The Penn's Grove record., 1896-10-23
LIZA: A SKETCH.

"Rut ye a sen me to the devtll' he
snapped sharply; and an ugly look
leapt out of his eyes.
They passed under the railway
bridge which spans the lower end Of
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 tlmidly as ne turned in the
direction Of the river.
"Wot forT'
The tone and manner puzzled her
more than the words.
For a moment they stood confronting
each other, the face of the man work.
Ing convulsively and the girls features
contracted with pain.
Blackfrlars Bridge was crossed in
silence. Turning into Stamford street
she whispered hoarsely: I'm sorry for
yer. Joe; but If it's hard on rot it's
rough on me. Anythiu' as you ars'd me
to do, Joe-anythin' as ! cud do o. me.
self like-I'd do Mt, mate, without sayin'
why or wherefore. But SEN the ole
man to the workus-I can't do that, lad.
| l know yer think I orter; bu: / can't
JOEL can't do ut"
"A pretty fool yer made O. me now,
amt yer? l Civ up the booze an cut
tommles wen TUX up wiv you, Liza;
but you'd see me at blazes suner AN
Civ up that drucken ole wagabone wot
lives on yer, an perwents yer havin'
a man rs I'D be good to yer"
at I'D break me heart, Joe, ter ave
i'm die in the workus."
Yer thinks a bloomin' sight more Nv
n wrong IN than yer does Nv a right
un," said the man savagely.
She gave him a look which must
have convinced him Of mis- error, but
blinded by passion, he refused to see.
Well" he snarled, zone Of uz as got
ter scoot-him or me. There amt room
fer two"
The girl made no reply and they went
IN. But silence was too oppressive and
sitting. Near Waterloo Station the
man spoke again.
"uow much yer tux, Liar"
The Question was abrupt, but the tone
was friendly. 1t indicated a change
Of feeling.
Sewing an three"
He extended his hand, She put the
money into 1t without a word.
in, Liza, and I'll stock the baskit for
yer" said he, returning her nine pence.
1t was a curious transaction, but the
explanation was probably to be found
in the d~espairlng utterance of the wom-
an.
Hes 'ad 'em awful bad agen, Joe.
Lars night it wur that dreadful-
She stopped, warned by the cloud that
was sweeping up Y e her companions
brow.
The mans countenance had suddenly
darkened, sparks from the neither fires
danced in his eyes, the old hard vindic
tive look had returned.
Il wish he may die. l wush he wur
deadp he muttered iercely.
20, Joe! Joe, If yer love me, dun a
thin words" entreated the girl.
~ says 'em cos l loves yer; cos IT'S
on'y I'm wot's a keepin' yer frum a man
as wants ter make a Apply woman Nv
yer. l says 'em cos l means 'em. No
fence ter yer, Liza"
"Y'ain't a bad sort, joe" said the
girl, turning her swimming eyes full on
him; "but yer a bit down on the ole
man" he gave the barrow an unnec
essarily vigorous shove.
I'm goin' 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 wiz a dozen. an this yere's tn on'y
one leff." He emptied the contents OF
the basket on the board. II shall knock
'em In the Out at freppence. 'Tain't
orfen they see cherries like them In
New Cut. They're city fruit. they are.
Try EN-" He filed q bag and gave to
her. "I1l look roun' arter I clear out"
AS he walked away his eyes followed
her, "She thinks a bloomin' sight too
much, she do, O. that drunken ole scamp,
her father" he growled, staring after
the ~retreating figure; but 1 amt oil q
fool, mate. Grit's wuth gold.
In the third pair back OF a tenement
house in Lambeth a girl was kneellns
" the side of a bed. A paper bag was
ying on the coverlet, and some cher
les had fallen on the door. On the bed
ay the body Of a man. The room reek-
ID with the fumes Of whisky. The long,
1.-THE fingers Of the girls right hand
we're clasped convulsively round the
hand of the motionless figure extended
N the bed.
Zoe" she moaned; "Joe, lad, ye'vs
got yer wish, The ole man'li rile
FER any more, l love yer. mate, dearer
.han life; but It's thin words o. yourn
as / shall hear, an not parsons, on the
lay yer takes me inter church."-St
In az Ru6oat