The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1889-10-12
Lehighton, Carbon County. Penna. October u,

the supers useu TO De pretty neavy tax.
and if one didn't pay for it IL meant get
ting knocked about or breaking ones
neck. My four chaps were always pretty
particular, for they got their beer money
regularly. If hadn't been quite 80
liberal It would have been better for
me- That night, sir, those four supers
were stupidity drunk. took my jump,
and as flew through the clock face !
heard the beginning Of the tremendous
shout which came from the front of the
house; and then, instead Of being caught
in the blanket shot head first into the
brick wall at the end OF the theater.
Those four chaps had forgotten all about
me and were talking together, with the
blanket in their hands; because, as tell
you, they were stupid drunk.
at wasn't till three weeks afterward
that came to myself; and then was in
a bed in Bartholomew's hospital, and
was light headed and as weak as a child.
The next day was Wednesday. wednes-
day Is visitors day at the hospital, and
Lima, she came to see me; and she sat by
my bedside, and she cried as though her
heart would break. And then she told
me how it all happened; and how she
loved mej and how must make haste to
getwell, that might get married, as we
were under engagement to do; and then
she cried fit to break her heart. She
looked prettier than ever, poor thingi
And every Wednesday she'd come and
try to cheer me up, and say how hard it
was that our wedding had to be put off.
She was good girl, she was.
"But our marriage was put off for good
and all; for was cripple--a cripple for
life, mind you, and as weak as child.
Ny memory came back right enough.
But how was to get my living rs a
clown, when was only miserable Grip
Pile? 1t was who broke off our engage
ment, sir; for it wouldn't have been fair
on Lima to have held her to her word.
People used to say that Lima had chuclsed
me over, and that she was heartless
mink. But did it, sir, because hadn't
the heart to hold her to it, and any hon
est man would have done the same. They
were very good to me at the Bird, and
they gave me check takers billet at fif-
teen bob week, and l kept that billet
for nigh on twenty years. used to get
look at The Era, and week by week /
read how Lima Fenton got on, and how
she got to the very top of the tree.
used to cut out the favorable notices and
paste em in book; and was as proud
of 'em. sir, as if it had been my own.
And then the Bird was sold, as you
know; and that was how lost my billet,
for the Salvation army didn't want to pay
any money to the likes o. me; and then
came on here. And that's my story, Mr..
Nibbs."
never saw Molino again. often met
Lima afterward. She was always affa-
BILE and nice; and, somehow or other, one
always has sort of sneaking tenderness
for ones first love; and, though sho is
much over 40 and l am the possessor of a
handsome wife and half dozen children,
shall think Lima Fenton the fairest and
most fascinating woman whom it has
ever been my good fortune to meet. Her
magnificent golden hair is streaked with
gray now; the soft blue eyes are not per-
haps so bright as they were once. but she
isa charming woman still. Chicago Her
aid