The record-union., 1894-06-09


o. tn houser'
"Well, well. well This is getting ro-
mantic,' exclaimed Mr.. Jaggers.
'sThey' re just the ones we want" urged
his daughter "What could be nobler
than to place two such miserable Great
ures beyond the captious formalities and
grinding discipline OF organized charity?'
Nothing; positively nothing" eagerly
responded Mr.. Jaggers: while the Old
watchman, under the pretense OF ADJUST
ing his lantern, stole sympathetic glance
at the pair of generous hearted enthusl-
asts.
II mention tn interests o. th' house,
Mr.. Jaggers," he continued by way OF
explanation, las Mugsy Mary an Sllm
Liz, an me allus got 'long agree BILE alter
th' first ipterduch' shun, an tn PAIR allus
KEEP tother tough uns outen the arch
way"
Remarkable % insisted Mr.. Jaggers.
"Good as bulldogs" continued the
watchman, "an' I'd almost hate T. lose
'em! Mightn't ye like peep at ,em
| now, afore ye take 'em on yer-yer-?"
Direct charity experiment" inter-
posed Mr.. Jaggers, with decision. Ger
tainly; certainly. Excellent idea.',
"Just grand" gleefully echoed Miss
Edith, ''for can see just what garments
they will need am what colors will match
their dear old faces. oh, this is just splen-
did, Papa JaggersW
"'Cause," explained Uncle Jimmy,
dryly, they've jess leetle extry on,
pnight, an they turned in early"
Uncle Jimmy, lantern in hand, led the
way into the debris-strewn depths of the
archway. The old man paused and they
all listened. Snortings and snorings like
the gurglings OF half-smothered calliopes
were heard from the base of one OF the
huge pillars. The three moved forward
cautiously.
'.Zactly. Here they be. I call 'em th'
Siameses when they get tumbled up this
way" remarked the old watchman in the
indifferent tone of Snowman.
He lowered his lantern beside huge
empty box. His companions at first saw
only what appeared to be large bundle
Of dusty rags. The old outcasts' grimy,
gray garments, their grimy, gray hair and
their gray and grimy faces were SO
blended in the CRIME and gray of a COM
mon age and filth, that limbs, faces,
heads and rags were indistinguishable.
''Shall poke 'em up "a leetle?" asked
the old man, preparing to prod the mass
with his night-sIick.
"Dear, non' begged Mr.. Jaggers,
touched by the pitiful spectacle.
"Oh, do let the poor things sleep,
Uncle Jimmy ~ insisted Edith, compass
sionately.
''But they're just what we want" said
Mr.. Jaggers, as they turned away.
Couldn't be better !" enthusiastically
murmured his daughter 'Oh, you're
skeptical, Uncle Jimmy, but you just
wait until we've had old Mary and
Elizabeth out to Glen Corrie''-this was
the Jaggers' country house, but a few
miles beyond the city limits among the
pleasant northern hills "a month or
sop'
The old watchman gave the two a
startled, appealing look.
with all those peaceful country sur
roundlngs," added Mr.. Jaggers.
The sunshine, the breezes, the stately
hills, the smiling valley and the little
lake, the flowers and the endless melody
of the birds!" chirped on Edith, radl-
antly.
"Yes, and the good, honest food, the
early hours, the hush and quiet of the old
place and unvarying considerate treat
ment," continued Mr.. Jaggers warmly.
ITO be sure" returned Edith. in gen.
erous anticipation, land above all, good
books and our own constant encourage
ment and companionship. Think of all
that, Uncle Jimmyp'
He merely opened his little eyes to an
alarming extent, and, at Mr.. Jaggers'
bidding, called a carriage in which the
happy philanthropists were whirled
away W Iu6iT WditluS uOQlo, Wuue In6
old man, returning to his duties, stumped
and trundled about the great establish
mept as if in a dream, muttering and
fussing by turns and finally exploding
over the, to him, astounding project,
with
"Jerushityw Which'll be th' worser
done fur-th' Jaggerses, or Mugsy Mary
and Slim Liz"
But week had intervened, when all
the Jaggers family, save Mr.. Jaggers and
Miss Edith, were snugly ensconced in
their villa at the seaside. leaving the lat
ter two full opportunity for carrying out
| their cherished plans for the reception
! and reformation at Glen Corrie. by means
of directly applied charity, of the ancient
| outcasts of the archway.
| These plans, however, did not proceed
so smoothly as had been hoped. Mugsy
Mary and Slim Liz absolutely refused to
| leave their accustomed haunts.
| 1t had not been taken into account that
the outcast heart twines around it's famil-
lar scenes, its hideousness of association,
| its hopelesSness of environment, it's very
soddenness, hunger, besotment and wal
| lowing, precisely as those of the better
| conditioned cling TO the heart warming
and blessed things of life.
This was the first disappointment and
cause OF astonishment to the good mer-
chant and his daughter. Their entire
kindly project seemed certain of failure
at the outset, until happy thought oc-
| Cured to Uncle Jimmy Stubbs.
| "Ye've got ol black carry-all, sort o.
picnic wagonette, up t. th' stables, Mr.
Jaggers?"
"Yes, indeed. It's there yet, Uncle
Jimmy"
hitchin' it up and bringin' it here, late at
night-an' bein' particular bout Joe
hav;n' all his brass buttons on, we can
fetch 'em, Mr.. Jaggers."
"Bless me! Pll have it done tonight,
Jimmy"
| "Wall, git another man on in my place
an Pll garn'tee havin' 'em out t. Glen
| Corrie in tn mornin'; if you an Miss
Edith III be on hand, an garn'tee t. keep
'em, when ye git 'em!'
| "Well, well, WE'LL That is a great re-
! lief No trouble about keeping the poor
old wrecks, once there, Jimmy"
Mr.. Jaggers and his daughter accord
| ingly took the evening train for the
country house in high spirits; and long
towards midnight the old wagonette, for
| all the world like prison-van, with its
! long body, covered top, black sides, rear
and front doors and pendant steps. with
coachman Joe cleaning with grins and
| buttons, were in waiting beneath the
dark archway.
Then Mugsy Mary and Slim Liz, more
! than usually stupid from drink, were
rudely awakened.
They fought for little, but few we'll
directed and familiar tappings of night
sticks upon tifeir shoe -soles, with the
gruff voices and the CLINT of brass but
tons, soon silenced them. They were
carried bodily and flung into the, to
them, prison-van upon pile of loose
straw. AS the door was slammed and
apparently locked against them, after a
great jingling of keys, they recognized a
| friendly voice at the supposititious key
hole.
.'Sh-h-h-h! Ye're up for it now, alsl
Be ladies, am ye'll not git more than
thirty days!'