Page:Camperdown - Griffith - 1836.djvu/304

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296
THE THREAD AND NEEDLE STORE.

property. He has been hard at work with Mr. Norton for the last week."

"Half a million!" said Mrs. Martin Barton; "well, it is really time to leave off selling thread and needles."

"Yes, a good half million," said the little shopwoman exultingly. Martin Barton whispered to his wife, and she wiped her tearful eyes, and laughed out aloud. "Excellent," said she,—"ah, Jenny, you have had your day, now we'll have ours; it is all settled, Jenny Hart, we have settled it all, and now I am getting sleepy again—so, good night."

What did Jenny do when the good couple left her? why she sent little Betty for Archy Campbell, and when he came in she pointed to a chair.

"Archy Campbell," said she, "I have never told you that this was the last day that Mr. and Mrs. Martin Barton were to be in the shop. They have left it entirely, and—and—it is yours—all yours, goods, shop, and all."

"And you, Jenny Hart," said the young man, rising and standing before her, trembling with emotion.

"I," said she, rising also, and stepping to the door of the entry which led to the next house,—"I, why I am going to Camperdown with the family." (Oh, Jenny Hart, Jenny Hart, how could you torment the young man in this way?)

"Then the devil take the goods, the shop, and all," said he, putting on his hat. "They may look out for another bridesman to-morrow, and so I will tell the young man. I had hoped that in time"—

"They are going to look out for another bridesman in your place," said the provoking girl, breaking her heart, too, to see him so unhappy. "They went to see one of their friends an hour ago, and I am to have the two sweet girls for my bridesmaids, and you are to have both Jasper Merry and Alfred Gray for your bridesmen; so get yourself ready and"—

"Jenny, dearest Jenny," said he, approaching