politigs. After_vorts_ he git it! He iss in der bennidenshierry
two years. You know why?"

"Democrat!" shouted the chestnut vender triumphantly.

"No, sir! Yoost politigs," replied the unpartisan Bertha. "You keeb
oud politigs."

_"Ahaha, du libra Ogostine,
Ogostine, Ogostine!
Ahaha, du libra Ogostine,
Nees coma ross."_

The song was always a teasing of her and carried all his friendly
laughter at her, because of her German ways; but it became softly
exultant whenever she betrayed her interest in him.

"Libra Ogostine, she afraid I go penitensh?" he inquired.

"Me!" she jeered with uneasy laughter. "_I_ ain'd care! but
you--you don' look oud, you git in dod voikhouse!"

He turned upon her, suddenly, a face like a mother's, and touched her
hand with a light caress.

"I stay in a workhouse sevena-hunder' year," he said gently, "you come
seeta by window some-a-time."

At this Bertha turned away, was silent for a space, leaning on the
gate-post in front of her uncle's house, whither they were now