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

W -
take care of it.
Eugene! Air you going to marry
himp"
Eyes; that is, mo. o, Miss Par
minterr' jane looked almost pretty
and girlish as she kneeled down and hid
her face against the angular but sympa-
thetic shoulder-"oh, l thinkEI do
think something's coming of it. He's
been here three times, and he's asked
me to call him Eugene, and he calls me
little Jeanette in gentle way that 8
just-just lovely"
"Humph! And how about Josiah?'
I'm sorry"--and she began to cry
softly-"very sorry; but think of him be-
side EugeneF'
II do, and he's heap sight more
manipulating"
'He calls me Jane and sent me a
stuff dress at Christmas; Eugene calls
me little Jeannette,' and see''-she
pulled up her sleeve and showed, secretly
worn, a small turquoise bracelet-sshe
sent me this
eyes," snapped Miss Parhinter, ..and
it's worth about five dollars. That dress
was all pure wool and cost every cent of
twenty"
at amt cost SO much" said Jane,
twisting the bracelet about her arm; sits
it's
''It's 6oshp' Miss Parminter finished
the phrase for her. go, Jane, I know.
All women crave bosh." Then the iu-
dicious old person quietly rose and went
to her own room, where she sat for a
long time lingering the curls andgnIAk-
ing.
In the morning she came to Jane in
great distress and confusion, and begged
her to take care of the shop, she being
obliged to go out on business.
Miss Parminter was gone all day long,
She carried her spare face and her bright
bonnet and those wisps of cu-ls in and
out of a great many downtown offices,
and on coming home at night walked
straight through the shop, AMI sat down
very sad and detected, by she stove in
the back. She looked most unhappy, and
buried her face in her hands. Jane hur-
ried the closing up to find out the cause
of so much sadness. When they were at
| last alone the poor old woman moaned
and rocked to and fro, exclaiming: 'Such
trouble, Jane! such trouble! shall be
ruined" Jane manifested affectionate
sympathy, but she only cried out: $50
away. I've got no friends. There's no.
body to help lone wonan-nobody."
Jane, quite distracted at the sight of
her sorrow, protested: "Why, I'll do
anything for you-anything.
"My dear, need money-a great deal
of money. can't explain, but my great
needs money. wan5lt for few days
only, but if don't have it I'm ruined
ruined.'
8 How much?" asked Jane.
" At least five hundred dollars"
Z" 0, take my money, dear, take mine.
Don't 90 on so. Eugene can wait few
days for the investment. Take mine. :"
BLESS your sobbed out Miss Parmin-
ter--''bless you! | will. 1t will be per-
fectly safe, and promise faithfully to
give it back. You've. saved me from a
lifetime of misery"
The two friends embraced, and the
very next day the trusting dressmaker
brought five crisp hundred dollar bills
her whole fortune-from the savings
bank, and laid them in Miss Parminter' S
| claw-like hand, which closed on them
sharply. Then there were more en-
bracing and tears, after which Jane went
to her work, while the shrewd old maid
snapped the money into safe leather
pockst-book, ond muttered: "Little fool!
I'll fix her."
The night after that, when Eugene
called, Miss Parminter listened on the
stairs. The visit was short, and as he
went out he said: ''Well, Jeanette you We
done an imprudent thing, but l suppose
the old cat will give it back. I'll come
again in week"
"You suppose the old cat will give it
back, do you?" repeated the lady SC
pleasantly designated, as she closed the
shop door just out of Eugene's ear-shot.
Every night poor Josiah hung about
the sidewalk hoping for some news OF
encouragement. He never received any
beyond the curt reminder. "Now I'm
dom your courtin'. Don't you med
die"
A week later Eugene came again, and
the guilty debtor, from that convenient
stairway, heard Jane sob and say: 80,
Eugene | couldn't help it--indeed
couldn't; she's been such kind friend
and she was in such trouble! Only wait
I'm sure she'll give it back soon.''
"Old griliinm exclaimed the young
man; then added, tiercely: "Look here
you get that money back at once, do you
hearP Get it backn' and he went out
noisily slamming the door,
Jane rushed down to Miss Parminter
and cried: go, dear friend, do give mt
my money! Eugene isso angry because
| shall lose the chance of making my
fortune! Do give it back"
The old maid sadly shook her head,
shed tears copiously, sobbed aloud, ant
declared she'd have Mysteries. ShC
couldn't return the money yet. Sht
was in great trouble, and-oh! oh! ohr'
Jane drew cup of tea for comfort
Neither could swallow any; so with more
tears they parted, Jane to cry all night
long, and the other to recover cheerful
ness at once.
A few evenings after this, as Josiah
accordingto his wont, was humbly sbulk
ing about to catch some word of com
fort, his heart leaped up to meet smil
ON Miss Parminter's face, and a gestur
that brought him toward her. She cal
ried him behind the counter, and afte
curt explanation, changing of money
and the doing up of parcel, Josiah re
marked: