San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-06-15

upon my broom a big shadow doomed
up at the door, and there stood James
brother John, with the bunch of violets
still in one hand, and bunch of thyme
in the other. turned my tear-stained
face away from him, and held out my
hand for the thyme. was sorry tc
seem so ridiculous. OF course Jane had
told him all about his mistake, and he
had come to apologize and explain.
wished he would not mind, but go back
again to Susan; but he held my hand
tight in his own, and put into my fingers
the pretty flowers, looking down into
my face with world of tender inquiry
as to its forlorn and woe-begone condi-
ton.
"These blossoms will serve to garnish
your Sunday dinner" he said, "in
which have become strangely interest
ed, and could not forbear bringing you
the thyme which you left behind you,"
"It is useless" said, smiling dole
fully; "the green-eyed monster has
spoiled ALL"
"Ah," he said, his face suddenly
Frightening, sis that the troubleP
Bless your womanly little soul, how 1
love your frank generosity! How sweet
it is to hear something straight from the
heart, without affectation or sham!
All, believe me, you have nothing to
dread from the green-eyed monster"
knew from the tenderness of his
voice and manner he thought meant
that was jealous of Susan, and felt
the hot blood rush up to the frill of my
dusting-cap. I wanted to tell him it
was only green-eyed cat, and faltered
out that he had made mistake; but he
broke in again, eagerly:
eyes, 1 know there is some little
mistake about the relationship. Jane has
told me that instead of being something
or other, that you are the other thing;
but the main thing is that you are the
one woman in the world for me. Inev-
er saw any body in my life-at least,
that isl mean-since-"
And here the poor fellow grew silent,
thinking, doubtless, of Belinda. was
sorry so sensitive and loyal nature
should be thrown away upon Susan,
whom knew to be cold and calculat-
ing, thinking more of her mortgage
than the human heart, but 1 could not
be treacherous and base.
81 am sorry" said-for frankness
was a part of my nature, and Heaven
knows was sorry to my hearts core
"but can not interfere with the plans
of your sister Jane. know that she is
only my brother-in-law's brothers.
wife"
"Oh," cried JAMES brother John,
"won't you please make the relation
ship simpler oneP See what mischief
it has done already! 1 shall love no.
body but you'll shall marry nobody
but YOU"
And all at once, while my hands was
still close in his own, and the violets
were dropping from the warmth of
both, who should burst in upon us but
his sister Jane!
Her face was fustered, but not very
and she seemed rather pleas
ant than otherwise at the tableau before
her. "For goodness sake, john" she
said, "when you come back to the house
don't say word to Susan: she's en-
gagged to the Baptist minister. Inever
liked the looks of the man myself, and
wouldn't want to marry any body with
such an ugly squint in his eye; but he
holds Susan's mortgage, and if he look
ed seven ways to the moon, she wouldn't
care. So perhaps it's better as it is"
"I'm sure it's ever so much better as
It u.s." said JAMES brother John.-Har-
per's Weekly.