The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-04-14

short service with the Devon regiment,
he went back to Bradhembury-Wheren ms
father had been gamekeeper-and applied
for the post Of river bailif to the Tlvyy
COnservatOrs. As his character was GOOD
and his knowledge of the habits of SAL
mon exceptional, John obtained the APP
pOintment out of twenty-five candidates.
At the same time his sister Mercy was
keeping small general shop over against
the Blue Lion inn, and John was glad
to make a home with her. Mercy's shop
was down two steps, and it had a half
door, to which a noisy bell was attached
on the inner side. Behind the dusty win
dow panes was a quaint variety of wares,
and at a glance in passing you saw few
dried onions, a box of behring's, heap of
clay marbles, and two or three penny tin
whistles. Over the door was a jay in
a wicker cage and at the sight of Mercy
the bird tapped its wings and cried
"Yack, Yack!'
->Jw John and Mercy were left orphans
wnen the boy was sixteen and the girl
twelve, and they had chung together in
their lonliness and grown to sympathize
one with the other more deeply and de-
votedly than the ordinary brother and
sister, so that folk often remarked upon
their affection as a somewhat uncommon
spectacle, and touching one. While
John was working as undergardener over
at Ashlington, and during his term of
soldering, he wrote often to Mercy and
now and again he sent her postal orders
with which she might purchase ribbons
and such like with which she might
brighten herself up on Sundays for Aunt
Amelia, with whom the girl lived at the
little shop was not able to allow pocket
money to her niece. At the death of old
Miss Matthews, Mercy became the pro-
prietOr of the shop, and upon it's proceeds
and occasional assistance of her brother
she continued to live.
l doubt if any young, doting wife ever
knew as much delight in cooking and
mending for a husband as Mercy Saners
experienced in keeping house for her
brother. 1t was like q flood of sunshine
let into the house to have John back
again in the village, and under her roof
OF lonesome winter nights. He was so
natty and orderly, too, after his service
with the colors, that he prov ed most
valuable helpmate in domestic matters.
a nicer man about the house therS
couldn't be-" said Mercy to the post
mistress over the way. He's all so handy
as q woman, and I will say, tidier than
me, all on account of his soldier life"
knowing what plaques the men can
pc, as do well,' returned Mrs Hood
I'D thank God on my Bonded knees
Tor such housefellow as your John AS
| was only saying last evening to Mrs.
ByWater Mercy Sanders brother John
is better than any husband as ever
breathed' "
I do believe that you're right, Mrs.
1000. And what's more, me and John
get along together precious deal
smoother than any married couple as I
can call to mind. kinder heart than
johns isn't to be found IN Bradhemburv
What a pity twill be when he sets
MS affections on another woman" re-
marked Mrs Hood, rehectiveIy. you'll
nave TO prepare yourself against that,
A shadow seemed to cross Mercv's face
ana her lips WINGED slightly. She had
thouSht Of such a happening, and the
thought had hurt her with keen antici-
patory pain. John was the only one of
her KIN in England; the two other broth
ers had emigrated to America wears ago
ne presentlment that she might lose
John' that another woman might he
come part of his life and thrice dearer
10 him than the most tenderly loved sis
Ter could ever be, brought a choking
Ieellng IN her throat and mist before
hef eyes. She had never been in love.
though two honest fellows had sought
her. All her woman's affection was CEN
teIeQ upon the tall, handsome soldier
piother, who had never been far awav
from her thought at any time since The
udgS Wnen they toddled hand in hand
10 make daisy chains in Long Mead. The
nope OF MS return at the end of his serv
ice mad oeen constant solace. How
Hdppy she would be to have him sitting
ny the hre, smoking his pipe as father
u9eu 70 90 IN the old days when they
were children. 1t was eight months now
SINCE the nope was fulfilled and no trou-
Die had Swallowed the home Whv sbo,Id
Iate send a mink to steal away her dear
JohhF For, as sure as sunrise. the woman
nv CouIu captlvate so good a man would
De mink or hussy. Was it not ALWAYS
nc way! Inc pest men were the easiest
victims of the bold designing women.
reasoning thus to herself. Mercy re-
SolVed to guard her brother against tho
"nes or the enchantress, exaggerat ting a
suspicion of peril into an immediate ana
P1Ipap Ie danger. Was it not probable that
mrs Hood knew more than she cared
70 say mercy arrayed the spinsters of
Bfadhem ury one by one in her roind
Undoubtedly, Lettice Amory had a wa,
VI SIahclng under her eyelids at John
as ne walked up the aisles of the church
o!l sunday mornings. And if T,ettica u,os
ABOVE suspicion, how was if that Che
SO oIten come to the shop at hours when
sne knew that John was usually at bonnno
a rev months ago Lettice never entered
the shop, but now she had deve1one5 =
taste for loIIipops and a quite un1 Upou .
soIcItude concerning the state of Mercy
odhuers health. But Mercy could road
the little fiirt like a book.
w ell let her try her best" she said
sI1lnhg; she'll find more than har noo+ot,
IN me! II John married a butterfly crea
ture like that if wo11d 49, ~ - cd
gray" uly halr
In church on SUNDAYS Mere, ker,+ nov
sioe glance fixed upon Lettice durin@ the
sermon, and she sometimes contrivad IN
SIT SO that that girl of Amorv's,, ao,,I1
not eaten view of Johns face without
ledhihg forward in her pew. The faor
Ihat Lettce was endeavoring to win
John admiration approached morh;dit,,
III Mercys mind, when he chanced m
say one day that Farmer Amory's daugh-
Ter mad one of the sweetest ana most
good-tempered smiles he had ever cea,,
on a maids face.
AS Lettice don't know how IN look
her best in comp n.y." said Mercy .cRnt
tlose VINO smile the prettiest ONT walk
ing Is often the ones who keen +beir
pIack looks and tantrums for home Sbe,s
never oeeh manageable girl to her par
ehts' and they say that she's terrible
quaTelsome with her sisters"
.,- Woulon,t have thought it," John re-
marked. AND he fell to musing in wav
that disturbed Mercy. For vitbon+
aouot' he was beginning to think ahon+
Lettuce, and to take keen notice of ber
features. u i'el
But Mercy was soon to discover that
hef Orother stood in danger from other
charms than those of pretty T.attica
AHory- one day in early summer. when
me pools OF the Tivvy were bright. and
the water low, John took his sister in
the twilight to see the first rim ~ +ba
seatrout leaping the weir. Beyond the
rushing aspens the great sun sank in a
glory or luminous gold, fiecked with ruhX-
cIouuiets, and through the vale the river