The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-09-01

road. you amt got into trousers; your
pa is too poor to buy you a suit so my
ma says! What have yer got for sup
per? Yah!'
Luckily Joscelin was too full of his
own noise and importance as a sergeant
recruiting among the cabbages to care or
hear. But-sman and insignificant though
the little fat boy was-two other peop e
did hear and did care.
A man. was digging among the vegeta-
bles in the rear of a hedge of sweetpeas.
He dug in a hesitating, unworllmanlike
way, and whenever he neared cabbage
or rosebush stopped ana felt it with his
fingers. He wore an old blazer, and his
straw hat displayed a faded cricke ting
automatically a clerk or Impoverished
professional man was this gardener.
Careless, too, for as he dug he kept
Irampllng ruthlessly on a row of young
peas, just showing green leaf.
AS JOscelins small foe howled his in
cults, suddenly the man stopped and
stared vacantly Just then a young won-
an with sweet, careworn expression,
came toward him from the cottage. She,
100, heard, and gave a quick, anxious
look at the man. Then she came and
put her arm around his neck.
Don't mind, Dick The child doesn' t
care, bless MIN. Why, he's as happy as
4 handboy, our little JOS I've
come to fetch you in for a cup of tea.
Wen, You have been working hard All
this dug and OH" Their glance fell
on the peas, and expressed consterna-
ton Two tears we!Ied up in her eyes.
Yes, I've done good days digging.
haven't I?'' said the husband. shaking
off his annoyance, and, like herself,
striving to be CHEEKY. ''AlI right, Mary
wait. Who opened the gate? That
sounds like Mr.. Birch-a short, quick
step. Yes you say All! He
wants his rent"
Good evening, Mrs. Dorian. Good
evening sir" said a smug-faced man
good humoredly, strutting forward. 81
Just thought I'd look in-being more
friendly hke-and perhaps your good
lady would ask me to tea. NY gracious
you've been and ruined these young
peas. Dear, dear! Then your eyesight
is worse"
Mary Dorian shot a lightning glance of
anger at the landlord and cried out with
forced gayety: ''Why nonsense. MIR
Birch. This outside row was no good
m always walking over it. AS to nv
husbands cataract, the worse it gets
quickly the sooner it can be removed
the doctor says"
Spoiled them, nave I? That's all the
good my digging it," murmured the blind
man, standing still. Then depressing a
sigh he added courteously: INV dear
lei US bring MIR. Birch in for tea
The one sitting room of the Gotta ga
was bare to the extreme of penury. A
oeal table, two chairs and an old oak
cAest We're its only furniture And as
the landlords eyes fell on this last. thew
rested there Meanwhile Mrs. Dorian
pale checks flushed, as she tried to seem
composed while handing the guest tea
with hardly drop of milk, bread with
mere scrape of butter. Her own cur
was black; her bread dry.
This repast over, Mr.. Birch hemned
and proceeded to the business which all
Knew was the object of his visit.
A useful old chest that. sir. You've
had tidy lot of old furniture, Mr.. Dor.
ian" ~
Yes, Mr.. Birch, I had-and since my
bilnoness came on, you have got nearfy
the whole of it, but that chest
mats as maybe, sir. Now
may ask is there anything against let
ing me have that, too? Any plat,
IN there? and might tha inrid'
be sound. for my missus saws dry rot
Ricf ard Dorian rose and steppine VITA
outsp cad hands, felt for the chest an,
iumpled at a heavy key which was ~
the lock. Then throwing back the 1i9 h,
said, with profound courtesy:
DO me the honor to look at The rom
tents and the Inside. Mr.. Birch be-
heEe you will be satisfied that these ar,
only family parchmcnts, o. rood Il
anyone else-if any to us"
Quite so, quite So announces ech
coolly examining some old document,
that could have no possible fnteres+ F.,
him as debtors assets. why, here's !: