The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-11-05

moment than this pair Of city lovers in
the hot and crowded streets. WHg
"P'raps he amt as good as he might
be. But there's wuss about, an-ho
warn't always 50, Joe. :"
"Oh, IL you likes to put up wiv' i'm,
Liza, so do! 'Tain't no concern o. mine
lis iti' he added moodily.
81 can't SEN i'm to the workus, Joe. ;"
but yer can sem me TO the devilr'
he snapped sharply, and an ugly look
leaped out of his eyes.
They passed under the railway bridge
which spans the lower end Of Queen
Victoria street and reached the point
where they usually parted. The girl
stopped, but the man went on.
Aren't yer goin ter sell out, Joe?"
she queried timidly ns he turned in the
direction Of the river.
"Wot for?''
The tone and the manner puzzled her
more than the words.
For moment they stood confronting
each other, the face Of the man working
convulsively and the girl features con-
tracted with pain.
Blackfriars bridge was crossed in ST.
lence. Turning into Stamford street she
whispered hoarsely: "I'm'soffy for yer,
OH me. Anything as yer ars'd me to do,
Joe-anything as cud do o. meself like
I'D do ut, mate, without sayin why
or wherefore. But sem the ole man to
the workus-I can't do that, lad. I
know yer think orter, but can't, Joe
Il can't do ut.
"a prc;;y fool yer made o. me now.
amt yer? Civ up the booze an cut
tommies wen TUX up wiv yer. Liza,
but ye'd see me at blazes suner 'an
Civ up that drucken ole wagabone wot
lives on yer, an perwents yer havin a
man as nd be good to yer"
ut nd break me heart, joe, ter ave
i'm die in the workus."
"Ycr thinks bloomin sight more NV
a wrong un than yer does nv right
un, )" said the man savagely.
She gave him look which must have
convinced him of his error, but blinded
by passion he refused TO see
"Weil," " Inc snarlod, Zone of uz 'as
got ter scoot-him or me- There amt
room fer two"
The girl made no reply and they went
on. But silence was too oppressive and
sitting. Near Waterloo station the man
spoke again.
How much yer TUX, 'Liza?"
The question was abrupt, but the
tone was friendly. 1t indicated change
of feeling.
''Soving an three"
He extended his hand. She put the
money into it without u word.
Meet me at the Garding in the
mornin, Liza, and I'll stock the baskit
for yer" said he, returning her nine
pence.
It was curious transaction, but the
explanation was probably to be found in
the despairing ntterance of the woman.
Hes 'ad 'em awful bad agcn, Joe.
Lars night 1t wur that dreadfpT'-
She stopped, warned by the cloud that
was sweeping up over her companions g
brow.
The mans countenance had suddenly
darkened, sparks from the neither fires
danced in his eyes, the old, hard, vim
dictive look had returned.
IL wish he may die. wish he wur
deadv" he muttercd fiercely.
"Oh, Joe, Joe, if yer love me, dun say
thin words" entreated the girl.
IL says 'em COS l loves yer; cos it's
on'y i'm wot's keepin yer frum man
a a tat Y,aEa i.,,,xv
yer. l says 'em cos l means 'em. No
'fense ter yer, Liza"
"Y'ain't bad sort, Joe, said tho
girl, turning her swimming eyes full
on him, "but yer bit down on the ole
man" lie gave the barrow an unneces-
sarily vigorous.shove.
''I'm eoin inter the Cut Liza. ter
finish, No. l amt dun so dusty"-an-
swering the question the girl had put
TO him half an hour before. 81 started
out wiv dozen. an this yere's tn on'y
one left" He emptied the contents of
the basket on the board. II shall knock
'em in the Cut at freppence. 'Tain't
orien they see cherries like them in New
Cut. They're city fruit, they are. Try
EN-" He filed bag aud gave it to
her. "I'll look roun after clear out. Z"
AS he walked away his eyes followed
her. 'She thinks bloomin sight too
much. she do, o. that drucken ole scamp,
her father" he growled, staring after
tho retreating figure, "but / amt all "a
fool, mate. Grit's wuth gold"
In the third pair back of a tenement
house in Lambeth girl was kneeling
by the side of bed. Aspaper bag was
lying on the coyerlet, and some cherries
had fallen on the floor. On the bed lay
the body of man. The room reeked
with the fumes of whisky. The long,
1.-THE fingers of tho girls right hand
were clasped convulsively round the
hand of the motionless figure extended
on the bed.
joel she moaned. ''Joe, lad, ye've
got yer wish. The ole man'll never rile
yer any more. 1 love yer, mate, dearer