The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-06

had stolen away from his mates TO eat
his dinner alone IN the heather. lid he
lean his head in his hand and say, Darn
II all, l can't get her out OF my mind"
And only when Jenny went 10 her bed
and laid her head on her pillow did she
sigh out to herself. "Oh, deari I do like
Tom tremendous
Each took the most elaborate precau-
tons to conceal from other eyes what
was in theirs. Neither mentioned the
others name. and if a third spoke it out
then Tom or Jenny. whichever ii was
who heard the other spoken Of, had a
futter Of the heart and a color in the
cheek and looked away from the speaker
as IL what was said did not interest at
all, n yet listened with both ears.
This went on for a whole year, and each
| confidently believed that no one had the
smallest conception OF the love that con-
sumed each heart But it was perhaps
| that each rather overdid il that every
| one came TO know Of Ii.
Then at once all set to work to bring
the two lovers together. Most earnest
in her endeavors was Joanna. the sister
| OF Tom AT one time she had disliked
Jenny for no particular reason, but now
| she cultivated her acquaintance, invited
her to the cottage, walked with her and
wormed her way into her affections.
| Then all at once out popped the words,
Il say, Jenny, you are cruel fond OF my
brother Tom. bain't you now?"
49," 1eL dlOnSs d1lSWClCQ CA1AA
| flushing TO the temples.
You need not deny It," said Joanna;
IT have eyes as well as another, and L
can see it as distinct as l can the rocks
on old Believer Tor. You're terrible took
up wi my brother Tom"
ut bain't true" answered Jenny, the
tears of vexation filling her eyes. Its a
| scandal TO say such drashy stuff"
1T is true; and what / know also is
that Tom worships the very ground you
tread"
That's false" answered Jenny. "for
he rims away from me wheniver he sees
me, jist for all the world as If I were a
long-cripple (viper.)"
II does love you, I vow and protest"
Hes got a queer way o showing 1t
then" retorted Jenny, n that was,
Joanna was fain to admit 1t to herself,
an unanswerable argument against her
proposition.
After this conversation Jenny kept
away from Joanna; their friendship had
had a douche of cold water thrown on 1T,
and she would neither walk with her
nor salute her. AS she said to the
matron, Joanna had insulted her.
After a lapse of three weeks matters
were patched I'D between them, and
Joanna again preached the subject.
Again Jenny refused to be convinced.
As she said to herself: What am 1? I'm
| naught but a poor maid that ham got
IL eSSA C1S 5000
when all the other maidens got married,
| COS none would nave me; and there is
| Tom, as straight and stiff a chap as any
in the works, and has laid by a lot O.
| money, folks say-and there aren't one
Of the mining boys as has married is fit
| to hold a candle to him. Git along with
| yourself for an idiot, Jenny, for thinkin'
he can care a fardin' for you"
Joanna also attacked her brother.
"Tom," said she, here am 1 slavin' as
a Niger, and all for no wages but pure
love, and, as you kno very well, !
| want to be off into service to Torquay.
You are holding me here on to this desc
| late moor, where one sees no faces
lookin' in at the winder but that of a
bullock or a sheep or a Dartmoor colt,
and / wants to be off-terrible. You're
aged twenty-seven and ought to be mar
| ried. a great hulkin' chap like you. II
you'd the feelin's of a man you'd die o
shame"
Shame at what, jonah" He called
her Jonah as the short for Joanna.
"A chap o. twenty-Seven and not mar
ried. 1 say it's regular ~scandalous; and
all the county cries shame on YOU"
But who'd nave me?"
"Why-bless the boy-Jenny."
Then Tom turned away from his sister
and went out to wash himself of the
| pink soil that was on his hands from the
tin mine, and as he washed he said to
himself: Jenny have me! The pref
| tiest, tidiest, peartest Qiveliest maiden
was liver seen since Eve. A chap Ike
me-al1 mucky with chrome and clay.
Git along for an idiot, Tom, for thinking
such things"
This did not answer. Then the man.
ager of the Vitifer mine took the matter
in hand; so did the matron of the shanty.
The master said to n of the miners
who was single: "Bill Hawk, l wish
you'd do me a favor, and I'll give you
five bob"
Eyes, sir; what is it?"
Look here, Bill; 1 want you to walk
out that girl Jenny, gallivant with her
a bit, and"
But, sir, I'm taking on with Mary
Bolt, down to Chagford."
Never mind-only just for a bit. There
is that COMPOUNDED fool Tom won't see
that he must ave Jenny, and If we can
make him jealous it might work"
Bill Hawk considered a moment and
said: well, sir. If Mary Bolt was to
hear on il she'd be in a dowse of a ram
page; but if you'll make it seven and six
I'll try it on"
II don't object to another half crown.
Bill. So be IT,"
On her part the matron invited a niece
to the barrack, a very lively, dark-eyed
witch of a girl, and she brought her over
to the cottage of Joanna, who at once
took to her and contrived means or
throwing her and Tom together, and the
matrOn n her niece talked much OF
Tom and his nice cottage. and his gar
den, and his savings before Jenny But
this also failed. Jenny would not be
walked out by Bill Hawk, would not say
a word to him.; and the niece had not
a chance with Tom. who, II he saw her
in the cottage. mad a run and went of
elsewhere. So passed another year. The
matron had given notice, and the bar
rack was to be closed. Jenny would be
obliged to shift for herself. and whittier
should she go? Joanna had become des-
perate. pining for the frolics of Torquay,
and announced TO her brother that she
had engaged herself in a situation, and
tina he must shift for himself; she was
not going to be an "exile Of Siberia" not
for him or any one-not another winter.
If he wouldn't marry
'Then 1 must a a tousekeeper,"
said rom.
His sister stood back aghast.
"A housekeeDer! You, an unmarried
man! A housekeeperl Goodness gracious
me, what is the world coming to?"
IF she's old and ugly" protested Tom.
mo woman does think herself old and
ugly. She will lay traps n snap you
up. Goodness gracious me! Here's a
fine kettle of fish,
What else can 1 do?' asked Tom
despairingly.
Marry" answered Joanna. &
1T takes two to do that" said Tom