The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1898-05-21

window with a sudden jerk. then turn
aside after short survey, move ON to
the next corner and halt minute be-
fore he decided whether to proceed to
the right or to the left. He ran to all
the fires. He stood in line with the
crowd on the cnrbstone to watch the
procession. He idled into the reading
room of the public library; everywhere
an easily recognizable picture of irreso-
luton and failure.
One evening as Tim came home, tired,
aespondent and a little sulky, he met
Nelly at the gate. This was no unusual
occurrence. as Nelly lived next door and
their families used the same passage
way.
Now Nelly was as brisk girl as ever
swung broom, which was just her ec-
eupation this evening. She had the
gift of making things and people go her
way. The babies, no matter how many.
could not override her for a minute;
and arms akimbo, with stamp of her
foot, she could scare the surlest prov
| Ter from her yard. Moreover like
Tom, she liked to talk to people, TO
push out into the world and expand her
knowledge and experience
With these qualities she made an ex-
cellent housekeeper for her father, and
although barely 10, assumed eapably
the place of the mother who was gone.
Her sleeves were rolled up TO the ell
bows; her eyes were on Mamie and Ed
die, straying a little too far up the
street: and the open house door showed
that she had left some unfinished task
behind her.
Hello" she said, as the wanderer
shambled in.
Hello, Nelly" He saw that her eyes
were fixed on him critically, and felt
that he was not altogether fit for in
spection.
Aren't you working yet, Tim?"
Now this question, when put by any
body else than, Of course, his mother,
was in Tins sensitive ears a thrust. Il
yelled innuendo, an unfayorable verdict.
But he and Nelly had for long time
made friendly eyes at each other and
exchanged intimate condolences. For,
if Tim was unfortunate. he was also, ac-
cording to the standard of that neigh
hcrhood, distinctly nice" So Nelly's
voice had a ring of sympathy in it,
which relieved the harshness of this
most embarrassing question.
No." said Tim. mot yet
why can't you get place Tim?a
/ l., Il
sickly little smile. Il wish | could
Il guess you don't try hard enough. F."
"0h. yes, I've tried" Tim was truth
ful. He put his statement in the pres
sent perfect tense. But it's pretty
hard
"other fellows get jobs. There's
Jack White, only graduated with You,
and now he's clerk in a dry goods
store"
"Yes, but Jack Whites fine writer,
and I'm no good at writing"
well, there's Walter Craig works i'll
meat shop
Yes, know. He got the place | was
going to get. His big brother goes
with the man that started the store,
and"
"Oh, well. there are lots of other
places. Don't you ever see any
ehanees?"
"Ye-es," replied Tim, slowly. Eyes
terday | went in to get place, but the
man asked me if could make change,
and never made change"
"But you could OF course you
could! And you've got to make them
think so. Spunk mp to anybody. That's
the way TO get along. Why don't you
try selling papers?"
"Oh, I'm too old to sell papers,"
"You aren't as old as the Martin boy"
"Oh, well, he always sold papers"
Nelly ficked some dust off the wood
en- gate. Il know what I'd do. I'd
get wagon and peddle."
"oh, people wouldn't buy anything of
a boy like me-"
"Nonsensel You went round with
Dineen last summer, and everybody
said you hollered fine"
Determined as he was TO deny himself
every imaginable virtue, Tim could not
contradict Nelly's last assertion. His
voice was famous, both for power and
quality. although, curiously enough,
when he tried to say the simple words,
81 saw in the papers this morning that
you w-wanted b-b-boy." it could sink
10 the feeblest, huskiest whisper that
any employe ever heard from an appli-
cant.
Anyway, | haven't any wagon or
anything protested Tim, more fertile
in imagining obstacles than expedients.
THAT wouldn't cost much" said Mel
ly, little doubtfully. because the price
of wagons was beyond her range. "IIow
much do you have to pay for horse ~
Ten dollars. That's what Dineen
paid for his"
And a wagon-a secondhand one,
| mean?"
"oh, don't know anybody that has
enc to sell"
'Well, If | was a boy. I'd make one, "
said Nelly, sharply. and when Tim
looked in her eyes this time. he saw
that they were not quite like a mothers.
after all. They were sympathetic, but
they also seemed to be examining him,
probing him, just like the eyes of those
terrible managers and foor-wallers
and employers.
where's Dneen's wagon? He isn't
peddling this year." said Nelly.
"Oh. | forgot that. But that's all
old and kinder"
Couldn't you paint it up?'.
ooh, I'm no good at painting"
You're too-too bashful TO live. Tim
| mic Tiuhe Nou inst want somebodv