Year: 1876

There was no doubt about it: John
Weare was perfectly wretched that
night. He had quarreled with Jennie
Bell and he wasn't going to make it
up. The fact was she gave herself too
many airs, and be didn't mean to stand
it any longer. He didu't care if she
was pretty, that was no reason why she
should let half dozen fellows at time
hang about the shop or stroll in one at
time and, leaning on their elbows.
chatter and smirk and smile over the
counter, cadets and officers too, wild
young fellows, who only did so for their
! own idle amusement, and would no more
dream of marrying her than they would
Of inviting her to the ball that was com.
ing off next month. To be sure, he was
only q common cavalry soldier, but then
he had been in the service good many
years now, had an excellent character
and good trade ut his back, and, more.
over, his father had died not long since,
and there was the cottage all ready for
Jennie to walk into, and they might set
tie down at once if she'd only be sensi.
bic. Jennie acted as shop woman for her
sister. Mrs. Evans. A very poor little
shop it was, very small and badly stock
ed, for Evans had only managed to get
few pounds worth of things with what
had been subscribed for her in the gar.
rison after the fever had carried off her
husband. The speculation answered
pretty well at first, many of the Off
GERS wives, knowing what an industri-
ous woman Mrs. Evans was, made a
point of buying their tapes and cottons
and sticks of scaling wax of her. Then
Jennie's pretty face was seen behind the
counter, and the shop was filed from
morning TO night with officers and fris-
Ky young cadets and the orr ginal custo-
mers took fliSht-though Mrs. Evans
did not know it, for she, believing the
business was safe in the keeping of Jen-
ME, worked hard at dress making (she
bad three children to support, and the
shop alone would not do it.)


The officers were not profitable custo-
mers, for they only went to flirt with
Jenny under the excuse Of buying a
penny paper, or perhaps asking for a
timetable. JENNY made the most trim
and pretty and ohligipg of shop women,
and the place itself was always pat.
tern of neatness, but the officers wives
did not care to 60 and buy their thread
where they were evidently interrupting
a Irritation, and 30 the business contin.
ued to fall off, and Mrs. Evans began TO
get quite unhappy about it. Jenny
pretty, kind hearted, thoughtless Jenny
had no idea that she had anything to
do with it, or she would have sent eve
~ one of her admirers off at pace that
would have astonisbed them. She had
been only too delighted. after her broth.
er-in-law died, to come from Devonshire
and live with her sister at Woolwich-
not only because she was very fond of
her sister, but also because she had
wished many times to see John Weare
again. She had made his acquaintance
when her brother and he-for they had
been in the same regiment-were sta
toned at Plymouth, and she had paid
them flying visit with her father
John told her then that he was tired of
the service and wanted to settled down.
and she inwardly thought that he could
do no better than ask her to settle with
him. He had been very attentive when
she came to Woolwich, and gradually
established himself on the footing of a
lover till he found the shop always filed
with officers and cadets. At first he
was shy of appearing before his supe-
riors; then he got jealous and at last
angry, for he felt and knew that thew
meant her no good, and besides it was
doing real injury 20 the business of the
shop. At last he spoke his mind and
told the coquet;ish Jennie what he
thought, and was snubbed for his
pains.


IF YOU think / don't know how to
take care of myself. Mr.. weare. youare
much mistaken, and l don't want any
one to tell me what's right or wrong. I
know for myselfr'


"Weil, Miss Jennie, I didn't mean to
give YOU offence. only told you what
l thought"


Then YOU might have kent your
thoaghts to yourself" she said with |.
l little toss Of hcr prDtsr h~~l 49,.