The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1882-11-09

tease her. She makes believe her names Maria
Anne, or sOmethin' like that, but it was only
Maria when she lived down in PennsyIvany.
I reckon she wouldn't mind addin' couple Of
letters to that air last name of hern, too"
Raymond is long enough for hor, guess,
Jim
Good for you, sallie!. She'd take him
qrickcr'n wink if she he'd the chance He
didn't seem very sweet On her, though, pears
to me-"
"But he didn't have no show at all when
you was around!"
81 did talk a heap to her, and no mistake"
DO you think you'll go up to Milwaukee
after that beer, Jim?"
"What!"
"Why, you know she asked you to come and
see her"
II didn't say I'd go, did II"
"Yes you did, tool"
"Then I was only foolin'. You'll never
catch me again within ten miles of her, if can
help it."
"Why-why. Jim 1 thought you liked her
real we'll"
"Now, look here, sallie, you don't mean to
tell me that you was silly enough to get
jealous?"
"'Course I wasn't! But I couldn't help
thinkin You kind o liked her, you know"
"Well, what if did?"
90, nothin'! Only-only-"
"Only you'd be mad about it, wouldn't
your"
81 think you're real mean, Jim, to talk to
me so! l guess yom wouldn't like it if l was to
ask one of my old beaux if he'd lost the gold
ring [ give him oncel Now, what are you
laughin' at? 1 think you're too hateful for
anything"
"Thats the best joke out, 1 must say! So
you heard me pumpin' her about that air little
gold ring? Well that's too good to keep
1 reckon I'll have to tell joe"
"Now, jim, if you do, I'll be downright mad
Was it long before you knew me that you give
her the ring?"
" 1t wasn't afterwards, certain"
"You might tell me about t."
"What do you want to know for?"
"I don't want to know I wouldn't know
for nothin' in the world" I says, jumpin' up
and beginnn' to clear off the table in such
a big hurry that I nearly broke one of my best
white pIatters.
Jim lights his pipe and goes out in the store
again, and l can hear him laughin' away to
himself, as if somethin' was plcasin' him
mighty well, and makes up my mind that I'll
never ask him another thing about Maria Ebbs
as long as livel
So, when he comes back, keeps right on
with my sewin', and never looks up at him
once.
See here, Sallie, he says, sittin' down in a
chair close beside me, I've great mind to
tell you somethin'."
"What is it, Jim?"
"Maybe it isn't the fair thing to do, but 1
amt goin' to have you worryin' for nothin'.
You know, Joe and me has been friends ever
since we was Young 'uns, and one summer,
when he come to Pennsylvany to see me, he
happened to get acquitted with Maria Ebbs,
who was iyin' there then, and, like a fool, he
asked her to marry him."
"Why, Jim Miller! Why didn't you tell me
before?"
"Most likely would if I'd been woman.
but men amt given to blabbin was bound
I'd keep JOe's secret as long as 1 could Joe
thought heap of Maria, and was always
tellin' him that she'd go back on him some day.
Sure enough, after they. moved out West, and
her father begun to make money, she wouldn't
have nothin' to do with him. But he amt for
gotten her yet, and he was set on namin' the
mine the Stunnin' Maria, so 1 had to give in.
1 wanted to call it the Lovely Sallie,' or some
thin like that, after you"
Never mind, Jim, Maria's beautiful name.
1 never thought I'd like it so well. I
mean"
"NOw, Sallie you was little goose to think
I cared cent for her, and that night you
heard me askin' her about that little gold ring
Joe give her once, was just tryin' to find out
if she had forgotten all about him or not.
Why, never thought of your really carin', or
l wouldn't have talked to her so much. See
here, the baby's goin' to open them blue eyes
of his" q
Give him to me, Jin," says, and I takes
him up in my arms and sits down in the big
rockin' chair. "He doesn't know he ever lived
in big stone house, does he jim? It's nothin'
to him how poor we are. He's CROWN and
laushin' from mornin' to night. And as long
as 1 have you and the baby, Jim, I'll always be
happy, if you amt never mil-lee-on-aire!"
And what does he do but put both his arms
right around me.
Il tell you what it is, Sallie, I've made up
my mind that ! struck it rich the day you and
me was married."
The End.l