The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-02-14
prison, suppose. for being loo unhappy


"Oh, thank goodness!' said the girl.
you'll let me 20. thenp"
mot yet" said John. 'You see,
although I'm not policeman. I'm q
man, and that makes it my duty to
take care Of women folk when they
need it. You seem to-"
you mean to be very kind" said
the girl; ''but you are not. suppose
you have no idea what 1t Is to be all
alone in big city, without money and
without work?"
oh" said John, "but have.
haven't had any work for three weeks,
and that is my cash in hand"
And he exhibited his half-dollar.
oh" she said, with an air of great
err confidence. 'Well. yes. you do
know something about it. only you are
not a woman"
mo" said John. "Of course that
makes it worse for you. But tell me
what drove you to that cowardly act"
1T was very brave act" said the
girl. e.
mot bit of it, said John. .It's
brave to live and fight as long as you
can--thats my idea"
II can't; I've nothing to fight with"
said the girl. "Oh. If you knew"
TELL me-" said John.
my father died." said the girl. my
stepmother hated me. She married
again, and her second turned me out
OF the house. Pa had left her all his
money; had nothing. came to New
York and got sewing to do. One day
the woman that employed me asked
me il I'd make her a wall-pocket for
her papers. The kind mean is made
out of old steels from extenders. You
knit worsted over them. you know"
John did not know, but he looked as
wise as possible.
II was to make it rs a favor, not
for pay" the girl went on" land at
home, evenings. liked doing it; but
the steels were too long had to break
on my thumb. can't use it yet to
sew with. and l can't do anything but
sew. That woman knew how got it.
but she never offered to help me at
all. She dismissed me and took an
other girl in my place. Then couldn't
pay my board and they turned me out.
went to hospital. The doctor said
that nv finger wasn't bad enough to
allow them to admit me; he said it
would be all right in a month. Well,
have not even anywhere to sleep to-
night. shall have to starve or beg
will not beg. Now you see that you
had better go away and let me finish
what began"
That can't be DONE" said John.
Every one who knew John called
him queer. If acting differently from
other people under given circumstances
is being queer he certainly was.
AS he looked down upon this little
pale. pretty. aud assuredly innocent
girl, and knew that il he went away
and left her she would assuredly jump
into the water his heart softened to-
ward her AS women's do to crying
babies. What dear little thing she
was, he thought. What shame that
fate should have used her so. 1t
''Oh, hang it, I'll get job on Mon
day." he said; land everybody tells
me that it is rs easy for two to live as
one. I'll do it."
Then he turned to the girl and said:
circumstances alter cases. It's
queer kind of courtship. but like you.
/ guess you could like me If you tried.
Will you marry me? I'll get work on
Monday. I'm sure. I've got half
dollar. Come to the minister with
me, aud be married, and I'll take care
of you after this"
What the girl said was:
''Oh. my! Why, I never heard Of
such thing. What would people
say?"
business. / think You'll make good
wife," returned John. You need
taking care of the worst way. Think
about it."
He left her alone aud walked up and
down. She looked ut him-and John
was handsome. He looked at her, and
thought again that she was the sweet
est little thing he had ever seen. He
smiled. too. He went back and sat
down beside her.
Guess we'll go the Minister" he
said.
"Well. you don't know the least
thing about me-" she said; land cant
see how you can like me enough
81 don't either" he admitted. But
/ do like you better than ever liked
any other girl"
II feel that way to YOU" she said.
And then they walked to the house
of an old minister. who was willing to
take his fec in thanks. and give them
his blessing into the bargain.
And John and Annie were husband
and wife.
On Monday John Collins went forth
to search for work, rather more
anxiously than before. and / am sorry
to say he found none.
He remained away all day and re-
turned home in very low spirits.
Annie had prepared supper. She