The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1908-08-14
straightforward


It was the time-of the return OF the
workers; the trains were steaming out
Of Broad street station heavily freight
ed. In a packed third-class carriage,
occupying a corner seat, was Joe Null
Inns, a ruddy-faced, muscular-lookilg
young fellow Of the honest coster type;
opposite sat LII Rubens, evidently a
factory hand, smart and good-looking
Of her. class.
At Haggerston the train drew up
with a Jerk, shaking the standing pas
sengers, who had not even the beneht
Of strap wherewith to steady them
selves.
A blind man got Into the central
compartment, and as the train moved
again a concertina squeaked forth the
prelude to Ring Down the Curtain! I
Can't Sing Tonight" the blind man
also doing the vocal part.
The song ended, and his companion,
a girl-precocious, pushful, little
woman before her time-took on his
hat and held it before the passengers,
crying out: "Pity the blind. Remem-
Der the blind" Faces were hastily
buried in papers, and the gloomy seen
cry of the gasworks became suddenly
very fascinating to the occupants Of
the corner seats but a few pence found
their way to the hat, and the girl
called for a volunteer to take the Offer
tory In the farther seats. There was
no response, till Joe Mullins reached
for the hat and shook 1t before his
neighbors, saying as he put in his cop
per: Things is bad, but here yer are"
The girl opposite gave him a CRATE
full, appreciative glance as she also put
In her mite.
Joe Mullins was In the same train
the following evening. having been to
the city to make a bid for some timber
from building that was being demol-
ished. He was wood-chopper, and,
being steady, his governor had entrust-
ed him with the ticklish Job Of making
bargain.
AS the guard gave the Fright awayv
LII Rubens, the girl Of the previous
evening, came into the compartment
breathless All seats were taken, &c
Joe at once proffered his seat, which
was accepted after coy protest.
They both got out at Bow, and, with
remark about the elements, got into
conversation.
When their ways parted he asked hel
: these young men Of the East End ca
l be very gallant-"Can l have the pleas
: ure Of yer company at the concert or
3 Saturday night at the Peoples Palace? ?
2 She was there, 80 was Joe, with 9
v bunch of violets, which Lii pinned IL
t her blouse.
2 They had their fill Of music by thu
interval, and left for a stroll AID chat
Fancy you turning up," he said. 20
believe yer going ter like me-"
81 liked yer soon as l seed yer taxi
, blind Jim's hat" she replied.
; He told her he was working at tn
/ wood-choppers' shed, but times wer
: bad.
''Those Church Army chaps and tn
/ 'omes is playing old AIRY with us, ant
we are 'arning next to nOthin,."
She was a machine ruler in book
binding factory, standing from 8 80 Il
v the morning until 80 in the evening
d with just the midday interval for rest
e wasn't glad when yer gave me We
s seat in the train! / should ha' droppe
s. If | had to stand all the way"
Thus their courtship began, and pre-
crossed in the straightforward, rough
and-ready methods of this style Q
couple.
Joe did not consider himself engaged
. Think l awt to be dahnright Shame
OF meself, 'anging up to yer when m
job is so played aht"