Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-05-04
JAMES BROTHER JOHN.

dish of stuffed meat tor SUNDAYS dinner and
had forgotten thyme, the very root and essence
of all hayOrs; so, in hot haste, with my sleeves
rolled up, my white apron on, and nothing out
a busting capOn my head, / rushed in to Jane
singing cheerily To myself
know a bank whereon the wild thy me blows. ,,
In truth, Jane was bank where something
else could be had besides this fragrant COM
modify. Many a time had tided over sun
days dinner with the help of a pudding or
pie from her capacious larder: and on rare
occasions seasons of dire neceSsity-fOr Jane
WAS more chary of money than anything
else in the wOrld-She had lent me bit of
currency, which 1 always paid back at my
earliest convenience, even if was compelled
10 bOryOw it from somebody else, because
i knew that, to be in James favor, one
must not forget what she called business
morse that have lost count of half lOaves of
bread, humps of butter, small quantities of
vinegar, pepper, mustard, even Scuttle of
coal. These things have passed from my
memory, and left no distinct trace; but |
never have failed, when | have been com
PEELED to borrow money from my sister in
law, to put the amount down on the kitchen
door, and have even worn a string on my
finger till the debt was wiped out. She wasn't
exactly my sister in law-she was my brother
ln-laWS brothers wife; but 1t amounted to
the same thing, and I've even introduced her
as my sister sometimes to save ceremony.
Jane generally explains for she is very c)n-
ScientiOuS and strict woman, bat the ramitica-
tiOnS of relationship are so intricate that |
never stay TO hear them unrayeled. On this
SATURDAY. morning of which L speak ruSht I'll
into James kitchen, singing
IL know bank where N the wild thyme blOwS:''
but the notes died away in an embarrassed
cough. For there by the kitchen range, tilt
ing back i'll his chair, and staring at me with
all his might was strange gentleman One
could see he was a gentleman at the first
glance; and. truth to say. all the good people
that visited Jane did not reach my idea of true
gentiity. In the meanwhile a warm generous,
encouraging smile lighted up his face
MN-InE sister Is out? 1 SIamnerpu. look
ing about me for Jane.
"Your sister" he said, inquiringly; an as
Jane wasn't there, was compelled TO eX-
Not exactly my sister," began; and sud
denly he broke in
d" our sister in law you mean?'
"Oh, what does il natter l sail.
Its of some little consequence TO me-" he
said, still smiling in his pleasant way, AMI
somehow felt as if I'd known him hundred
years Before knew it l began telling hin
about the stuffed meat for my little Towards
Sunday dinner; had to wait for Jane, and it
was stupid to stand there and say nothing. At
the least encouragement my tongue always
ran like mill-race, and here was the bright
est and best of reasons for talking, when had
so ready and willing a listener, and one so
sympathizing and genial. From my little
Howard it was the easiest thing i'm the world
to get back TO his poor dear papa, and my
heart was strangely warmed and cOmfOrtei by
the gentle sympathy that Shone in the face of
this Kind gentleman for my widowed and
lonely condition.
AS usual, when my tongue ran ahead of my
reason, was brought up short by the awS-
ward consequence of this impulSivene5S of
mine, and when found was actually being
cOnsOed by an entire stranger, my tardy tin
idity took fright, and should have beaten
retreat II he had not anticipated me.
IL think Jane is coming" he said. Il will
go out for walk, but hope soon to see you
again.
i couldn't help smiling when he smiled, t,
save my life. He caught up his hat from the
dresser, and Went to the door.
Why where are you going, John:" said
Jane. upon the threshold.
I'm be back presently" he said, and with
another little nOd TO Inc disappeared.
To think of that woman next door sticking
clare to goodness, a woman that won't sew
hooks and eyes or buttons on her dress don't
deserve to have baby"
fastened to turn sideways to Jane. MY
poor dear Howard used to say that every EN-
brace of his was at the risk of being stabbed
with pin or needle, so, TO change the SUD
1eet, asked Jane who the gentleman WAS
why, that's brother john" said Jane
brother John. from Long Island. He's such
q home body l guess you've never seen him
eye at me, and smiled. Her smile was like her
brother Johns, and Lit up her whole face.
You see, Jane went on, beginning to mold
her bread, but still nOdding and winking at
me, Johns come down here for sOmethin'
special. My worst enemy couldn't call me
match maker, but when see a poor widow
along syn keep the wolf from
nOthin' mean or cOntrivin' about me-"
I'm sure there isn't Jane" / said.
And hate meddler; but ever since Be-
Indy died Johns just buried himself down
there at his place on Long Island: beautiful
piaee-be yu-ti ful, y repeated Jane, unctuOuS-
ly: Trees fairly laden down with fruit; and
what with new.laid eggs and cream, and home
made hams and sausage, the place is next door
10 paradise. There amt no manner o. use of
Johns givin' up his whole life to moufnin'
over Belindy; she had good time of it while
she lived; never had to raise hand. Johns
that foolish about woman that she never had
to raise hand. and that's sOmethn' for
poor strugglin' widow to think of, isn't it,
Yes" stammered out, my face in a glow,
and world of confusion battling az my
heart. This good creature Jane had evident
Iy invited her brother John purpOSely TO see
me, and though her Intentions were good,
what must he think of my meeting him half
way in his consolation little while ago? Oh,
how bold and cOntriying he had found M,
How in the world was / to know he was a
widOwer, and invited down for special pur-
pose?
"Oh, why didn't you tell me, Janee" 1 cried.
''Wen, you see, / couldn't tell how it would
turn out. John didn't know there was IN Ut
gage on Susan's property.
SUSAN repeated.
Yes; you know SuSan-my husbands sis
ter. She's comm down on a visit to day, and
John says he don't care pin about the mort
gage; he's only afraid he can't care for Susan.
kOu see his heart was bound up in Befndy."
i began to understand that it was not nv
lonely condition that Jane had interested her
self TO ameliOrate, but that of her husband s
sister, Susan. 1t took quite weight of cOnfu-
sion from my heart, but left il strangely sad
and desOlate, and have nobody care whether
one lived or died. and Susan was so much bet
ter of thanI!
Il thought Susan was quite comfortably sit
Nated, = said.
.'Wen, there's the mortgage" said Jane I:
'she keeps bOtherin' US about that mortgage
all the time, and my husband can't undertake
10 bolster up all his relations. You see, / lust
Told John all about 1t, and it's business trans
action, Nelly. III she gets John We won't hear
any more about that mortgage"
began TO lOose all interest i'm the converse
hon; and remembe that my poor dear How
ara had TOLD me how SOrdid and mercenary ALL
these people We're 1t was really dreadful TO
near the most sacred sentiments of life de-
graded TO the level of mere business transac.
tons. James brother John didn't look like
this kind OF person, but of course he must he.
The whole thing so confused aud bawiIdered
me that Went away without my thyme after
all.
We all know what appalling things can hap
pen in an incredibly short space OF time and
how our dearest hopes are blasted when we
least look for a calamity L had not eXpecte
to De absent five minutes, and had left my
kitchen window open, as the morning Was Sc
baimy and sweet. Imagine my dismay when
j saw a strange cat actually standing on nv
bsAE r No halWa L. ~