The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-07-26

with her father since he liked to have
his little girl with him, but each trip to
the town was a small torture to her.
Oraigie-long used to being the OBJ
iect Of not too kindly ttention-hard-
ly noticed that bestowed upon the child,
except as it reflected on himself, and
formed one reason more why they should
keep to themselves and be all in all to
each other. So back they would 60
from the town, and at the first sight OF
the bridge his heart would warm.
"Weel, jimmy" he would say, "here's
oor brig again" And with intuitive
womanliness the child felt that she
ought not to sadden poor father with
her troubles, so she locked them In her
own small breast.
In this monotonous way the time
passed on till the winter that Jenny was
nine years old. The dry season had
been unusually prolonged and hot, SO
that when the winter rains at last set in
they were everywhere welcomed.
The hills grew family green and the
air had an almost springtide warmth.
But Donald Oraigie shook his head
rather ominously when Jenny cried out
that she wished this nice warm weather
would last a long time.
cts up to nae guild, I'm thinkin'," "
said he. "It luiks to me like
there 'ud be regular doom
pour by to morrer or sooner"
When their early dinner was over he
proposed going to Dickson's; for, as he
told Jenny, there was no knowing when
the weather would let them get there
again, and various things we're needed.
A soft but not unpleasant rain was
falling as the two went down the main
street to Jansen's store and grocery
combined.
"There's old Craigie and his girl, "
said one person to another, as they
passed.
Owing to the rain there were more
loungers than usual in the store, and as
is the way with an idle crowd they gave
all their attention to the last newcomer.
CraiPie entered the store without
looking round and walked straight to
the counter 81 want DOODLE box O.
matches, said he, "a paper O. vest, q
gahllon o. molasses and calm o OIL"
These orders were filed in the midst
Of an attentive silence on the part OF
the audience. Then Jansen, who was a
big coarse-grained fellow, made bold
possibly by so many spectators, winked
at them as if to say, "We'll have little
fun, " and addressed Craigie:
Matches, molasses, oil and yeast,
here they are, sir; now what else ?"
"Nothin'," said Craigie, shortly, and
Ou1lad ont his laathar 1,uraa
But these things are for your
house" urged Jansen. "These are for
your house don't ye want something
for yourselfP Checked shirts, now, orr
Moo, till you," said Craigie, who
by this time had taken from his purse
the right amount of change.
cor for your little gal now an apern,
or-or- hat, you know" continued
Jansen, with side glance as he spoke
at the very nondescript article that
covered the child's head.
At the word hat there was an audible
litter from the loungers, and Jansen,
catching his advantage, went on, Or
maybe dress now?" This time the
laugh was universal and louder.
Poor Jenny stood there mute, misera-
bic, shamefaced tiny mark for so
many arrows. But something in the
laugh and the general stare seemed to
rouse Craigie, not 30 much to anger as
to the perception that there must be
something really amiss to cause it.
He looked down at Jenny's little
quivering face, and for the first time
perhaps was aware that the headgear
which framed it was in no respect like
ordinary headgear. He saw, too, the
queer tags with which her dress was
adorned, and the mottled frontispiece,
which only by courtesy could be called
an apron.
This, to him, new aspect of things,
took his mind quite away from the
sneering tone of the storekeeper and
from the interested crowd. He looked
like a man who had just woke up.
Ye may be rect" he said at last;
"she an lives aloone like, and 1 luik
at little but keepin' her warm"
Then he turned to Jenny. "What
nd ye like, me BARN ? A nice ap'on'
stead o. this?" looking at the article
with which she was misadorned.
Scared, yet fascinated by the thought
VI NAO ASW ohO AOOAOd ~ A4OA
father with face that expressed a
pleasure he was quick to read. "Shoo
us the oalicooes then" said he; "and
Jimmy, ye sail pick for yourself"
Jansen must surely have been drink
ing some of his own whisky, for in gen.
eral he was too sharp business man to
insult paying customers; besides,
he very likely felt that public senti-
ment was on his side and against
Craigie, whose silent, unsociable ways
were not at all in his favor.
AT any rate, under pretense of getting
calicoes, he pulled down a pile OF
figured chintzes and cretonnes. One
piece in particular he unfolded before
the child. 1t was a dark ground,
covered with figures of gaudy birds,
presumably parrots, and monkeys
climbing impossible palm trees. Jansen
put his finger, as if by chance, on one