The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-04-21

AoNt fSesuANovs sotu OnutC Su0ush6 WV
bright brown curls out OF her eyes
Here's the quarter; and you needn't
think. Ralph Parsons, that we are going
to call upon you again until we've paid
on the bill that we owe you
already"
She nodded good.by and hurried away
under the canopy Of pink apple blos-
SONS. Ralph looked admirinsly after
her.
"She's a regular clipper Of girl, that
to support wife that will be the one I'd
choose"
Light as thistledown jamie hurried
back With her precious bundle or shin
giles, and the pound of nails in her pock
ct.
"Now I'll show him whether l can
mend the roof or not" said she, as with
8 hammer added to her stock in trade
she ascended to the garret and climbed
an odd little ladder that led out through
rusty trap.door to the steep roof.
The slant was abrupt, the old shingles
we're wet with the recent rain and slip.
perry with green moss incrustations; but
jamie Barr was not one lightly to be dis.
couraged and presently she found herself
neatly balanced with her feet brsced
agains. the broad gutter ,oRe elbow lean
ing on the roof and the other hand bu
sily tearing away the old shingles and
replacing them deity with overlapping
rows Of new fragrant wood.
Tue click of the hammer, the ring Of
the nails, was like music in her ears. It
meant that she had saved her mother q
bill of several dollars, to say nothing Of
mental tribulations. which could not be
estimated; that Mrs Lepell would re-
main with them and that she, JAMIE, had
proved herself of some use in the world.
"l've always wished / had been
born q boy instead of girl" unused
jamie. "But now," with an exultant
glance at the neat row OF shingles, II
am not so dissatisfied with my lot in
life."
Suddenly, however, as she sat perched
like q squirrel on the slanting roof the
sound of voices struck On her ear. She
paused to listen.
"Tbree dian ond rings! I heard her
say so herself. In the left hand drawer
of some bureau" said the same accents
which half an hour ago had asked her for
charity; "and no one but q woman 10 the
house."
"Sure OF that ?" said deeper voice
"Yes, plum sure" was the ans wer;
sand / wouldn't wonder il there we're
other things for the picking up."
"Come on then," said The other one,
'and step livolv; we can't stand here
jawing all day The door is bolted, is il ?
Wait q minute; I've got little j,ker
here as would start any staples this side
OF Denver"
jamie had listened in breathless hor-
ror In an instant, as it were, she com
pretended the full danger that menaced
Mrs Lepelrs treasured gems-the three
diamond rings that the boarder had
once told her we're worth thousands OF
dollars, and here she was alone and help.
less!
Hurriedly she turned over the crisis in
her mind. II she we're to re-enter the
house by The same way in which she left
it, che must certainly meet the ruffisns
and any resistance which she could otter
would be speedily overpoweted. But
Jinie Barr was not one to hesitate
long. While the thoughts yet csreered
through her brain, she sprang from the
caves into the blooming bougbs OF THE
great cherry tree which grew 60 close to
the house that it's branches scraped the
ro"f on windy March days
1t was hszardous thing for any one
to do who was not swift Of limb and &C.
curate Of eye; but jamie slighted, like a
Cat, in the fork Of The tree, climbed lightly
down until she reached i's lower bough
and thence lesped breathlessly to the
ground, springine swiftly across the
meadows to Ralph's carpenter shop.
III be is not there" she thought
"some of bis men will be-"
"Janie, what is it2"
Ralph Parsons himself rose up out of
the green hedge directly across her. path
IL was drinking OF the ice cold spring,
he said, "when.1 heard your footsteps
What is it2"
She told bin as we'll as she could for
excitement ard eathlessness.
"Come" she cried. 'Ob, do make
has,e!'
He paused only to blow a small willow
whistle which hung on bis steel watch
guard.
"That will bring my workmen," be
said. "It's a signal We have sgreed upon
among ourselves for just such an emer-
gency IS this. You and Jones, jamie,
shall go around to the back door, Hall
and Robbins will watch the front and III
60 up and settle the fellows"
jamie glanced with shy admiration
into his set, determined face; after all, it
was something to be . man.
The little campaign was skillfully con
Quoted The two thieves were taken red.
handed; the diamond rings were deliver.
ed Into jamie Barr's keeping and the ruff
fans we're dragged to the nearest Jail.
"Oh, Ralph," said jamie when all the
little crowd was goae. "how can ever
thank your"
He smiled.
"By letting me put on those shingles
for you," said be.
81 csn't!' ssid jamie laughing and
bushing. "They are put on already !;
but I'll promise you my next job OF car.
pentering-"
"Will you let me he your carpenter al
ways, jamie ?" he asked. "Will you
promise one day to be my wife ?"
The words had risen almost involun.
tarily to bis lips as he held her hand IN
his-the words be SO ioaged yet dreaded
TO speak.
Aud jamie hung her head and colored
like a carnation, and said 'she would
see."
And Ralph Parsons knew that he had
won the day.
Mrs. Barr and the bosrder we're alike
amazed when they returned home.
"0ur jamie to circumvent a gang of
burelarsi" said the proud mother
ITO save my threediamond rings."
hys' erically cried Mrs Lepell.