The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-11-06
A Romance
SSsNoFSsSA
Low Life.

but in Barker's Buildings one was fair-
ly brolled, Altogether, what with the
heat, and the mapgle. and the noise
next door, where Mr. and Mrs. Flinders
were having few wOrds-which meant
a good many-Mrs. wicks found her.
self taking decidedly pcsslmistIc view
OF things in general. and Barker's
Buildings in particular.
'LOr what it'd seem like to be down
in the country agent Sich foot as
We're ever to leave II. But then we're
most on us fools once in our lives, an
it's no use cryin' over split MILK best
thing you can do Is to take cloth an
wipe 1t up. But often an often I've
arst myself whatever see in Wicks to
leave the village 'ome an friends an
relashuns, jest's though they was lot
OF old lumber an come up to this yere
great, grimy, ard-'arted, over-growed
wilderness o. bricks an mortar, that
there's no finding your way outer once
you set foot In 1t. Lawks-a-daisy me,
wiping the perspiration from her fore
head, "what I'd give TO see them parts
agen where was born an brought up.
with the medders an orchids, an lanes,
an edges, an the cottage gardins
where you could grow your bits Of veg
etubbles an pick the currints an goose-
berries off yer own bushes, with nose
gay to stick In mug on the winder-
SILL"
Her eyes Toyed for an instant toward
the window, upon which the sun was
concentrating its rays with such APP
parent singleness of purpose that one
almost expected to see the rusty Grape
Horticultural decorations OF Mrs. Wick's
headgear put forth fresh buds and
leaves. and the mangle blossom like
the rose.
Between the blind and the curtain
was space through which she could
catch glimpse of the only view which
Barker's Buildings provided for in
mates. 1t consisted Of large asphalt
square, surrounded by tall, dIngy, hid
eous brick erectlons, pierced with
many windows. Three or four port
able zinc dust bins slightly relieved the
monotony, the human interest being
supplied by slatternly woman sitting
cinders, the while her voice was up
raised in maternal admonition towards
some member of her home circle:
"You, 'Llzabeth Ham, walt till Il gets
odd on yer. an II don't break every
bone in yer body" I!
mo, faint like the country" admit
ted Mrs. Wicks with a sigh. 1.-THE row
them two do keep up next door, too, s
'nough to deafen any one. Seems like
wooden-legged man when the drinks
in Inns worsen the ordinary"
The door opened to admit q prim-
looking young woman with q bundle
under each arm.
THAT you, Emily"
This being the sort OF salutation that
seemed 10 require no reply, Emily 10Th
erwise Miss Wicks) made none. but put
down her bundles, and taking off her
hat hung It on its own particular peg
beside her mothers best black bonnet
her second best, as has already been
intimated, graced Mrs. Wicks's head;
indeed, as o rule, she only took off her
bonnet to put on her nlghtcap.
A smash, as OF cFockery, followed by
the upsetting OF q chair. and accom-
panied by q torrent Of vituperation in
a high treble caused Miss Wicks to
elevate her eyebrows at her mother.
"He don't centrally break out so early
in the week. seeing to-day's only
we'Rsdy," observed Mrs. Wicks dep
recatingiy. pore Mrs. Flinders do
ave deal TO put UP with"
$50 we DO, for that matter" replied
her. daughter whats the good OF US
working ourselves TO the bone to try
and keep respectable, when the neigh
bors carries on in SIGH style? Either
the 'usban's bangs their wives or the
wives bangs their children. There was
Mrs. Prlggins, in No. z, pitching into
that gal OF 'ers something shocking not
two minutes ago. 'Lizabeth Hams no
angel, but lifting of 'er over the cad
with shovel amt the way to better
Ter as far's can see. I'm sick OF Bark
er's Buildings, that / ami"
mo sicker'n i am, comes TO that
answered her mother. only what's
the good? We must live somewheres."
Miss Wicks shrugged her shoulders
impatiently, and, unpinning the bum
dies, proceeded to count over the con-
tents.
A thud, followed by scream and the
noise Of something heavy rolling over
the floor, seemed to indicate that cll-
max had been reached in the Flinders
menace. Then came the banging OF
door, and the sound of a wooden leg,
something the worse for drink, zigzag-
ging along the stone passage.
"PIl be getting the tea now" said
Mrs. Wicks, with sigh OF 4. relief;
"p'raps we'll be able to ave It In peace
and duietness." She wiped her stream
ing face with her apron. II don't be-
lieye / got SO much as q dry thread on
me. That there mangle's 'nough to
give n body the happyplexy, with the
sun a-pouring in at the winder like we
was a sorter patent fuel as he was
bound TO set light to some'ow."
she was q little, bent old woman,
with scanty gray wlsps Of hair grabbed
back tight and fixed into n hard BALL
with one tlme-worn hairpin. Any ous
who watched her as she trotted round,
setting out two cracked cups and sau-
GERS and a battered looking roue Of a
block tin teapot on the small round ta-
BILE covered with American cloth, would,
on his own responsibility, have added
at least another ten years or so to the
half century which was all She could
lay claim TO.
II did almost think / could a-fancled
n bloater with my tea" she added, as
she made kettle-holder OF n back
number OF the parish magazine.
They're two for three hapence at the
shop ut the corner, an finer you
couldn't wish to see, only what with
one thing an mother"
Gimme the money" interrupted her
daughter; at won't take me above n
mlnnit, and / feel as though / could
relish one myself"
Her mother produced tho amount
from stronghold In her petticoatB, and
Emily, sticking on her hat at raklsh
angle. departed.
Mrs. Wicks had Just ret the tenpot on
the hob TO draw when there came q tap
at the door.
who'll that be- now, wonder2 do