Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-06-06

while he looked about him He was TO
keep the books as his chief occupa-
ton. and she made great deal CONVEX
sationally of the glory CT these books.
Johnnie made very little of them ex-
cept to blot them freely. He seemed
all the while he sat over them TO be
struggling hard to do something re-
curing great expenditure of noisy
breath. but the result failed TO satisfy
the grocer.
He took his dismissal stolid!y. If
with lingering shortness CT breath.
Don't want to stay. sir. he blurted
OFT at last: but could you say-could
you say as"
III say | thing you're deal toc
clever for this job, my boy" said the
kindly grocer, IF thatll sui, ycu?"
And he winked iovially
Thank We. sir" said Jchnnnie. sim
ply. and very slowly and soe .nriy re-
turned the wink with one prominent
blue eye. And that was ,he only cew
to the hidden depths OF hi. character
the village ever received from clever
Johnnie
IO- IlOtuGl Ntu HCl G5diH ~
find him n situation: he quietly put
himself beyond that possibility. she
came down one morning TO find him
Scne, with little bundle of clothes.
and apparently half loaf and couple
OF ta-nips.
'Dere Ma" Che had written-he never
| called her anything but Mother" but
Ma" proved easier in the spellinS)-
a ham go;n to foind som work has i
| con do Dere Ma wall aend you som
cash regiar when i gets it dere Ma
Your loyin sen J. HAYES"
She never showed this letter to any
one. but she industriously spun about
sthe prosaic flight of Johnnie 4 veil of
! romance all her own. and II so took
/ up her time and thoughts tina. she grew
accustomed to being alone before she
/ began TO mind it.
/ Meanwhile, with considerable direct
ness, Johnnie made him way on foot to
Z large racing stable n an adjoining
county that he had once been told
about. He was lucky in this. that the
owner of the stable was actually pres
ent when he reached it. and lucky also
! il being given the opportunity of maxi
ing his application for employment to
the Great Man himself. Jchnnie's
breath again gave him trouble. but
what he said was to the point
Il haven't had much to do with EN-.
bu: do seem to know something about
EN-, and I'm SO moral fond o horses
that nothing would be too much trouble
to learn: and, If you'd try me. I'd work
my hardest''-Then his breath gave
out. and he stood painting and expect
ant. the stare of his blue eyes for
once fixed appropriately on the Great
Mans face.
And he was given the work he lcnged
for. The Great Man was mortal fcnd'
of horses. too; there may have been
times when he even envied his men
their method of earning their daily
bread about his stables. At any rate. he
realized that Johnnie was going to
live an ideal life-a life spent in doing
the thing of all Others he would
rather do.
Johnnie's choice of occupation, in
deed. was such wise one that he did
not long retain the humble position in
which he started. His fordness for
horses taught him more about them
than experience taught many of the
others; he could always lead thsm by
IT, just as woman VINO loves children
can always make them love her. or a
man who loves mel can always man
age them. And from the first, when his
wages amounted to Only a very few
shillings weekly and he was obliged TO
go often very hungry TO do il flor
Johnnie was still growing and his ap-
petite with him). he regularly sent
monthly postal order to his widowed
mother, and as time went on he never
failed 10 make it larger to match every
rise. He did not often write, and. if
he did. he never gave her his address.
or any news beyond the state of his
health: a thing that, having started
propitiously did not vary. Nor did he
ever visit her. although it would have
bean an easy enough journey TO take.
likely thing to do. But. in refrain
ing, Johnnie probably had his reasons;
he covered them over with a wide re-
thence. but it was known by now that
he generally had them-for other peo-
cle TO talk about If they cared to.
And then At last Johnnie ga ned pro-
motion and a rise so substantial that it
seemed to change his views. For more
than a year he had been walking OUT
with a young woman-only q servant,
it is true. but sweet of face and true
of heart. and as fond of Johnnie as he
was fond of horses lie had started
their walks together by making it very
plain to her that marriage must be
remote possibility. because the postal
orders taxed his resources and were not
on any account to be stopped.
so ii mayn't be worth your while to
be waiting" he had said. Likely II
would be stiffish time
Then you don't really love me-"
sighed the maid.
Il loves you right enough said
Johnnie. I wasn't speaking i'll OF my
love"
IF you love me. how can you doubt
me being willing to wait bit for you?
You're willing. aren't you?" She
spoke with tears.
: Mighty willing" said Johnnie. He
J drew her head upon his shoulder. and
he patted II. resting there. as he might