Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-05-16

Bless my SOUL" and slipped one foot o
the curhstone into the gutter in his firs
surprise. He was even a little curious fol
so great man, and said:
~Have you been Ill, Jacob'"
He did not know his other name. "Olt
Jacob" was NJ BaXter's cognOmen IL
Lombard street; Cranky Jacob" some
times
NO, sir. I've had a loss, Mr.. Gold
chest"
20, indeed"
Mr. Goldchest did not ask what or whom
he had lost; he glanced at the big rusty
hatband wrapped around the rusty hat o.
his humble dependent; there was fugi
tive fear even that there might be some
thing catching from Mr.. BaXter's clost
proximity, and he stepped with alacrity
into his carriage. and drew up his window
sharply He did not reward Jacob on that
occasion; he gave no thought to arrears
which might have accumulated during
Jacobs absence from his duties, and the
old man walked home very thoughtfully
and with downcast expression of cOun
tenance. On his way home he encountered
Polly Baxter, who also was disposed tC
take him for ghost. and nearly dropped
| first sight of him.
it," she exclaimed.
curiously.
'Of your being alive and moving about
like this agin. I'm so glad Where have
you been, sir Laid up!"
This was Mr.. Goldchest's inquiry Also,
/ l,,, frrfa
And his answer was the same as before.
1--we had loss"
"Not-not money!"
| "I've lost my daughter; all l had in the
world to me; all cared for, child. Good
day" >" he said, with an excitement for which
Polly was wholly unprepared.
| Yes; but here, hold hard, old un," she
cried, inelegantly; "ain't you agoing to
have any flowers to"
The "old un" hurried away from her,
darted across the road under horses heads
and omnibus wheels, with almost the
Rlacrity of youth Reaching Gravel lane
he was astonished and discomfited again to
| find Polly Baxter at his elbow, exceedingly
red in the face, and short of breath.
We'll you jest can stump out, guv'nor,
and no flies" she said.
What do you want with mey" he asked,
testify now; what is it,"
Al only want to say I'm sorry like" she
blurted forth. a didn't think, all at once,
about the flowers, and that you wanted
them for her, of course, who's gone now,
and who was fond of flowers. twig.
see; you won't mind what l say-wil you
nows"
Jacob Cattley stared at her, but he
croaked forth, No"
"I'll never AK you again-I'll never look
your way again; but take this, please, for
this once, won't you3"
And Polly held out his usual-seized
bunch of flowers, at which the old man
shrunk as thought ii had been q pistol
levelled at him.
at isn't for the money" said Polly, eX-
cited now herself; Il don't want any
monsy-ketch old, please do. Jest to
make believe you're taking them TO
her the same as ever, sir"
The old man stretched out a trembling
hand towards the flowers at this sugges-
ton, and Polly thrust them into his grasp
and fairly ran across the bridge again.
leaving him looking after her open
mouthed, and with some salt tears brim-
ming over his blinking eyelids and making
their way down the deep burrows in his
cheeks
On Monday Jacob passed her as usual
on his hOmeward route, and with his old
patroniZing bow, and with a steadier stare
at her too, as if no longer afraid TO face
her. But Polly looked the other way and
would not see him-fen into the habit of
hiding from him even-and on the follow
ing Saturday would also have eluded him,
bad he not come up the reverse way of the
street, and taken her unawares by flank
movement
Let me have a good bunch to-day-a
twopenny bunch" he said, in quite busi-
ness-like manner.
Polly Baxter was surprised, but she gave
him the flowers he required, and he
dropped the money into her basket.
But you don't want 'em now-do your"
she murmured.
Yes, of course do. That was a good
thought of yours, child, last week. And l
took the flowers to her"
"Oh" calculated Polly.
And shall do so every week, making be-
neve, as you say, that she's waiting for
them. It not a bad thought at all, ;" he
muttered; "she was so very fond of flowers"
About your age, should say"
"And ailing alters was she:"
For the last three or four years, YES.
Good day" and then Jacob hurried away,
and this time she did not attempt to fellow
him.
II was from this time that Jacob con-
trived TO be as regular a 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, plodding on to footing
cemetery 10 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
to raise her prices, the old man looked very
pale and pinched with cold, and did not
move along with his customary alacrity-
on the contrary, lmped painfully at times
with the rheumatism which had seizea
him
One very cold Saturday she said to him,
suddenly;
You amt wells"
well, not quite as well as I might be, |
perhaps" he answered cautiously.
Il don't mind your paying for these some |
other time, you know" she added hur.
riedly, "if-"
"If what'" he asked, as she came to full |
stop.
IF you're hard up. 1t won't make much |
Inference to me, and she might miss EN- |
.owr
~Thankee," he said gently, and he looked |
-ery hard at her from under his tangled, |
viry eyebrows; that's a kind thought, |
hid. What did you say your name wass"
II didn't say" she answered, surprised |
n her turn; but it's Polly Baxter
Living where noWS"