Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1889-08-16

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HiE " y quarrel. IL was not
It'll ~ a very flerco one, but
III Egg it proved that such
u thing could be be-
8 tween them and was
fiiSSA-.A not pleasant. Be.
NIX M sides, it was q terri
HiEA BILE time for such IL
HiA @EaS thing 1t began by
ilN.p''s--s4s.-4.s~-Sss .~ss n Jessie asking John
'laIsZ1.- ~ what he was going
laB ss-sI to do with Rock, u
- big black dog he was
~ very fond Of
"Do with him !"
said John, "Why, just what always
have-spoil him, l suppose"
"You don'tmean to Keep him, do you?"
said Jessie. You'll sell him"
Sell Rock!' cried John. "Why, it
would seem like selling your baby or
your grandfather He's been my friend
for years-slept under my bed, followed
me to work, shared my lunch. Why, l
had him when | was a poor, motherless
boy. Dad used to kick US out together.
Many's the time when he'd been drink
ing, and we'd cuddle up together for
warmth in some area. Now I'm COM
Portable, 1 shan't kick Rock out No,
indeed. I couldn't"
Il hate dogs, said Jessie.
''Well, you've got to learn to love Old
Rock" SAID John, laughing. "Love me,
love my dog, in this case; so you've got
10, YOU see"
I've got tor cried Jessie, Indignantly.
"Ordelfng me like that already, when
| refused Sam Williams for your sake,
rs well you know, john
"Well, said John, 81 always supposed
that was because you liked me best, noJ
out of self-sacrilce"
"At least" said Jessie, che didn t
keep dog of that sort, and he was on
his knees to me almost. Oh, dearl I
don't think you care about me- John. 7
read a novel the other day, and in it the
young man roasted favorite falcon for
MS lady-loye's dinner, and never minded
it at all, he was so devoted TO her.
III I was to roast Old Rock, he'd be
too much dinner for a regiment, said
John, "and Ill bet you wouldn't take u
bite Of him. Do you want me to show
l'v affection for you by carrying him to
the sausage-makers and having him put
up into bolognie5 for winter useP
This was not gallant, and naturally
Jessie was displeascd, as one may pre-
sumo. They Wrie not fashionable peU-
pie. She was an honest, pretty little
lacJory-gil he young plumber. But
they had been very much in love with
each other This was a dash Of cold
water to both. They felt the impropriety
Of a squabble q. this time, and parted
with d kiss, as usual; but the thought
ranked in each mind.
Jessie ,hought Of it as she made ready
.UT her wedding, and as her friends
looked at her new things. She had q
pretty floor not lar of, ready furnished
for her, and things were all very nice in
PLAIN way. But what happiness could
she expect If he was 50 cross about a lit
tic thing? And then 10 have ugly, black
Rock, with his muddy feet, his way of
snoring aloud ana showing his tongue in
gapes, always lying about II was not a
pleasant thought for the day before a
wedding.
Meanwhile, the day wore on; the
Edests came. The bride was dressed
The minister arrived with his old wife
Everybody had come but the bridegroom
and his best man.
The brilr#maids left the room and
whispered N The little passage. The
ciorl. hands pointed to the hour for the
ceremony. John had not come. Jessie
tried TO sit still, to smile, to laugh and
talk, but she kept saying to herself 4:
''What keeps him2 Could he really
have been angry? Could it be pos
siDle that he meant to break with
her in this dreadful manner just
about Old Rock?" She listened-the
bell rang. Had he come? No! 1t
was only the best man alone. He re-
ported that he had waited for John, and
that he had not been home to supper.
bis wedding suit was spread on his bed,
but there was no sign or John.
Il didn't know but he might be here, -
said the young man, looking about. But
John was not there.
In her own room the bride wept, and
women came and went trying to comfort
her. They fingered late. Eleven, twelve,
one o'clock saw the minister still sitting
in the great chair in the parlor, ready to
marry John If he came, but though the
brides friends flew about the city and in
ouired everywhere, there was no news OF
the missing bridegroom.
That he had left her In wrath was
Jessie's explanation of the matter; and
it was she who last declared that people
had better go home, for that she would
not marry John If he came on his bended
knees to ask pardon.
Meanwhile, the missing bridegroom
had gone to work as usual, expecting, as
it was Saturday, to get off earlier than
usual, and had been pleased that he
finished his work at four o'clock; but
coming in, eager to ask leave to go home,
he found all in commotion. A gas pipe
had burst in public building, where
there was danger OF leaving it tunrepaired
very long, and only one other man was
In the place. sam Williams, his old rival.
'sYou TIVE aust go" said tho proprie-
tor waving mis- haads about. II know
it is hard, John; but Sam can bring the
furnace and tools in, and you can get
straight home. You have time, and you
shall be paid for overwork, both of you,
and I'll send present to the bride on
Monday. This is a necessary job, or I'd
let you off.
John did not grumble, though he felt
irritated. He hurried off as fast as he
could, followed by Williams. The meu
did not like each other, and Williams waf
still jealous.
They SPOKE very little. Old Rock fol.
lowed at Johns heels, and crouched out.
side the building when he was locked
out as usual.
The mems work took them down into