The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1893-05-19

young athlete emptied five barrels
On the sixth pavement he found none.
What an ashman's duty was he did
not know, but he had his invalid's
interests at stake, and must do his
best for him, SO he descended the
areaway and rang the bell. In a mo-
ment a girl in a mob cap, a big apron,
and rubber gloves, opened the door
| beg pardon, | am sure said Jack,
bowling, but do you wish your ash
barrel emptied ~
| He spoke in the most elegant man
ner, but he was covered with ashes as
with a garment his mustache was
whitened, his hands begrimed, Gin
ders adhered to his hair and his face
was dirty.
quite free from marks of kitchen Ia
Dor. 1t was Emily, who had been
washing the pots and kettles for the
first time in life.
"What beautiful manner he has,"
she thought; The must be some one in
reduced circumstances"
And she smiled upon him
'Iou are the-the ash gentleman, l
suppose - she queried.
81 call in that capacity said Jack
''Then if it is not too much trouble,
the ash can stands in this little place
under the front steps," said Emily.
"No trouble whatever" said Jack,
diving into the place indicated ''I'll
bring it back when it is empied."
"You are too kind" said Emily, IN
aware of the pot-black on her chin.
Not at all" said Jack of the Gin
ders, and they bowed as if they were
dancing the lanciers.
In moment Jack had dumped the
ashes, and returned with the can.
He was greeted with a great puff of
smoke, and Emily, bluslIing and
coughing, came out into the area for
air
BEG pardon" said Jack but the
house is not on fire? ~
went out, and Pm trying to kindle it,
but it smokes So"
Perhaps it is the damper," said
Jack ''I'll look, if you don't mind"
81 shall be grateful gasped Emily.
at is the damper," said Jack, land
these things in the ovens now if I
may have a bit of paper and some
wood ~
He found them himself, made fire,
opened the windows and waited until
the smoke vanished from the kitchen,
and then shut the windows.
What a wonderful ashman," Emily
thought.
what an elegant girl to be cook"
Jack said to himself.
sit is kind of YOU" said Emily $50
stupid of me. But l did not know
about the hampers l never made a
fire before, but the servants have taken
French leave"
ooh r' said Jack to himself. "The
young lady of the house doing anna
teur kitchen Homework. l might
have known it. And she thinks me
the ashman," and he sighed. "Good-
day." he said, bowling.
Before Emily could reply head
was thrust in at the window-that OF
the original ashman.
AN here you air, sir ?" he said
"An', sure, the medicine the doctor
did be givin' me has made me a new
man, an Pm forever obliged. And
sorry l am you've spoiled the fine
clothes you have on we. And you'll
find your boy-suckle IN the doctors
shop. I've trounced the rascal that
was goin' off wild it to a jelly. I'll
drive down, sir, and never forget your
kindness. May you be Mayor of New
York YETI
"Oh, you are welcome" said Jack,
and now Emily was staring at him.
mot the ashman p she was saying
under her breath, and Jack, laughing,
answered her glance.
my first ash-cart, as this was your
first fire." he said. THE driver was
ill, and took his place. 1t has been
great fun, though rather dirty work.
May introduce myself?"
He took card from his pocket and
presented it.
Il am Miss Montgomery" said Emil |
ly land think my father must know |
yours very we'll, if you are Mr.. Will
liam Spinner's son. They are in the |
same business"
So it proved. For special occasions
who can say what the etiquette may
be? Emily said to herself that it
would be simply humane to help this
martyr to his kindly sympathies out
of his coat of ashes, and sent him 10
her brothers room to find clothes
brush and wash basin.
When he met her again she wore
neither mob cap nor apron, but was
attired in pretty morning dress, and
her hair curled bewitchingly on her
forehead.
And, since this was the son of her
fathers old friend, it seemed but hos
pitable to ask him to lunch. Mamma
would not be at home, she was quite
alone 1t was awfully improper-but
this latter point never occurred to
Emily, nor to Jack, and these two
were both young and liked sweet
things, and Jack declared that he had
never had so delightful lunch before.
1t was a romance-whichi is different
from a f1irtation-that little episode,
and it always remained in the memory
of those two young people as the
sweetest. moment of their lives.
When her mother returned, Emily
wore cap, apron and gloves. The high
tea was ready, and all the work ac-
complished, after a fashion, and the
girl looked SO pretty, so happy.
Cooking must agree with you,"
Mrs. Montgomery said.
But Emily did not speak of the anna
teur ashman, or her lunch party of
two, until long after-oh, long, long
after-for it was some days before Mr..
Spinner called on the father, bringing
his sou with him-some weeks before
they were asked to an afternoon tea
some months before Jack became an
intimate friend of the family-and
quite year before his engagement to
Miss Emily Montgomery was an
nounced to his friends.
And it was only on the very eve of
her wedding that Emily told her
mother that Jack had fallen in love
with her at first sight, and how and
when and where.
And Mrs. Montgomery declared that
it would have been very, very shock
ing--frightfully imprudent-it it had
been any one but Jack ; but that made
all the difference, Jack was such a
nice fellow.
THE OLD LADY.