Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1864-07-19
COUSIN JACKS CCURTsuIP

The trunks were all packed and corded
and the carpet bags were pilad up in tic
corner of the capaciuus old hail.
How melancholy they looked, those en-
blems Of parting and adeus Not even
! the merry laughter Of two or three young
| girls who were gathered around a stalwurt
| handsome fellow of about thirty, could en-
| tirely barish an impalpaLleness from the
scene. Cousin Jack was going away, the
general mischief maker, tormeutOr and
teaser of the whole family and Mr.. Ches-
| ter, sitting by the distant window, wiped
his spectacles every five minutes and de-
clared, pettislly, that the type OF the eve
I ming paper was terrible trial to his old
eyes,
Aye, you may laugh, girls = said Jack
applying himself vigorously to the refrac-
! tory tO:k o! @ pOrtmauteau. Perhaps YOU
may one day discover that it isn't suci; a
laughahe matter Think of the loss the
femily is going to sustain in my excelIeu-
| cy.'
| But you'll come back soon, Jack, dear. ,
coaxed Minnie Chester, the prettest ana
most roguish Of his cousias, and the one
( who kept up a perfect fire Of practical
jokes and grish tricks ct lis expense.
There she sat, on the biggest trunk of
the Collection, her brown curls hanging
about her round face, and her eyes spark
ling with q curious mixture of fun and
tears.
I'm not at all certain e that. Miss Mir
ME- said Jack, decisively. If succeed
in finding O location to suit me, | shall
probably decide to settle permanently at
Tbornville, and turn land proprietor on my
own account
Only imagine our Jack gentleman of
property laughed Minnie, appealing to
her sisters.
/ don't see anything so very ridiculous
in the i6ea,' remarked the young man,
rather piqued at the amusement Of his fair
relatives.
at all events, there's one incalculable
advantage that will result from my de2ar
ture.'
And what is that, Mr.. Oracle?'
The fact that you've played your last
freak on me, you tormenting little mink
Don't be so certain Of that, cousin Jack,
said Minnie, shaking her long curls.-
What will you venture | DONE bestow q
parting trick on you yet? All haven't
settled with you for several little pieces Of
impertinence but, pray don't imagine they
are forgotten, 81" =!
My diamond sleeve buttons to your cor
al necklace that you don't impose upon me
within the next three months, Minnie
said Jack, gaily.
'Donep said Minnie. Girls, you all hear
the wager, don't you? l always coveted
jacks diamonds
But you won't have them, mademoisele
How dark it is getting in this cavernous
old hall. Shall l ring for lights, uncle
Chester and by the way, have you writ
ten that letter of introduction to MIR.
Thorne p
All in good time, my boy-all in good
time said the old gentleman, depositipg
his huge silver bound spectacles 10 their
case. 'Hoa young people are in such a
| desperate hurry. Tell Betsy to carry a
lamp into the library, girls. And, Minnie
where is my old pen2 l WON'T be yery
long about it, and :hen we'll have a nice
long evening to chat about Jacks pros
! pects.'
While Mr.. Chester sat in his cosy red
curtained library revising the letter which
| he had been writing to his old college
friend Jabez Thorne, of Thornville to the
effect that his nephew, John Lacy, was in
search of an eligible piece of land, and
wished to settle down as planter in that
vicinity, and requesting Mr.. Thorne's aid
in the selection of the same, Minnie OPEN
| ed the door.
Papa, there is some one down stairs who
wishes to see you Immediately for one min.
ute.'
Very anuoyiDGp said the old genie.
man.
Just as l was finishing up this letter of
Jack g 10 However, can seal it up after.
ward. Minnie, suppose you glance over
it, and dot the is and cross the is Pm
not 50 much of penman as / used to
be!
And old Mr.. Chester pushed back his
chair and rose from the antique oak ia
BILE to attend to the claims Of his urgent
guest.