The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-01-15
but he had taken his time about In

/ Dut Ac udQ taken his IMe ABOUT In
forming me-
land you refused?' queried the ord
maid. oh, do not tell me that you
Tilted the other
II refused. of course. For the first
time in my life I defed my father.
Aramantha's papa owned a theate..
and had / wed her we could have all
a free passes and I could have gone
behind the scenes now and then, but
no argument could make me give up
my jeanette of the mangle.'
Good for your said the widow rs
she slapped the arm of the rocking
chair.
There was true nobility in your ac-
tion,' added the old maid.
When ny father found that he
could not prevail upon me 10 carry out
his wishes he rose up with fierce mien
and a voice shaking with emotion and
said that he would mangle the girl of
the mangle before she should bring
disgrace upon his house. I paid no
attention to his words, but walked off.
Alas, | did not know my own father!
The very next night as jeanette ceased
to mangle the collars and cuffs and
walked homeward thinking of me some
one told her that there vas a dog fight
around the corner. She FASTENED her
steps to see, and 1t was her undoing.
Some II came up behind her and hit
her with a crowbar and broke her
neck. She called my name and then
expired. Excuse me if II
Poor man" sighed the widow as /
turned my face away.
"'Wkat a romance. What nobility
Of character unused the old maid.
1T was never ascertained who kill
ed Jeanette ! continued after a proper
interval. but l have every reason to
believe my own father to be the guilty
party. In fact, when | charged him
with it he simply grinned sardonically.
| called him her murderer and cursed
him and fed from his presence. In an
other day | was q wanderer, and I am
q wanderer still
but why don't you go home some
times" asked the widow as she wiped
her tears Of sympathy away.
"'Can't you understand, auntie,' re-
piled the other, that he no longer cares
to mingle with life? He has received
q great shock. His heart has been
broken. AS he wanders DER the face
of the earth he thinks Of his dead
Jeanette. Down in his heart there is
the hope that some day-some day he
may meet up with some young lady
some young lady who will remind him
of the loved and lost-so strongly re-
mind him that he will cease to sorrow
and
"She halted there. and | nodded my
head. but the widow hluntly finished:
And marry her and be happy
again, Well. mebbe he will. I'm sure
/ hope so. Helen. what are you blush
ing and hitclling around so for?'
at was mean of me-" smiled the
diiapidated gentleman, but it had be
gun to rain, and it was dark as tar out
doors. I couldn't help but sigh and
wipe my eyes. When | had finished
sighingand wiping l couldn't help but
look lovingly at both those ONE |
couldn't help but see that had found
a substitute for my lost jeanette. but
which one it was was what puzzled
them. | had the parlor bedroom thai
night and a staving good breakfast in
the morning. and ] could have hung
around there for a week and had the
best in the land. but | overheard some
conversation that made me anxious 70
strike the road again.
"'Why, aUntie. 0 surely don't
think Of marrying AGAIN. | heard the
spinster ask.
"'Ne;cr you mind what I'm thinking
Of, Helen Smithers.' was the reply.
I've beard ot women throwing them
selves 1t mems heads. but never saw
it done till last Might" N. QUAD.