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

dish Of stuffed meat TOR Sundays dinner, and
had forgotten thyme, the very root and essence
of all ravOrS; 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
i know a bank whereon the wild thyme blows"
else could be had besides this fragrant com
modify. Many time had tided over Sun
days dinner with the help of 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 wOrd-She had lent me a bit of
currency, which i always paid back at my
earliest convenience, even if was compelled
TO borrow it from somebody else, because
i knew that, to be in James favor. one
must not forget what she called business
anssctiOn. / confess with shame and re-
morse that have lost count of half lOaveS of
bread, humps of butter, small quantities of
vine pepper, mustard, even a 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 string on my
finger till the debt was wiped out. She wasn't
exactly my siSter-i in law-She was my brother
in-law'S brothers wife; but it 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 ramiiica-
lions of relationship are so Intricate that l
never stay TO hear them unraveled. On this
Saturday morning of which l speak rushed
into James kitchen, singing
II know bank wherein the wild thyme blOwS:''
but the notes died away in an embarrassed
cough For there by the kitchen range, tilt
ing back in his chair, and staring at me with
all his might. was a 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
gentiiity.. In the meanwhile warm generous,
encouraging smile lighted up his face.
'My-my sister is out? ~ / Stammered look
ing about he Tor Jane.
"YOur sister" he said, inquiringly; AMI as
Jane wasn't there, was compelled to ex-
Not exactly my sister," began; and sud
denly he broke in
Z" our sister in law, you mean"
"Oh, what does it natter" i said.
Its of some little consequence TO me- he
said, still smiling in his pleasant way, AM
somehow i felt as if I'd known him 4 hundred
years. Before knew it / began telling min
about the stuffed meat for my little Towards
Sunday dinner; had to wait for Jane. and il
was stupid to stand there and say nothing. At
the least encouragement my tongue always
ran like millrace, and here was the brishJ-
est and best of reasons for talking. when had
SO ready and willing 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
she 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 awA-
ward consequence of this impulsiveneSs of
mine, and when found was actually being
eonsoled by an entire stranger, my tardy TIN
ldlTy took fright, and should have beaten a
retreat if he had not anticipated me.
Il think Jane is coming he said. Il will
go out for a 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
IN be back presently" he said, and with
another little nod to Inc disappeared.
ITO think of that woman next door sticking
clare TO goodness, 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 a needle, so, to change the SUD
jeet, asked Jane who the gentleman was
that had just left u.s..
why, that's brother john" said Jane
''brOther John, from Long Island. He's such
before" Here Jane paused, and winked her
eye at me, and smiled. Her smile was like her
brother Johns, and Lit up her whole face.
her bread, but still nOdding and winking at
me, Johns come down here for somethin'
special. My worst enemy couldn't call me
matchmaker, but when see poor widow
struggln' along tryin' to keep the wolf from
the door, can thelp takin an interest. There's
nothin mean or cOntriyin about me"
I'm sure there isn't Jane" said.
"And hate a meddler; but ever since Be-
Indy died Johns just buried himself down
there at his place on Long Island: beautiful
piaee-be- yu.tiful, repeated Jane, unctuouI-
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
20 paradise. There amt no manner o. use of
Johns givin' up his whole life to moufnin
he IA a fiup nf ito
she lived; never had to raise hand. Johns
that foolish about woman that she never had
to raise hand. and that's Somethin' for a
Poor strugglln widow to think of, isn't it,
YES stammered out, my face in glow,
and world OF confusion battling az my
ly 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 continuing he had found m 4!
How in the world was / to know he was a
widOwer, and invited down for a special pur-
pose?
".Oh, why didn't you tell me, Janee" cried.
"Wel, you see, | couldn't tell how il would
turn out. John didn't know there WAS a IN ut
gage on Susan's property.
susan repeated.
Yes; you know SuSan-my husbands sis
ter. She's comm down on 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
began to understand that IL was not nv
lonely condition that Jane had interested her
self 10 ameliorate, but that of her husbands
sister, Susan. II took quite weight of confu
sion from my heart, but left ii 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
"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 Ii, and it's a business trans
action, Nelly. III she gets John We won't hear
any more about that mortgage"
L began TO lOOse all interest in the converse
hon, and remembered that my poor dear How
ard had told ME how Sordid and mercenary al,
these people were 1t was really dreadful tc
near the most sacred sentiments of life de
graded TO the level of mere business translc
tons. James brother John didn't look like
this kind OF a person, but of course he must he
The whole thing so confused aud baWidere,
me that l went away without my thyme afte
ali.
We all know what appalling things can hap
pen in an incredibly short space OF time. an,
how our dearest hopes are blasted when W,
least look for a calamity. 1 had not expecte,
to De absent five minutes, and had left m
kitchen window open, as the morning was 5,
balmy and sweet. Imagine my diSmay whel
i saw strange cat actually standing on m
han 70 10 nd hpln IN off