The Dillon tribune., 1886-05-15

r;tcd now herself: Il don't want any
moncy--ketch old. please. do jest 10
make believe you're taking them 10
her the same as ever, Sir. "a,
1'he old man stretched out a trembling
hand towards the flowers at this sugges-
tiou, and Polly thrust them into his grasp
.nl fairly ran across the bridge again,
leaving him looking after her open
mo,1thc,l, and with some salt tears 'rln'-
ming over his blinking eyelitls and making
their WAY down the deep burrows III ms
cheeks.
On Monday Jacob passed her as usual
on his hO,,ewartl route. anu with MS o'u
,r,:rn,iizing bow. and with steatlier stare
ut her too, us if no longer afrs'il 10 race
her. But Polly looked the other way ana
would r>t Sc. him-,tell into the haDl' III
hiding f',.m him cvcn-allA on the follow
ing S;,tv' lay would also have eltldeit NM
hat, he not c,,l.,e up the reverse way OF the
street nd taken her ,lnuysres by IL flank
nlOvel. INT.
IA me have IL good bunch to-'lay-a
twun ny bunch" he said. in quite Il bust
nesslike manner.
p, Baxter was surprised. but she gave
him lne flowers he required. and he
dropped the money into her basket.
but YOU don't want EN- now-tlo you:'
she m,lrmured.
.Yes, OF cours. Ito. That was II good
thought Of yours. child. la>i week. And !
took the flowers to her"
"Oh" calculated Polly.
sand III do 50 every week, making be-
lieve, as YOU say. that she's waiting for
them not Il bad thought ut all, he
muttcr .'sllc was SO very fond of flowers"
"How Old was your gall" asked Polly.
About your aye, should say"
And ailing alters was she:'
'For the last three ur four years, yes.
Good day" and then Jacob hurried away,
and this time she did not attempt to follow
him.
1t was from this time that Jacob con-
trived to lie rs regular Il customer to Polly
Baxter as he had ever been, and had any
one had the curiosity to follow the move
ments of the old man, he Or she would
have seen him every Sunday, in fair
weather or foul. plodtling ON to footing
cemetery to lay his little Offering on the
grave of the daughter who had been al
ways fond of flowers. When the winter
time came on, and flowers grew very
scarce and dear. and Polly was compelled
,o raise her prices. the old man looked very
pale and pinched with cold, aud did not
move along with his customary alacrity-
on the contrary, limpet2 painfully at times
with the rheumatism which had seized
him.
One very cold Saturday she said to him
suddenly:
You amt well:"
We'll. not quite as well as I might be
perhaps he answered cautiously.
~ don't mind your paying for these some
other time. you know she added hur
riedly, if"
1T WHAT" he asked. as she came to a full
stop.
III you're hard up. It won't make m,,cl
difference t. nls, anti she might miss ZEN
nnw."
'Thankee," he said gently, and he icoke'1
very hard at hef IRON, under his tangled;
wiry eyebrows; that's IL kind thought
child. What did You say your name was:
Il didn't say she answered, SURPRISED
! III her turn: ''but It's Polly Baxter"
| "IIiving where, now
'St. James row. she answered, TAT tn
back there. But why.'
'Good day"
That was the last time Polly Baxter me
Jacob Cattley in the London streets, fo
Jacob disappeared again. and Lombar.
street aud the tlower-girl on Ludgate hill
missed him altogether. "He must be dea,
This time. poor old cove" thought Polly.
But Polly was again deceived. On
morning short, retlfacetl woman with
market masket ON her arm, end u key il
her hand, looket, hard at her, and stopped
lis Your name Polly Baxter:'
YES, that's it,"
YOU'RE wanted in George street, Grave
lane, No ~ My lotlyer, the old man VIII
It&.
precious bad
''fle amt dead then, cried Polly; "well
lam glad"
Don't see what you've get to be glu
about. said the woman. sharply: "Mlt no
iie aint dead yet. He's hooking it o.
though, sharp enuf.'
Polly Baxter trudged away ut once
George street, and tt, M. ~ where, OH Il,
top Hoor, she found poor Jacob Cattlel
very much down in the world, and wit
very little life in him. The rheumatic
had got an iron grip of him ut last, an
fever had followed, and This was yer
nearly the last Of him, rs the red face
woman had prophesicd
AS Polly entered the room, lac smiled {
her us at an old friend
polly, he said, speaking with grea
difficulty, Il wish to put you in mind of Il
old offer to me-
whats that sir.'
II want you tt open u credit accom-
with me-"
And come and tell me regularly VIII;
they tell you there: will YOU. child:
should like to know
ITO be sure | will, sr"
when you come back from her"
Then he gave his directions which Poll
Baxter carried out faithfully. until tt
end came, and Jacob Cattlev was burrie