ear, than any gem you can get
by putting quarters in the collection plate, with the holes filled with
lead, as you did last Sunday, when I was watching you. O, didn't you
look pious when you picked that filled quarter out, and held your thumb
over the place where the lead was. The way of the black eye was this. I
got a job tending a soda water fountain, and last night, just before we
closed, there was two or three young loafers in the place, and a girl
came in for a glass of soda Five years ago she was one of the brightest
scholars in the ward school, when I was in the intermediate department.
She was just as handsome as a peach, and everybody liked her. At recess
she used to take my part when the boys knocked me around and she lived
near us. She had a heart as big as that cheese box, and I guess that's
what's the matter. Anyway, she left school, and then it was said she was
going to get married to a fellow who is now in the dude business, but he
went back on her and after awhile her ma turned her out doors, and for
a year or two she was jerking beer in a concert saloon, until the mayor
stopped concerts. She tried hard to get sewing to do, but they wouldn't
have her, I guess 'cause she cried so much when she was sewing, and the
tears wet the cloth she was sewing on. Once I asked Pa why Ma didn't
give her some sewing to do, and he said for me to dry up and never speak
to her if I met her on the street. It seemed tuff to pass her on the
street, when she had tears in her eyes as big as marbles, and not speak
to her when I know her so well, and she had been so kind to me at school
just 'cause the dude wouldn't marry her, but I wanted to obey Pa, so I
used to walk around a block when I see her coming, 'cause I didn't want
to hurt her feelings. Well, last night she came in the store, looking
pretty shabby, and wanted a glass of soda, and I gave it to her, and O,
how her hand trembled when she raised the glass to her lips, and how
wet her eyes were, and how pale her face was. I choked up so I couldn't
speak when she handed me the nickel and when she looked up at me and
smiled just like she used to, and said I was getting to be almost a
man since we went to school at the old school house, and put her
handkerchief to her eyes, by gosh, my eyes got so full I couldn't tell
whether is was a nickel or a lozenger she gave me. Just then one of
those loafers began to laugh at her, and call her names, and say the
police ought to take her