinkles were plainly discernible on
her fair brow, somebody came whistlinp ND
the steps. Miss Jems sprang from her
seat, ran to the door, opened it. seized the
whistler by the hand, and drew him into
the 6ining-room.
Grandma is in the parlor, " she said
and she knows nothing about the money.
and, God willing. she never shall"
"Of course not, my DEAR" said Aleck
Wilmartin, lifting her lightly and seating
her on the dining table, to her great vexa-
ton.
Take me down. I won't be treated this
way, you great rude thing, she cried,
crimson with rage. "Take me down this
instant" And the way she stamped her
foSt (she was always stamping her foot
about something or other) when once more
on the floor, it's wonder that the heel
didn't fly off the dainty slipper. Il want
to talk with you as a woman with a man. "
she continued, mot as girl chatterine to
boy"
Mr.. Wiln,artin led her with mock solem-
nifty to chair, and seated himself beside
her. Il am all attention. Proceed, Pig
con-"
pigeon, indeed! That's fine way to
begin! I shan't say another werd until
you behave YOURSELF" and little Miss Jems
turned away and gazed steadily out of the
window.
Miss Jems, said her lover, II am be-
having-upon my word am. And as you
refuse to begin the conversation, talk
ing as man to woman-assare you that
there is not the slightest necessity for max
ing any change in your way of living.
This house is mine, therefore it is yours,
and as soon as you can make up your mind
to let me come and share it with you. the
Wedding ring will be bought
sand that's your idea of mans talk to
woman!" said little Miss Jems, with
scornful emphasis. Il call it a mans talk
to child. And I will not live in your
house, Mr.. Alexander Wilmartin, which is
not mine. And you shall never put we'd
ding ring on the finger of q beggar. So
there noww
well, upon my word, you haze got
temper of your own, Pigeon Miss Jems, I
mean, said Aleck, retreating in
affected terror, to the other
slant, however. "But, if it be not too pre-
sumptuous on my part. may beg your
ladyship to tell me what you do intend
TO do?"
Il shall keep a store, sir-a candy
store"
"And eat up ill the profits, to say moth
ing of the stock, youself?"
"Al x.nder Wilmartin, once for all, if
you will not talk sense, go home"
"Violetta Jems, Familiarity known as
Pigeon, rather than go home,' promise to
talk sense py the hour"