The Penn's Grove record., 1896-10-23

(~HE was a thin slip of a girl, with
~pale sallow cheeks aud a figure as
ofragile as the flowers she carried
In her basket.
1t was her eyes and her hands which
marked her off from the common herd,
Had these been Of regulation pattern
there were nothing to distinguish her
from any dozen Of her companions. But
her eyes, which were brown In color,
were large and lustrous and had a pro
voking habit Of dropping the lashes
when she looked at one. Whether cal
culated coquetry OF ~native-born man'
ner were chiefly concerned would have
puzzled an expert to decide. That 1t
was fetching" few men would have
yentured to deny. Her hand, small and
w~eli-shaped, boosted the taper fingers
and flbert nails generally associated
with birth and breeding.
She sold flowers in Cheapside. Her
station was the steps Of the Peel statue
and every morning, week in and week
out, as the clocks Of the city were
striking 10 she would deposit her bas-
ket at the foot of the column and pre-
pare for the business Of the day.
From 10 to 6 she piled her wares dill
gently. pushing the sale with all the
tact which a LIES experience had
taught her and all the wiles which a
woinan's wit could suggest, But each
evening, when the weary city was fast
emptying and the bell of the great ca
thedrai was still echoing overhead, her
crowded asphalt with searching
glances; and as she scanned the tenn
Ing multitude pouring westward a spot
of crimson would suddenly show in the
wan, white cheeks and the dark brown
orbs would flash and kindle with a curl
Gus Gystic light
He always contrived to he IN Cheap
side between 9 and half-past. 1t was
their custom to walk together down
Queen Victoria street to Blackfrlars
bridge. AT this point they separated
she crossing to the Surrey side, he TAX
ing a turn" through Fleet street and
the Strand before following In the same
direction. They had commenced the
practice la mid winter, had continued II
throughout the spring, and now they
had reached midsummer.
From afar she could distinguish his
barrow among the throng Of vehicles
which filed the th~oroughfsre. When
he had doubled" the corner and got
iato the comparative slack water" of
the churchyard she crossed over and
Joined him. A nod that was almost
lmpereeptible, answered by a smile
that was bright and sunny, was all the
recognition that passed between them,
The girls glance wandered involun-
tarily to the barrow. 1t was the sea.
son for cherries, and she noticed the
long array Of empty baskets.
Been 'avin' a good day, Joe. amt
ysr:
"Middlin' like"
IVY y'ain't on'y one molly left"
"P'raps ! been givin' EN- away" The
tone was Enthusiastically surly.
For the next thirty yards they walk.
ed on in silence, the girl watching the
man furtlvely, the man pushing the
barrow ianguidly and staring strenp
eusly at nothing.
"Ha' yer thort on wot l tole yerF' he
said presently, as the girl stepped off
the pavement to avoid collision with a
parcel of boys. The light that had
lightened them died out Of her eyes, the
color which had come into her cheeks
fntsanaE fborn har mouth urauy ha ri
and her face lost at once its youth and
animation.
The man continued tc stare into va,
cancy and walk mechanically after his
barrow.
II can't do ut, Joe. can't do ut. l
amt got no rest these two n~ights-but
l can't do ut"
The words came with difficulty and
the voice palpitated with emotion.
The mar shrugged his shoulders i'm,
patiently.
"Wot's the good Nv i'm, chr A dod'rin
ole lunetic. Wot's the use Nv i'm ter
anybody He orter been dead years
ago"
Hes me father, Joe" she murmur'
ed, r|eproaehIu!ly.
Father be bowed! He's dun a lot
fer you, amt he? Y'ort ter feel proud
Nv i'm. didn' yer7 Plnchin' his gals
money-drinkin' till he's got the devils
an talkin' tommy rot bout bein' a
geneln,an an the son Nv a genelman
Wy he amt got no more decency an
a pig. When he can't gorge hisself n1
longer a pig II lie in the swill trough
and when your genelman fathers had
a skinful he'll snore by the hour long
side a quart pot"
He stole a glance at the girl out OF
the corner of his eye. The busy bust
ling life Of London edd!ed round them
the roar Of the great Babylon was in
their ears; but not ~Strephon and Chic
ris in the sweet seclusion of idyllic lanes
could have been more oblivious to the
passing moment than this pair of city
hvers in the hot and crowded streets.
"P'raps he amt as good as he might
be. But there's wuss about an'-he
JFarn't allays So joe" 3
"oi IL you likes to put up wiz i'm,
Tiza, 80 do. FTain't no concern o
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