The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-02-26
JOE'S QUICK CHANGE. i"


4 - j when I'm asked about our
1C< Kitty. We knew her, and
we knew the chap that put
down his life TO save the man she
loved and il wants forgetting. Pretty
was shei Well, you must think Of a
girl that stepped as proud as "a queen,
with "A laugh like some peal o bells
just starting; with real black hair, all
in them little clinging nlgger-curls that
never want brushing; hands and face
brown az berries; and them velyety
eyes that look at you without seeing
soft az pansies one moment and fash
ing fire the next That was Kitty.
D'you wonder why every one was
calling poor Joe Arkel mad mug
from the very beginning?
! j was standing at this very spot,
with crowd o pals AS if it was this
moment, ] can see her come floating
round that corner there, with her head
high, and her Sunday dress done up
carefully IN a newspaper. Not q min
ute later, while we were staring at one
apparitioD, we saw another. Round
the same corner, stealthy like, his
crutch going klippcty klop, painted this
Joe Arkell. And she seemed TO guess,
and flashed round, ana pointed.
Thought sor she says. 1T won't
do. You can cut back, and keep
thcrew
; And he looked at her. his mouth
,fwitching up queer ana his shaking
oil
Ing And that girl, she swung round,
with clenched fists, aud gave us a look
Just one look; but II stopped the laugh
and set the place talking.
inside twenty four hours the other
girls were that mad jealous and mys-
titled they could have torn her curls
ont; but there was just that funny lit
lie stand backW about her that
seemed to say she was somehow cut
out for different destiny She had n
Thrilling way Of turning round slow
ana just looking at yOu-you know
without telling If you've seen a duch.
ess. And she'd come 10 live at Clerk.
cnwell because the houses down her
way were doomed at last. So far.
well and good! But when we saw Joe
ArkelPs face we knew there was some
dragedy coming along with Kitty.
Ever been down them back turnings
Kings Cross way2 Then very likely
you've passed Joc--wedgcd between n
wheelbarrow and 'tater- stall, and his
stock was about dozen linnets in
cages. Some said he was consump-
tive, some said he was only in love.
and some said il was the inncts sing
ing in his room all night that disturbed
his sleep and kept him so unnatural
white. Any way that was the chap.
with one ankle twisted and face all
askew, that went dreaming he was go
ing TO win Kitty, in the face of all the
likely men in London. Roar? Yes we
did then. We don't now.
He'd given up smoking and drink
ing, and was saving every ha'penny
quietly. Just because she'd looked at
him few times. OF spoken softly out
of pity for him, there he was down on
his knees, kissing the pavement she
walked. See? We knew IL after
wards; the chap was all heart, like n
cabbage-his body hadn't grown prop
erly. Now listen
She'd heard him cough, IL seems
and told him 10 sec a doctor man nj
once
ooh, ycsl Leave Loudonr the doe.
for says. Leave il and go and live
at BournemOuth sharp
Any one but Joe would have asked
for their money back at once. but he
took il right 10 heart and went aud
told her. And she says-pcrhaps
thinking, and perhaps not; you know
what women are
Il knew II You'd be n sight health.
Ter and sight happier Only you'd
need some one TO look after your
Don't say that. If you're not mean.
ing it," Joe whispers, all of a sudden
Just like hint
Il never meant anything more" she
told him. and walked away quick
Only that; but up went the curtain
and that char was talking away 10
himself and basking ina fairyland. A
little country cottage. with the sea in
front and the vegetables az the back
something twining round the porch
and Kitty. Nothing else!
They say he wrote those very words
In n letter, and told her how much
he'd saved, and put the letter through
the post. And one day he found the
letter in bits on his barrow, but he
couldn't seem TO believe And when he
heard she was coming 60 Clerkenwell
10 live he sat there for days without
saying word TO any one. only just
staring at something no one else could
see. What d'you think? Spite of all
the chatting he sold up for mere
song. followed her here, and started
living on stray coppers he could earn
by hobbling errands. And nothing in
tire world would shake his hopes.
Now, it's always been a mystery e
ms what was down deep i'm that girl.
mind. Was she palying cat-and-mous,
with the chap like some women do. OF
did she like him somehow and fee
mad with herself for allowing it2
ask, because now and again you'd So,
her peerine round corners at him will
q sort OF mist in her eyes; and IL one,
she got some nipper 20 give him two
pence for n dummy errand, she did IL
dozen times-and she only sold moss
roses for living herself. II you asl
Oe. that girl was born for o real lady