Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1892-08-05
NOT WANTED.

wv
$50 YOU don't want me? ?" said Jacque-
lima.
mo" said Grandfather Gordon, 81
don't"
The old man sat i'll the sunshine,
smoking a discolorcd bricrwood pipe.
Jacquclina balanced herself on the
rail on the porch, swinging one slim, i'll
shod foot as she looked hard at her an
ccstor.
Il wish you'd get off that rail an set
down on the bench like Christian,
abruptly spoke Mr.. Gordon.
why" demanded Jacquelina.
You'll break it down"
Jacquelina broke into a short laugh.
I'm not so very heavy" said She.
"P'raps not, but thatrail is hundred
years old, crisply spoke the old man.
"And if did break it | could mend
it," rebelliously added the the girl.
In answer to this Grandfather Cor
don only uttered an inarticulate grunt.
Jacquclina, however, transferred
herself to the narrow wooden bench be-
low, a seat which she found not near
so comfortable as the perch.
Grandfather Gordon looked at the
river meadows, where the men were
plowing and pondercd on the crops.
81 don't know where to go," Jacquc-
lima presently observed, i'll rather
lachrymose tone.
go where l did when was your
age" sharply spoke the old man
"Wherc was that"
"To work. DO suthin. Earn your
own livin," answered Grandfather Cor
don, with an explosive puff of smoke be-
tween every sentence. 81 earned mine
when was your age, and now t I'm
old, don't calculate to keep free hotel
for my relations"
"But grandfather" protested JAG
quelina, chow is a woman to earn her
living?"
lots o'ways," he curtly answered.
pm sure I could keep house for You
better that old Betsey Poole"
"Tm suited with Betsey."
"And, after all, Tmyour grandchild.
"Your father married to suit him-
self" said old Grandfather Gordon,
vindictivcly crushing a stray spider with
his foot. "I dunnos I'm bound to put
myself out to suit his darter."
well" said Jacquelina, with a long
sigh, 81 dare say can find something
to do in Waxenville. I might turn fac
tory girl, or take a book agency, or
even 90 out to service" "
To all of which remarks Grandfather
Gordon returned no reply whatsoever.
Anyhow" said Jacquelina, spurred
TO sudden desperation, 81 suppose l can
stay here tonight at least?'
I-suppose-so," unwillingly ac-
quiesccd the old man. "Thc stage
don't leave till tomorrow at six o clock,
an s'pose it's too fur fer you to walk
to Bakers station"
whats that tall brick building offby
the mountain side?' Jacquelina sud
denly asked.
County Jail, he answered, as brief
ly.
And then he rose and went sulkily IN
to the house.
"Betsey," he said to his crooked old
factotum in the neglected kitchen, "that
grill have to stay all night. Make up
a bed for her in the north chamber"
Ruff leaks" Betsey laconically an
swered
well, then, i'll the little corner room.
That there windy amt been fixed
since last September. Equincotial blow
ed it out
Northeast room, then, with the
Chinese pagody wall paper"
why, that's the room where the
ghost walks" squeaked Betsey.
Grandfather Gordon uttered a mut-
fled exclamation which sayored some
what of profanity.
There amt no ghost, said lie. can
if there was, Jacquelina don't know
nothin' about it. Fix It up for one
night. That'Il be all"
There amt nothin' for supper, OBJ
served Betsey, who was of parsimon-
ious nature, except just 'nuff cold pork
an greens for you. was goin to make
out on mush an milk.
"AIush an milk's good enough feV
Silas' darter, l guess" responded the
old man.
And he went back to the porch and
the pipe without further parley.
Jacqueliua's place, however was
empty. The brown, clear eyes the
tawuy, reddish braids, the cheery,
laughing mouth were gone.
r