The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-04-20

work ~ home skimp il. too-and over
HA'" come les. know you ladies
Couldn't spare time, you was 80
busy scruhbin' your doorsteps and
mann your lemon pies But Annis
Leighton amt that sort She don't let
hcr neighborS die for want OF help
while shes fussing and primping. She
could quiet our Charlie when nobody
else could. and She nigh wore herself
out doing IL. too You mind the night
~ breM's party? Annis had been with
US pretty near all the nigh, before. and
nall the day She would 90 % the
party because She said they were lot
ting on her for some charadcs or some
thing. but the minute she got back she
changed her dress and ran over 10 our
house She stayed till daylight Then
she went back and got breakfast. and
was 50 dead tired She laid down while
the boys ate. and when they finished
she was fast asleep. They went of
without waking her. and ! believe
she'd a slept all day IL some body hadn't
happened 10 come and wake her
That's the kind Of ncighbor Apnis
Leighton IS She told me once She
hadn't opened a book nor sewcd
stitch for fortnight except little
mending she did for me. She said her
own fixing could wait"
Gerald escaped from the room al the
first opportunity lie was confouud-
ed dazed and bewildered Was this
Annis Leighton. the girl he had
spurncd-des pissed and deserted be-
cause. forsooth, she was worn out with
generous toll Cor others?
What horrible injustice. what a
cruel wrong he had done her, And now
IL was too late TO repair it. lie was en-
gagged to Nellie East The cruelty
must go on. and who knew how she
might suffer? In his bewilderment he
almost ran against Annis herself. com
ing slowly up the street. and involun-
tarily "A part of his feeling broke forth.
"Annis. ! have just heard-just dis
covered what a blind fool was Can
you ever forgive me?''
VIVA, for?r Annis asked with
startled eyes
For misjudging you so that day
called for the cook book-for thinking
when it really meant unselfsh devotion
to the comfort OF others
"Oh. You have found that out at last.
have you?' She said. with an amused
smile.
why didn't you tell me then. An
nis9"
You didn't ask mc--and hate brag.
BESIDES was provoked. thought you
would find out some time.
Yes. now when il is too late to do
any good" Gerald muttered. under his
breath.
Annis heard. however. and the soft
color he remembered so well tinted her
cheek again.
"And why too late?" she asked quick
ly. "A bright fearless meaning in her
glance. I'VE are both very much alive
yet. and may be for years to come
and like To be respected now as much
as did then. Besides, begging your
pardon. think man ought to learn
that appeara noes are deceitful before
he is married. and not to be blindly
accusing his wife of waning affection
because her corns ache or of nypocrit-
ical Vaccinations because she is plan.
ming birthday surprise. Nellie is SO
sensitive. it " ould hurt her cruelty"
How lightly she spoke. But Gerald
could not So easily drop the graver
view Of the case.
II shall never forgive myself Such
stupid blunder to have altered per.
haps the whole course OF two or three
lives" he said-and then could have
bitten out his tongue for such presump
tuous clumsiness.
But Annis only laughed, and her an.
swer was as frankly bold as his words
'Oh. well. there is no harm done
though more by luck than good man.
agemcnt. grant No need to regret.
Nellie is fair and true and tender
enough for any man. no matter where
YOU find him And I-well, Ernest
Howeils is good enough for me- at any
rate
brother Howells. the young minis
ter? Are you engaged to him?" Ger
aid gasped, a sense of great relief Gu
riously blended with keen mortifica-
,ion that he should have been replaced
81 SOOn-ll. ne Hsiu ever nau
the sure place he fancied in her affec-
tions.
Annis assented, a happy pride in her
dark eyes No wonder. That young
minister. earnest eloquent and fear
less, was a man Of whom sweetheart or
wife might well be proud.
Il congratulate YOU" Trevor said, as
soon as he recovered his breath.
Then you will find ii easier to forgive
me- since there has been no harm be-
yond passing vexation."
Good to forgive. better TO forget"
quoted Annis. lightly Though I sup
pose we had better remember the les
son. 1t isn't safe to rely on Providence
to save Us from the consequences OF our
own plumbers. !. for one. don't pro.
pose to 60 to parties again till the
house is in decent order There's Nell
lie Dear little girl. I'm going to tell
her that you and | are friends AGAIN.
Ada L. Ferris. in Arthur's Home
Magazine
A sad Time for Actors.
The critic met the old-school actor on