The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-02-05


ant even so much as taking leave of the
fair Amanda, whom had not seen for
more than fortnight.
When we reached Bellevue on crisp,
braclng brilliant morning, just before Christ
mas There was no snow on the ground,
the evergreens along the road and ON the
lawn were covered with deep green foliage'
and masses of blueberries. Within, the old
house was blazing with huge hickory fires,
and we were received with the brightest
smile and the very warmest Welcome.
When BonRy Jean came running-actually
running-to meet her brother, scarcely
knew her. She seemed suddenly to have
grown taller and her figure had rounded IN
to womanhood. was almost disapp ointed
This was not the Bonny Jean OF my dreams
where was the real Jean. with her dear little
white face and her gentle eyes = This one Is
cheeks were rosy, and her eyes sparkled-the
figure was slender still, and exquisitely
graceful, but not sijght-whers was my own
Bonny Jean of the summer?
show are you, old fellow-boys mean r.
said friendly voice, as we entered sthe par
lori and there was Jack Harrington holding
on his extended hands g band of worsted,
which Miss Bonnie Jean Arden had evident
ly been winding Of when We arrived.
Tom had come in, embracing the slender
waist of his sister with his right arm.
''Here you are, Jack - was his amlabls
greeting show are all at home, and how
are you getting on with Bonny Jean -
An abrupt start Indicated that something
had happened to Tom.
"What fearful pinch - he exclaimed
''do you pinch Jack like that, Jean ?''
"No sir-he is great deal better be-
haved."
And, as Mr.. and Mrs. Arden came in at the
moment. and the dining room was thrown
open, the skirmish ended-Mr. Jack Harring-
tor soon aftsrward returning to his home.
Were they engaged fell asleep shat
night ruefully asking myself the question.
would have given anything l possessed to
knew-for, in spite of my faneied preference
for the Benny Jean of the summer, the Bon.
ny Jean of the winter had in six hours be-
come athousanP times dearer to me. had
regarded the little limping girl of the past
with elderly afection-the exquisite woman
who now greeted me aroused quite differ
ent sentiment in my breast. She was the
Jean first knew, with all her gentleness
and exquisite naturalness she was more
hoWeVer-a very beautiful woman, erect as
an arrow, with faint blush-rose in her
cheeks, and eyes half yelled, which said
My time has come to love l'
like to 90 back to those good "ssnti-
mental old times Of nay yonth, and will
not quarrel with the reader sif he laughs at
nae. You see, friend was in love. and l |
hope yea have not neglected that duty In
yeur life.
Bellevue, however, was net a place
which encouraged "sentimentality."
Everybody gathered around the break
last table On tae next morning with the
most unromantlc smiles and laughter
Tom kept everybody delighted with mis-
1un--and the family then set about their
honest country aFoca:ions in that cheer
1ul, humdrum way, which tells visitors
that they are portion of their household
The only Incident of this day which I
new recall is the manner in which Ronpv
Jean sang the seng from whicS she took
her "nick-name-" suppose everybody
mas heard that gay aud tender little dit
" In which the poet sings the praises of
his hearts true queen-Bonny Jean.
heard cher singing it long afterward
IN ray memory, and even in nav dreams
sometimes. The exquisite voice rose and
scared aloft like the carsl of bird end
In Its fresh tones, going straight to III.
nsart' recognized similar change to
that in jeans face and form II wac
woman singing now, and Speaking with
hSf voloe'as the heart of a woman speak,
70 Ihe heart of a young man."
1paF DAY perfected my fate, lift hadi
not been perfected before and T had
Du' TWO ideas now, Bonny Jean and :
Jack Harrington.
VI.
christmas eve came rapidly, and Belle.
s00 was In an absolute turmoll-occa-
Sloned more especially by the female ton
que A bevy of beautiful girls from
the Surrounding neighborhood had oath
cred at the old country house to asne,s
onflstmas"-the youthful gallanss Of The
region had promptly concentrated t,a;r
attention on this flock of doves and