The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-02-18

VINO would glacly have done escort duty
in his place, but she would not look at
thorn, and went home with her father and
mother They were both Of them too wise
to say anything, so poor Dorothy had only
her own thoughts for company and was
poorly entertained.
III don't suppose there's another girl in
the world" said Ned to himself as he
walked home alone, "tbat / could ever
love as l do her, even II 1 should ever know
one as bright and pretty as she is, and
probably there amt ony But l amt
quite a fool. Wait seven yearsl II should
do that, suppose she would want me 60
serve yet seven other years, because Jacob
did"
And he went on thinking disrespectful
things of the patriarch simply because he
himself did not understand the girl he
| loved so well. OF course, being merely
man, he could not be expected to, and
things went from bad to worse, as they
are likely TO do when girl Is whimsical
and her lover Is proud.
And so they might have gone on world
without end II 1t had not been for the
blessed saint who watches over lovers and
who straightens out their tangled affairs
sometimes. Surely 1t could have been
nobody else but ST. Valentine that would
have chosen so queer way Of settling
quarrel, for nobody but one Of those quaint
medieval saints would ever have thought
of little Jake Higgins as likely to straight
| en- anything out.
Jake was an ambitious boy, but so odd
In his ways and in his speech that even his
mother could not always understand him,
but she realized, small as he was, how
great holp he was 20 her, and how poorly
she would get along without his help, for
he was "the only son of his mother, and
she n widow" He went to school, of
course, for ho lived in Now England, and
ho did chores around home; but that was
not enough to satisfy him. So he asked for
work and got 1t in the big country store
where Ned Willis was working for his
uncle, with the prospect Of being sole own
or some day when his uncle should retire.
81 don't think boys are much good, do
you, MIR. WillisY" said the boy one evening
when they sat waiting for the closing hour.
"Well, don't know" said Ned, smil-
ing, "It depenG. principally on tho boy.
Now, 1 should 50! YOU were of consider
able use"
"No, amt" said Jake quickly "If
1 was, I'd be getting moren 81 week.
But 1 s'pose I'll have to keep pegglng
nway for whatever 1 get till grow up.
1t pears to me there's sight of time
wasted in growing up"
Perhaps you won't like 1t so we'll after
you do grow up" said Ned, considerably
amused.
ooh, yes, WILL" said the boy conf
dontly "Tm going to bo tho richest man
in the village when get older. Maybe
Ill go in partnership with you when you
got the store yourself, Anyway I'm 60
ing to live in the biggest house in the
place. ] don't know whether I'll buy
Squire Bemis' or build new one. And
I'm going 10 marry Dorothy Somers
and'--
whats T. ~ demanded Ned sharply.
"What are " talking about?"
"Well, Jake coclly, ''you needn't
be so skiit'- You amt keeping company
with ber any ore. And anyhow think
she always ught moro of me than she
did Of you.
"Oh, siu app said Ned, uncertain
whether t "a or to box the boys ears.
"Youll hay. . wait a dozen years yet be-
fore you Co." Ink Of being marrieh'
"No, Nl' -" persisted the boy "I'll