West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-11-21
THE THOUSANDTH SHAVE.
by JAMES HARVEY SMITH.

IA JAMES HARVEY SMITH.
81 am extremely sorry, Jack, but
But you don't love mew
''Now, Jack, that's unkind.'
''But it's true"
mo, 1t isn't true; not one bit of a..
and you know it. Haven't engaged my
self to you in spite of papa s coldness and
mammals positive hatredl'
"Hum2"
Haven't 1 stood by you In spite of
everything people said about youf'
'.An lies :" cried Jack, hotlv.
~ know it, y said Adele, laying low
ing hand on his coat collar. 81 have al.
ways said that you did love me, and were
not careless and idlo nnd improvident
and"
Jack shook off her hand quite rudely.
And yet when l ask YOU TO marry me
you say mo- DO you call that lover"
~ call 1t common sense, Jack. Why.
You know you haven't anything but your
salary of fifteen hundred year"
Love in a cottage with crust, be.
gan Jack.
"You know" she cried, "you detest
suburban life and like anything better
than crusts, Oh, Jack, do be reason
able Papa is not unreasonable and he
loves me dearly. Mamma will come
around in time and then we can have
decent wedding"
That's enough" said Jack, calmly.
taking his hat. "We will not discuss
this matter any further"
you are not going2"
eyes, l am. And when you sec me
again--"
"Oh, Jack!"
'Good morning, MISS AyIesford.
Jack Ashton passed out very haughti-
Iy. There is no more exquisite pleasure
than feeling that one has genuine griey
ance.
IL was ten o'clock and Mr.. Ashton
should have been Mt his desk in the bank.
ing house a full hour before, but he was
not troubled with scruplcs and Kewpon
& Co. knew his ways. He was very
clever accountant, n man who knew the
market and could on pinch do the
work Of three men.
"A cunning chap" said old Kewpon
TO the Co, 'and will make his fortune
when he buckles down to it. We will
Keep him until he knows his worth"
IL was also September and Jack was
due Tor n weeks vacation, so his absence
lid not cause comment.
"There isn't much for a fellow fkeme
TO do, he said TO himself elaboratino
this idea, "and suppose I'll have to en-
list ~ soldier. Still, that wouldn't
DO. Precious little soldering and plenty
Of wood chopping aud road making. if
there was 0uly warl"
by this time he was on the docks and
the shipping diverted the current of his
thoughts. lie would be sailor and 90
away never TO return. Perhaps when
5ho read Of his pcrishing in gale Oft
Zanzibar or somewhere, or knew that he
had been tossing for days and days in an
open boat with a daily ration Of a spoon
ful Of water and an ounce OF raw pork
But these things rarely got into the
papers and when they did the record
generally read Captain Jones and four
ieamcnt aud as he would be one Of the
scamCn, how would she know7
That he would do something desper-
ME be was, however. quite resolved II
was absurd TO think that he could 20 on
living
10 was the afternoon of the third dav.
llc bad been to the Park in the morning
and had walked back. There was n
strange dizziness in his head, his knees
knocked together more than once. and
twice h,s cyesight seemed to be leaving
him. Tie was hungry he had not eaten
Tor nearly three days. but he thought hc
was dying
10 gave him certain sort Of grim
satisfaction. ilc would not have taken
his own hfo, but IL death would come
without bis direct aid. And then
be- looked at Dis reflection in % plate
glass shop window aud shuddorod.
10 would never do a. die I'm such
plight Ills clothes were dusty. his
boots grimy and scuncd, and ho had not
been shaved f1f three days. Come hc
might as we'll dic ike q gentleman The
booi-hlack fcil to work 90 once as hc
sank into the chair and Jack was dimlv
conscious that tho boy was making a
good Job
a byc street ran of the thorouQhfaro
and half way down slender red and
whitc-stripcd pole protruded from door.
Jack samtcrcd down to the shop and
paused on The sidewalk to make sur.
voy. Reckless as he was, hc had no
notion of ivo-cent shave or one 90 un-
clean hands. The survey was emincntly
satisfactory. 10 was a very cabin of
place, 20 small aud snug Jack thought
that The barber looked like German
professor not Of music; theology. pcs-
haUg OF fnHEfn pfhnoIorv ar rheef.,
a wcli built brown bearded man, with
his hair combcd smoothly back from