Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-29
cuApTER xxvrI-(continued)

siders Prudence as a chio'
CHAPTER xXYII-(Continued)
0CNHE'LL make some man a fine wife,
- some day." exclaimed the Ancient.
/ blowing out a cloud OF smoke, ''ay, she'll
max some man as fine a wife as ever
III was some day"
.syos, sneak my very thought. Ancient"
N said l. "she will indeed; what do you
srink George?" But Georges answer
II was to choke suddenly, and thereafter
20 fall a-coughing.
,sroke 20 4 wrong way, larger in
4 euIred the Ancient, fixing him with his
bright eye:
aAy," nodded George. -
"I5al' said the old man, and we
smoked for a time In silence.
1 $50 andsome as g picter she Del
said the Ancient suddenly. -.
nSh Ia fairer than any picture said
,mnulsively, "and what is better still,
her nature is as sweet and beautiful as
her facei" ..., -, ,,.ou,.
turning sharply upon me.
aNv 7eyes and ears tell me so, as yours
.urelv must have done long ago." an
swered .... ,.,.
then. PeterP' inquired the Ancient.
st think" said /, that she is the pret-
4 ..st lass ever saw; don't you think So
George?'' But again Georges only an
aver was to choke. ~.
1 "smoke again, larger inquired tne
4 "aGv'" said George, as before.
a1Tis a fine thing to be young said
l the Ancient, after somewhat Lengthy
uanse and with a wave of his long pipe
stem. "a very fine thingF
u att is" said I, though We generauy
r.aliza II all too late"
AZ for George, he went on smoking.
After a, pause the Ancient rose, sigh
& Ing and knocked the ashes from ais
pipe. II, - +o,,,ry
II m his hat and removing his snun boX
L ,bsrefrorn ere he set it upon his head,
L s.talkln' bout Prue," he repeated. with
Il A pinch of snuff at his nostrils.
.'WellY' The word seemed shot out
+ Of George involuntarily.
eTalkin' bout Prue," said the Ancient
n again. gancing at each of us in turn
stheer was some folks as used to think
B she were sweet on large theer, but i,
4 beln' 'er lawful gran'feyther, knowed
81 different-didn't I, Jarge?'
SAY" nodded. the smith, ,,.,. -. ......-.,,
"Many's the time I've said to you
n a-sittin' in this very corner, large I've
! said, mark my words, Jarge-if ever my
prle does marry some 'un-which she
Z wll-that there some 'un won't be you.
E Them be my very words, beant they
8 Jarge?' ."
b ~You4 very words, CATER" nodded
# George
well, then" continued the old man
"'ere's what 1 was a-comin to-Prue's
81 been an fell in love wi some 'un al
81 last"
Black Georges pipe shivered to frag.
ments on the floor. and as he leaned
s. forward l saw that his great hands were
b tightly cenched.
CATER" said he. in a strangled voice
"what do zee mean?"
Il means what 1 says. large"
How do zee know?"
"Bean't the lass gran'feyther?"
BE ye sure. Gaffer-quite surer
"Ay-sartin sure-twice this week an
once the week afore she forgot to put
any salt in the soup-an' that speaks
Nolums, large, wolums! Here, hav
ing replaced his snuff box, the Ancient
put on his hat nodded and hobolet
hway. As for Black George. he sa'
there, staring blindly before him lonl
after the tapping of the Ancients stici
had died away. nor did he heed me wher
spoke. wherefore / laid my hand upor
bis shoulder
'come. George" said I, another houl
and the screen will be finished" H'
started, and, drawing from my hand
looked up at me very strangely.
NO, Peter" he mumbled, II aren'
s-goln' TO work no more tonight" and
~ ne spoke he rose to his feet.
Nhat-are you goingG" said I, as h
crossed TO the door.
"Ay, I'm a-goin.". Now, as he wen
toward his cottage. saw him reel ant
stagger like a drunken man.
CHAPTER XVIII.
SAY young cove, where are yo'
1a-pushing Off"
The speaker was a very tall lndvldua
whose sharp-pointed elbow had. NOR
nan once. obtruded itself into my ribs
ne was extremely thin and bony. with
iong, dropping nose set very much TO on
hue' and was possessed Of remarkabl
par OF eyes-that is TO say, one eyeli'
npng continually lower than the other
mus lending 10 his otherwise sinister FAC
tn AR OF dFolli'and unexpected wager
mat was quite startling TO behold
Al about us were Jostling throngs o
men and women in snowy smock froek
tna holiday gowns. who pushed or wer
pushed, laughed or frowned. according {
helr several naturesi while above IN
merry hpbbnb rose the blare OF trumpets
,ne oraying Of horns and the crash an
rattle OF drums-in word, was Ia tn
middle Of an English country fair.
NOW then, young cove" repeated IN
man ! have alluded to. where are 20
A'pushing Oft Don't do II again OF min
your eye" And saying this, he glare
ealefully at me with one eye and leere
looosely with the other. and into my rib
'.me hls elbow again.
fou seem TO be able to do something l
p.s way yourself" / retorted.
"Ohr-do IT.
Yea. said 4; suppose you take you
"pow out OF my waisteoat"
Elber.' repeated the man, .wha
e1e mean by 'elberSf" ft
This" said I catching his arm In n
very gentle grip.
Hi its night you're wsntin'-" beEs
IL izn'tlp said / ..se,
then leggo my arml"
| tnen keep your. elbow 70 yourself.v
nedl never see such a hot-heade
Ncr a more bad-tempered one"
'if Aisercation had taken place AS v
+steo 10 and fro Ia the. crowd. froi
rMeh We now slowly won free. OWN
tHf y the dexterous use Of the man
WY eipoWs. ontf We presently f0uu
feNtA N veriiahle jungle of cart
' Nnfone Of an kiuas 4nd sorts, wh y
Mrrpta "a ing each othef
fflref 20 ff|nk. young cove
toi plniafea q you been shis