New-York tribune., 1909-03-07

because she tod him be'ave imself. and threat
ened TO scream If he didn't leave of
He was arf-way nome afore e thought OF tbs
reason for Ginger Dick and Peter RUsset giving
up. and then he went along smiling 10 imself TO
such extent that people thought e was mad
He off sleep with the smile still on is lips.
and when Peter and Ginger came IN soon arteF
closing time and e woke up and asked them where
they'd been, e still smiling
didn't ave the pleasure o seeing you at Mrs
Finch's tonight he sex.
- No, ses Ginger. very short We got tired
Of It
SO unhealthy sitting in that stury little
every evening ses Peter
'Old sam put is cad under the bedciOthes and
laughed till the bed shook; and every now and
then he'd put his cad out and look AZ Peter and
Ginger and laugh agin till he choked-
I see 'ow it is he ses. sitting up and wlping
his eyes on the sheet Well. We can't all win
e. 'WOt dye mean sc5 Ginger very disaSreeab!e
She wouldn't ave YOU Sam. that's wot
I mean And I don't wonder at il 1 wouldn't ave
you il I a gal
You're dreaming ses Peter Russet, sneerins
at I'm
That flower pot O yot.rsII come in handy
Sam. thinking 'ow ne 'ad put is arm round the
widows waist. and thank you kindly Tor the tea
pot. Ginger
You don't mean to say as you've asked 'er to
marry you?' ses Giager. looking at Peter Russet
Not quite: but I'm going to- ses Sam. and III
bet you even arf-crowns she ses yes
Ginger wouldn't take I'm. and more would
Peter not even when he raised it 10 five shiIIings.
and the vain way old sam lay there boasting and
talking about is way with gals made EN- both
fee, i'll
4 wouldn't ave her if she asked me on 'er
bended knees ses Ginger. holding Up his cad.
Nor me- ses Peter. You're welcome 70 'er,
Sam. When I think OF the evenings I've wasted
over a fat old woman 1 feel
-ThatU do ses old sam. very sharp; that
aln't the way to speak Of lady. even if she as
said no
.'.Au right. sam ses Giager- You go in and
win if you think you're so precious clever
"OId Sam said that that was wOt e was going 20
90. and he spent so much time next morning max
ing 'imseIf look pretty that the other two could
'ardly be civil to him
He went off a'nOst dlreckly arter breakfast, and
they didn't i'm agin TIL Z o'clock that night
He 'ad brought bottle O. whisky in with i'm.
and he 50 'appy that they see plain "ot had
'appened-
.. She said yes" at O'Clock in the arter-
noon' sss old SAM smiling. arter they had ad a
glass apiece. I'd nearly done the trick at I
O'Clock and then the shop bell went. and ad TO
begin all over again Still it wasn't unpleasant
Do you mean to tell you've asked er 70
marry YOU? ses Ginger. 'o,ding out is glass TO be
filled asin-
Il do sss sam; but 'ope there's Ill feel
ing. You never 'ad a chance. neither os you. she
uod me so
Ginger Dick and Peter Russet stared at each
other.
She said she ad been in love with me- al
along ses Sam. hlling their glasses sgin % cheer
'em up. We went arter tea and bought ths
engagement ring. and then she got somebody TO
mind the shop and went 70 the Pagods music
all
II 'ope you didn't pay much for tie ring sam.
ses Ginger who always got very kind arted arter
two or three glasses o. whiSkey II I'd known
you was goins 10 be IN such hurry I misht IA
told you before.
We ought to ha' done ses Peter. shaking his
cad
Told me?' SIS Sam. staring at EN-. Told ne
wot?
Why me and Peter gave it up ses Ginger
but o course. p'r'aps you don't mind
Mind wotc sam
Its wonderful 'ow quiet she kept l., ses Peter
"OId Sam stared at EN- agn. and then he asked
.em to speak in plain English wot they'd got 10
say and not go to taking away the character OF .
woman wot wasn't there 10 speak up FOR herself
. It's nothing agin 'er character ses GINGER
It's credit to her, looked at properly, ses
Peter Russet.
And Sam'u ave the pleasure Of bringing OF
'em up Ginger
Bringing of EN- up ses Sam. in trembling
voice and turning pale. bringing who up
Why. 'er children ses Ginger Didn't SIS
tell YOU? She's got nine of EN-
sam pretended not 10 believe EN- at fust anu
said they was Jealous. but next day he c-ept down
To the greengrccer's shop in the same street "e'
Ginger had -appened to buy some oranges one day'
and found tuat only too true Nine chii-
dren the eldest of 'em only fifteen, vas staJinA
with drent relations owing to scarlet fever next
door.
..OId sam crept back 'One like a man in dream
with q bag of oranges he didn't want. ana. aFtsr
making present Of the engagement ring TO Glh-
Eer-if e could get it-he took the fust tram y
Tilbury and signed for wye 10 china