The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-02-17

l-OlOod money every penny VI IL, NAunf
from a natural young heart that re-
nounced every little dearly priced pleas
ure and luxury before the dread OF com
ing sickness or want.
Bracket bent low over her slight
STOPPING form, saw the grateful tears on
her cheeks, pressed for an instant the
thin fingers, pricked and hardened by
the needle, then whispered softly: III
see you again soon. Good night, little
| Jeanette.
Passing out, he jostled in the doorway
against great form that seemed little
inclined to make way for him, and q
Eugene walked down the street the form
came into the shop and and Miss Par
minter greeted it with, "Hello, Josiah
real glad to see yer"
Josiah Jackson, plumber, owned those
heavy shoulders and owned the spare
square, low-browed face that looked ouI
| above them. 1t was a workman face
and it was workman's form. Plumber
was written all over him, from his dusty
matted hair to his stained hands and
hattened thumbs that showed Josiah
'tdays off, were very few. He was
skilled in his trade and often called in
as an expert in difficult jobs. Even now
he was returning from some work OF this
sort.
You're late, JOSIAH said Miss Par
minter. $500
=: Yes, 'she answered, in rather surly
way, GIVE been putin in extry time
on one of Brackets houses. Blythe
way; what's his son dom here?"
g Nothin' much. Fust off thought
it was some message from the old man
about collectin' rent, but turned out
'twarn't So"
81 guess not" said Josiah, contempt.
uously, and loud enough for Jane tc
hear. 1.-The old man wouldn't trust him
with money. I've heard the two quar-
relin' more than once. The father al
ways says: You're big rascal, Eu
gene, and you shan't touch a dollar OF
mine. You've got your villainous bro
ker's Office, so play your tricks outside
of my business He's cheating scamp,
that fellow"
Jane rose quickly and came forward
Two bright spots of color burned on hel
pale cheeks. Her eyes were flashing, and
she said, facing Josiah Indignantly
g Mr.. Brackets a gentleman, Josiah
Jackson, and that's more than you are. "
Jane" the plumber answered, his
voice shaking with anger, and yet with
an appeal in it" Jane, i don't pretend
to be. Pm only an honest man, and
that fellow amt. That's all I've got to
say"
g That's more than you've any right
to say" the girl retorted.
Haven't I no right" exclaimed 10
siah, ''to warn you for your own good
when see things is wrongP"
You've got nothin' to do with me at
ALL" answered Jane, and like shabby
little queen with weak voice, much out
of keeping with the might of her scorn,
she walked to the stairway at the back
and passed up to her own room.
Josiah looked after her; then pushing
back his old hat with one rough hand
that trembled strangely, he turned to
Miss Parminter, who was very busy with
the wispy curls, and said:
:" Look here-Tve been courtin' Jane
for more'n ayear. She's give me kind
of half promise more'n once, and now
now, within six weeks, since that
Brackets been loatin' round, she treats
me that way. faint right, Miss Par
minter, faint right" His smudged and
toil-worn face quivered and grew pale.
"Well," answered the spinster, max.
ing new tangles of the curls, ''you see,
Josiah, Mr.. Blackett's smooth spoken
and handsome, and, moreover, girls
is girls. They like little-well,
what I call poetry ways and soft
speeches; and girls likes it to be always
walentine-time, SO to speak"
"But 'tain,t always valentine-time
aud soft talk won't keep the poi
a-b'ilin'," said the practical Josiah, the
words losing half their coarseness in the
dignity of his suppressed and genuine
suffering.
"Ah," Miss Parminter replied, "but
the sensiblest woman has got a longin
after nonsense. We like being made
much of in some way out O. the com.
mon. We like playin' we're queens OF
angels. 'Tain't no harm, but sometime:
it costs us dear. Why, Josiah, Just fol-
few nice words and a way of looking
out of a pair of handsome eyes,
throwed over a fellow as good as you
for chap that Tilted me after all. Anc
here I'm a lone woman, and hadn'
never oughter been" She cried quite
Historically for moment, then stopped
to see what Josiah was slowly drawing
from his pocket. 1t was a parcel, anc
he carefully opened it, saying:
'sTve bought Jane little present;
half dozen pairs of good wooden stock
in's. l thought they'd be more usefu
than the breastpins or such trash"
"What have been tellin' yos?' Mis-
Parminter broke out, in passionate ora
tory. "Stockin's !-stockin's indeed
Why, rosebud or picture card would
have more. effect on girl, Put up then
stockin's, Josiah; 'twon't never do
fteUer"
"All right. answered Josiah, bowling
to asuperior Judgment, yet looking puz
zled; "but stockin's is very useful, ant
we all have to have 'em."
Good gracious man, I'm out of al
patience with you! Go home, and II
manage your love-making. Go home.
Josiah very meekly obeyed, and Mis-
Parminter closed up the shop, and wen
up to James room. Those red indig
nantspots still burned on the little dress
makers cheeks, and to the abrupt ques
ton: "Do you mean to give Josiah up?'
she replied, sharply: ''You can't give u
what you never had"