The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-07-31
THREE DIAMOND RINGS.

the nlSnl. AL tiie PiLN'
petals were beaten Oft the apple,
blooms; the high grass IN the orchard
Law in long, flat waves close TO the
Ground; the very datfodiIs and tullps
IN the borders were crushed into the
rich black mould and jamie Barr was
irving to tie them up again with as
tender a sympath; as if they had hoelI
little children fallen down.
When suddenly Mrs. Barr cane out
with perturbed face.
There" said she. Il knew there
would be trouble
'sWhat is it, mother said jamie,
cheerily.
Its those worn-out shingles on the
roof said Mrs. Barr, in the melan-
choly half-whine which was habitual
to her. The rain leaked in on the
boarder's bureau all night long and
she says she won't stay here If she
isn't to be properly protected from the
elements.
jamie tied the last puce-colored tulip
to its stake and Strengthened herself
up. :,
'sWe must have the roof mended, :"
said she.
''Who is to do it," sighed Mrs.
Barr. There amt a carpenter to be
had since Squire Follett commenced
the new cottages, and even Crazy Jim
won't go up on that steep roof. And
if Mrs. Lepen goes away what shall
we do about the interest on your
fathers old note2"
s'She won't 60 away, ,mother-never
fear" said jamie, brightly. Don't
fret. You'll see that things will all
come right"
But the shingles must be fixed
right away" said Mrs. Barr.
They shall be fixed, mother" said
jamie.
''Who will do it2'' impatiently re-
peated the widow.
II will" said jamie.
That's all nonsense" groaned Mrs.
Barr.
"Why shouldn't I mother" said
jamie, merrily. 'Of course I haven't
been brought up to carpenters trade,
but any one could manage few shin
giles and handful of nails. You shall
see, little mother. Only wait."
jamie, if you think of such a
thing, I shall be very angry" said
Mrs. Barr.
''Then I'll leave off thinking of il, :"
said jamie. Where's the basket and
the claspknife mother lam going to
cut some dandelion greens for din
ner."
''Of course she is only joking"
said Mrs. Barr to herself as she re-
turned slowly to the house.
But jamie had never been more serl-
ously in earnest in her life.
Mrs. Barr went to the Parish Sew
ing Society that afternoon.
Colonel Addison from the Valley
Hotel, who was paying his addresses
to Mrs. Lepell, the boarder came with
a spirited horse and buggy 70 take
her to the sea-beach, where a merry
bathing-party were to take advantage
Of the tide and practice the noble art
of swimming.
'sNow is my time" said jamie ex-
ultantly to herself.
But Mrs. Lepell came back before
she had got twenty rods away from
the house.
Jamie" said she, Il forgot to tell
you that had left my three diamond
rings in the little left-hand drawer OF
the bureau. I might lose them in the
water. Thought I would tell you, IN
case of fire, you know, or any other
accident.
'Yes," said jamie; "but there won't
be any accident.
Mrs. Lepell laughed, and ran back
to the carriage and the impatient col
onel.
And not till then did jamie perceive
that a tall, half-grown lad, lurking
behind the porch rails, was waiting to
speak to her.
''Who are your said jamie, briskly.
What do you want2 No, we
haven't any old clothes. If you really
want work, you had better 60 on to
the new buildings, a mile up the
road. I dare say they can find some
thing for you to do there.
The lad mumbled out something,
whether thanks or otherwise JAMIE
was unable to discriminate, and shut
fled away.
And, slipping on her hat and bolt
ing the front door, she ran across the
back meadows to Ralph Parsons car
penter-sbop, quarter of mile by the
wood-path.
''I want few shingles, said she,
and pound of shingle-nalls.
"What for?" Ralph asked
mo matter" calmly retorted Jane,
Glow much will they COST
''They will cost you about a quar-
ter" said Ralph. SIS it hen-coop
you're going to build: Because If
you'll wait until Saturday, could do
it for you.
1T isn't a hen-coop, and I can't
wait until Saturday. said JAMIE.
shaking the bright brown curls out OF
her eyes. Here's the quarter. And
you needn't think, Ralph Parsons,
that we are going to call upon y2'di
again until we've paid something on
the bill that we owe you already"
She nodded good-by, and hurried
away under the canopy of pink ap-
pie blossoms.
Ralp looked admiringly after her.
'sShe's a regular clipper of girl,
that jamie Barr" said he. IF ever
I'm able to support a wife, that will
be the one I'll choose"
Light as thistledown, jamie hurried
back with her precious bundle of shin
giles, and the pound Of nails in her
pocket.
Now I'll show them whether I can
mend the roof or not, said she, as, with
hammer added to her stock in trade,
she ascended to the garret and climbed
to an odd little ladder that led out
through rusty trap-door to the steep
roof.
The slant was abrupt, the old shin
ples were wet with the recent rain,