The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1901-10-04

look at that steeple without
turning cold all over, al
though It's nearly forty years
since II happened-and the old man
pointed towards the distant city, where
the tall, slender splre of ST. Marks,
rising higher than the rest. was sill
houtted against the glow of the set
ting sun, whose last rays made the
gllded vane on the summit burn as
with fire
It's forty years since, he continued.
but II might have been yesterday, so
vivid is the horror OF IL; but come in
side, and I'll tell you all about il.
She was young enough then, and as
bonny girl as there was in all War
wickshire. while | don't think there
was a palmer, more awkward lad than
myself in the whole county. But /
loved her-as a dozen others did-only
I don't think they could ever have
wasn't a beauty. | had muscles Of iron
and nerves of steel. and "Steeplejack
Jim" was known for fifty miles round.
She would never let on that she
cared for me- she was too artful a
puss for that, but / thought | had a
chance, and went for II for all was
worth. She used TO drive me mad
with jealousy, flirting with this man
and smiling on that, until 1 could have
killed the whole lot But | never let
her see it; | was much too deep for
that.
Only let girl know you're jealous,
and she'll make your life a-wcll "A
torment, just for the love of teasing
and showing her power over you
always came up smiling, and she
couldn't understand 1t, but IT con
quered her in the end, and for nearly
forty years, bless her, she's been the
sweetest, most loyal wife a man ever
had
But this is an old story, you say,
and so il Is, but still it's always new
and I'll get on to the tragedy quite
soon enough.
The only man | was really afraid of
was my partner Jack-Jack Harding
as fine a young fellow as you ever
saw in your life, tall and straight as n
lath, and with face like young god
but he was n bit inclined TO be will
and that's fatal thing I'm my line.
Ruth was fonder of him than of all
the others-what girl could help it?--
and If he'd only played his cards well
he might have had her, without giving
any of us look in.
But jealousy! Why, my worst at
tacks were mildness itself compared
with Jack's-and he couldn't conceal
them as | did. lie had some Spanish
blood I'm his veins, | always thought
he looked like a Spanard-and If she
even smiled at another man his eyes
flashed as II he would strike them both
dead, and more than once he lost his
temper and said things to her that no
girl would stand, least Of all Ruth
Well, TO come TO the point, | soon
saw that the prize rested between him
and me, and though | thought my
chance was small enough, | wasn't
going to lose her for want of asking.
If / live TO be a hundred | shall al
ways remember that evening when |
asked her If had a chance. and If she
could marry n clumsy, ugly man like
me.
"Chancep she said. as she looked
up at me roguishly out of her blue
eyes. why, Jim, you donkey, you've
got every chance, and If you hadn't
been blind you'd have seen IL months
ago,' and then she laughed, kind OF
hysterical laugh, and hid her bushes
on my shoulder.
Well, sir, If she'd knocked me down
l couldn't have been more surprised
IL was all so sudden and unexpected.
but l had the presence OF mind To put
my arm round her and to draw her
face up to mine TO kiss II. and then
why, sir. there wasn't n man in Eng.
land half as happy as me.
"But what about Jack?" | said, when
I'D come TO a bit.
About Jackr she said archly. well.
when you say you're tired OF me. Ill
otSih w hhihh hbouN hlAi II i've lOHE
enough"
When Jack heard OF IL he went mad
clean mad-swore he would kill us
both, and flung himself into n wild or.
gle OF drink and dissipation. saw
next to nothing of him for weeks. and
when we met he passed on the other
side OF the road without looking at me
OF course was sorry for him. but II
was the luck OF war; or rather of love
and | had played my cards honorably
while was far too busily and happily
occupied to have any fears for what
he might do to me.
Then one day he seemed completely
changed; came TO me with an out
stretched hand ard asked my pardon
saying that I'd won fairly. and wish
ing me luck. But somehow ] didnr
like the looks OF him. and didn't trust
him, and | had good ground for my
distrust. rs 1 was soon TO prove. Dur
ing his drinking bout had to hire an
assistant for any job that came my
way, but when he offered TO join mt
again took him on just as II nothin,
had happened.
My little girl was very nervous abou