The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-14

That's what I've been wantin' you
to ask"
We'll, Miss-I do ask"
IT'S VIII within"
In silence puffed the pater for a mo-
ment or two, muttering-"Will Wifi
fn." At length he said:
'T know. It's that young chap
that's a sailor, second mate or some
thing, on'that ship that trades between
here and Afrikey, amt IL"
Eyes, father; that's him.
"Um-well that beats everything
so 1t does. Why, he's never been up to
this house but once, as l remember
Of"
"Yes--but he stayed a week. Don't
you remember? He'd caught a bit of
fever from the Gold coast or some-
where and"
ooh, yes. mind me now. Wanted
the air. And it did i'm good, too"
There was sort of suppressed
ferceness in what fallowed. "Well, that
young feller seemed a very pleasant
knowledgable young chap, and he had a
good conveHsation, too. I can't see
what you wanted to fall in love with
him for?"
Because he fell in love with me and
told me so, and right as 'e was tellin'
me, / felt I was the same way"
There was a pause. At length:
"Well, Jenny, there was none of that
kind of foolishness with your mother
and me. What do you want? I'm no
stern parent as wants to make people
unhappy, but / want common sense and
--due-er-and due and proper consid-
Grafton"
II wants you to read and answer
this letter, please" With just a trace
of trepidation, Jenny handed her father
a letter.
What is this 'ere letter!"
Why, you've got it in your hand,
father"
II know I've got in me 'and. I'm
perfectly aware of that, and I'm
a-askin what it is afore 1 opens it,
and I'm a waitin' for a answer afore
l does open it,"
"It come in one to me from Will"
$50 you're a writin' to each other,
are yer? Pack O. fools there is in this
world nowadays, surely" with an
accent on the "ly."
Mr. owen opened the letter slowly.
His right hand held the pipe and con-
tinued to hold it. With his left he
started in to tear open the envelope
flap. This is not quite easy, but there
are people in the world who, if they
start in to do a thing clumsily, con-
slider their dignity compromised if they
do not persist till the something is ac-
complished. The process is fidgeting to
the third person, but Jenny silently en-
dured and relieved the tension with
| needle and thread on work which
stood an excellent chance of being
presently unpicked. At length the mis-
sve was opened and focused eighteen
inches from the owen optics. 1t was
slowly perused to the end;> placed on
his knee; the top ash of his pipe petted
and patted; the letter was then re-
| focused and re-read. And Jenny with
nothing but a needle and thread to
help her through such very irritating
process. An examination of the
stitches would have proved it sufficed.
'Well'-opiniated Mr.. Owen as he
again cushioned the letter on his knee
and again bestowed superfiuous
| caresses on his pe-bowl-"thats a
civil letter enough, and I don't know
but as I'll answer it. Got a bit laid
by, e says, and as a small interest
in the ship 'es in. Oh, understand me,
Jenny. 1 know what's what as we'll as
ere and there one. OF course, some
day l expects you'll marry. It's in the
| ordinary law er nature, and I'm
willin' as nature should be-er-er-
nature, but l don't like no undue pur-
| cipituncy about htings. Now, / tell
you what I'm agoin to do. I'm goin'
to show you that I'm progressin' with
| progressin' times. Your mother and l
| didn't do much in the way o. keepin'
| company, but I'm not agoin' to in
| fluence myself by that. I'm agoin' to
! let you and young Will Wifin keep
! company right along, and you can
marry and have my blessing at the
same age-as your mother and l mar
ried"
Mr.. John owen rose and went into
his bar to struggle with a pen and ink,
| on excellent terms with himself. He
| felt he understood the new race of
women. They must be managed, not
| driven, as in the old days. Tell a
| woman nowadays she sha'n't do a
| thing-she'll do it or die; give 'em their
way and half the time they don't want
| it.
AS for Jenny, the wind was quite out
of her sails. The work was on the
| n.
felt sure of fight of some kind, but
she could look forward to marriage
with the man she loved in-in thirteen
years time. She gathered up her
work and retired to her own room for
what she would have enjoyed under all
! possible combinations of circumstances
"a good cry.
| A day or two later occurred an event
which gave the village talk for many
a month and elevated the humble posi-
tion of a cobbler, who also carried the
mail, to Her Majestys letter carrier,
who condescended to fill up his spare
time by -ah-mending boots and
shoes, that were not too far gone. The
march of advancement had accorded
him uniform and replaced his ram
shackle old tricycle. with an up to- date
bicycle. 1t had taken Tim a week ia
learn to ride it, but when finally the
government inspector had passed him
| and handed over the delicate speedy
machine, Tim had felt that he wouldn't
have given up his postman's Job for
anything, When he got off his tricycle
in the old days, it was left outside his
! little cobblers hut and there 1t STAYED