The Osceola times., 1878-05-18
noihin mean or contrivin' about

; "And | hate meddler; but eve
since Belindy died Johns just buriet
himself down there at his place on LonI
Island beautiful place bt.yu H. (d,
repeated Jane, unctuously. & Tree,
fairly laden down with fruit and wha'
with new>laid eggs and cream, snd
home made hams and sausage, the place
is next door to paradise. There am
no Eisnner O. use of Johns givin' uT
his whole lite 10 mournin' over Belindy
she had a good time of il while she
lived; never had to raise hand. John,
that foolish about n woman that she
never has to raise hand, and that,
something for poor strugglin' widow
10 think Of, lint it, Nelly?"
Yes" | stammered out, my face In q
glow, and world OF confusion battling
at my heart. This good creature Jane
had evidently invited her brother John
purposely TO see me, and though her
intentions were good, what must he
think of my meeting him halfway in his
consolation little while ago? On, how
bold and contriving he had found me !!
How in the world was | to know he was
a widowcr and invited down for special
purposeY
"Oh, why didn't you tell me, Jane %
| cried.
"Well, you see, couldn't tell how ii
would turn out. John didn't know
there was mortgage on Susan's pro-
perty."
"Susan !" repeated.
Yes; you know Susan-my hus-
bands sister. She's comm down on a
visit TODAY, and John says he don't care
pin about the mortgage; he's only
afraid he can't care for Susan. You
see, his heart was bound up in Be-
Indy
began to understand that it was not
my lonely condition that Jane had in
terested herself to ameliorate, but that
Of her husbands sister Susan. 1t took
quite weight of confusion from my
heart, but left it strangely sad and dis
comfted. It was so hard to be alone
and desolate, and have nobody care
whether one lived or died, and Susan
was 80 much better off than |
"I thought Susan was quite comforta-
bly, situated" | said.
"Well, there's the mortgage" said
Jane; "she keeps botherin' us about
that mortgage all the time, and my hus-
band can't undertake to bolster up all
his relations. You see, just told John
all about it, and it's business transac-
tion, Nelly. II she gets John we won't
hear any more about the mortgage"
/ began TO lose all interest in the con-
versation, and remembered that my poor
dear Howard had told me how sordid and
mercensry all these people were. 1t was
really dreadful to hear the most sacred
sentiments o. life degraded to the level
of mere business transactions. James
Brother John didn't look like this kind
of a person, but of course he must be.
The whole thing 10 confused and be-
wildered me that went away without
can 'fspp happen 1''fi III An uclvu...,
space OF time, and our dearest hopes
are blasted when we least look for
calamity. | had not expected to be
absent five minutes, and had left my
kitchen window open, as the morning
was 40 balmy and sweet. Imagine my
dismay when | saw strange cat actually
standing on roy kitchen table and help
ing herself to the meat which had al
ready cost me so much trouble. He was
lean and hungry animal, with murky
green eyes; and though he fled az my
approach, and had not made much pro
press in his meal, of course the damage
was irreparsble. | felt as Byron did
about the little waltzer. "What you've
touched you may take" said, and flung
the meat after the green-eyed monster.
Then banged down the window, shut
out the balmy air, and looked dole'ully
at the miserable materials left to me. l
might have borrowed any one OF them,
or all Of them, il the meat had been
there. but couldn't ask Jane for the
meat it would he like the lrishman
begging the loan of an egg for his pinch
of salt. Ne; it was plain to be seen
that little Howard must go without his
SUNDAY dinner didn't care for myself,
but my poor little fatherless boy would
suffer for my carelessness and neglect.
And, truth to say, he was not wont to
suffer in silence or uncomplainingly. /
should have a terrible day, and began to
feel more and more that life was hid
eous sn1 unbearable burden. ! saw
through the front window lady go by,
wearing sealskin sacque. could not
think ii possible 1t was Susan. But II
was.-yes, it was Susan. She had the
sealskin sacque which she had 50 long
coveted. Some people were born togood
luck. Heaven forbid any injustice on
nv part, or useless repining at the ways
of providence, but it did seem hard that
Susan should have everything. To crown
all, | saw somebody else pass my win
dow. Il was James brother John, with
lovely bunch Of violets in his hand. He
was only a few reds behind Susan he
would soon overtake her and give heI
the yiolets with some nice little speech
about her eyes, which, / remembered
were wsshed-out blue. Then they
would 10 into one of James appetizlnl
little lunches, while l and poor little
Howard would sit down to crust, ant
the end Of 1t would be that Susar
wouldn't have to raise hand, while l.
Well, / must go about my sweeping
right straight away. 4.
Which ] did at once. But the sal
and bitter tears that fell from my eye
ought to have allayed the dust Of m,
dinipg-room. didn't care for anything
40 much az my little Howard's disap
pointment. How could confess to tn,
child that had left his precious bit o
meat to be devoured by that green-eyet
monster. He would kick and cry AM
refuse to be comfcrted; and should b
most miserable.
While the tears were falling like rail-
upon my broom a big shadow loome.
up at the door, and there stood jane
brother John, with the bunch OF violet
still in one hand and a bunch OF thym