Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-01-05
= g Sc g Sc g 8 g IS 9: g . g s & e

~ 80 go
with her when she applied for posi-
ton as maid of all work. Desperate
over her bovine negative to every ques-
ton put to her. the little woman had al
last asked despairingly:
"Well, is there anything you can
do?"
To which the untutored daughter OF
Sweden had replied with reproachful
air and a timid pride:
II can milk reindeer.
Mr.. Jacques appreciated it ALL though
he thanked her in the briefest fashion.
But he had medium of expression
more eloquent than speech as long as
his eyes were open. and they spoke by
the greater luminousuess and avidity
of his gaze.
She had him on his feet again in no
time, and be was pushing his battered
fish cart up and down the billy Seattle
streets with his old briskness and taci-
turnity
The interest she bad taken in the
odd, uncommunicative man the first
time he came to her door increased as
she saw how much he liked her in his
silent way 1t was akin to the devo-
ton of a dumb animal. She got fresh
err and better fish of him than any
where else, and his regular visits to
her back door always brought her there
to greet him and enjoy anew his pecul-
lar reserve and dewily communicative
eyes.
When things became different In the
small household and there was need to
retrench, even in such matters as wine
and food. at least in quality, she did
not feel obliged to cut down the item of
fish. Nor did Mr.. Jacques get any no.
ton of the reduced circumstances"
from her He may have guessed some
thing His black eye, as soft as a ga
zelle's, bored through outer wells to in
reason for the thinner face, greater
thoughtfulness and less ''spry" action
of the little woman.
1t did not need bis sensitive percep-
ton to find the old time kindness and
soothing tone In her voice when she ad
dressed him. The sense of coming
trials for herself made her appreciate
his the more, though his poor, solitary
life was such mystery to her.
He encouraged her at times by SIM
pie platitudes delivered with jerky i'm
pressiycness.
"All right some time. You keep
spry. Good little woman. Go better
afterward You hold on spry."
He threw out his logged looking chin
as horse sometimes suddenly stretch
es his head forward. She could not re-
frain from a light laugh. her "spry-
ness" had such a charm for him.
Poor fellow She was not OF great
material aid to him by the small
amount Of fish she bought, but she saw
that her sunny vlvacity and ready ac-
cord were support and solace to him.
One prizes most the good one most
lacks, and she felt with sharper force
how lonely the bare lot of this poor
peddler must be when he apprehended
the loss of her smiles and bright words
with the grudging tenacity of miser.
This was the "spryness" to which he
her by brusque assertions
full of well wishing which had no
Dear. simple soul!
So she smiled bravely and gave her
head saucy toss as she replied conf
IDENTIFY: "Oh, we shall come out all
right. Mr.. Jacques l know you would
like to help me if you could. And you
do Those sea bass Monday were so
nice. And you must look right down
into the trout holes. for | never tasted
such delicious ones as you bring me.
shall keep 'spry.' You and ] are the
'spry' kind. You take care Of your
self"
His satisfaction showed itself char
uCteIlStlcdHy. l1iS eyes iOuhotu biiSut-
ly, then the lids half closed until the
pupils shone through the thick lashes
like points OF sunlight. His air of inn
mense sagacity was so childlike that it
amused her greatly.
ME all right. You jes' keep spry.
GO"
He threw out his chin with his droll |
sggressiveness and went away.
Things did not improve.
They got worse.
Business was dull with her father |
md brother. The market was so slow |
Ind uneasy that nothing came in. and |
heir money was slipping away.
Her own salary as teacher came to |
De the backbone of the family support |
rhe men did not dare to let anything |
20 until they could realize better on 1t.
At this time, in the spring weather,