The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-11-24
[Harper's Bazar.l
Jacks Thanksgiving Story.

Jack thanksgiving OJOfy.
''Cousin Jack! Cousin Jackr screamed
whole crowd of children on Thanksgiving af
ternoon, chasing Cousin Jack to the library
door, which he impolitely slammed in their
faces and locked inside.
''Oh, Cousin Jack" yelled Charlie, into
the keyhole, ''you used to play with us and
tell us nice stories, and now you run awayW
'Do tell us story" said pretty Miss
Maud.
''ITell us story echoed little Christine
and big Tom and lisping Flossy, the curly
headed blonde; and even baby Tot, who
could hardly walk, and had a limited vocab-
uary, cooed, ''Tell nth tory"
"Run away, you young torments, every
one of you,'' roared Jack through the door.
''He's just horrid," was the unanimous
verdict of the children cts stupid to-day
at Grandpa's, and no Cousin Jack to play
with u.s." pouted Tom.
"He didn't notice me one bit at dinner"
said dignified Maud.
cam he didn't pull my curlth," lisped
Flossy.
NO." said Christine. ''He looked at that
grown-up young lady, Miss Belle Darlington,
and just talked and talked to her all the
whole time.''
Say" whispered Charlie, 'come out into
the garden, and l bet We'll have some fun"
So for the garden they all scampered
Jack, after locking the door, was not mas
ter of the new situation inside, after ALL for
he looked very confused when a tall young
lady standing by the mantel raised her eye
brows at him IN surprise.
'I-I locked the urchins out, Miss Car
ringtOn,' he stammered
mot for my sake" answered Belle. 81
love children"
''The-the fact is, saw you here, and 1
thought you'd like-at least 1 thought I'd
like talk all alone. Pm so glad Cousin
Nell persuaded you to join our family party
to-day" Jack went on, nervously jerking
out his sentences, and then adding, in tone
of deep significance, II hope this is not the
last time you are to be one of u.s."
swell, probably not" laughed Belle. 81
may live, and Nell may invite me again.
81 don't mean that
''Oh, then you don't want me to live, or
don't want Nell to ask me again. Thank
you"
~ don't mean that, either"
"What a meaningless young man you
arer'
II am stupid fellow, suppose"
"You know best" assented Belle.
s"No; if I believed you thought me stupid,
or tiresome, or unlovable, I'd give up my
life, I'd go off Observation-Disclosures
China, perhaps"
"You needn't CO." she said softly, looking
down.
sob, Belle, dear Bellep' and Jack sprang
toward her the length of the hearth-rug.
She stepped back sharply. "You needn't
go-so far, was about to say. Do let me
finish a sentence. Go West. That's far
enough"
Jack stared for a long minute at the pref
ty, aggravating head held saucily on one
side; then he deliberately stepped close up to
Miss Belle Darlington and said little
phrase of three words. There flew to her
cheeks color which rivaIled and avenged
the many crimsons that her inscrutable ways
had brought to poor Jacks complexion.
The tables had turned. He was in earnest
and not to be laughed at or delayed. "Belle"
and he spoke very gravely-"I know you
for provoking firt; but say you love me
and Phi believe you and believe in you.
''Do let me CO." she answered, trying to
look frightened and surprised.
"Tm not OBTAINING you," he blundered
out in masculine sincerity. She gave the
pitiful glance of a bound captive, but never
moved an inch.
''You are lovely as DREAM" he muir
INJURED, watching her changing face.
''Let me CO." she pleaded again.
"And dreams go by contraries," he eX-
claimed, light breaking in upon him. 81
won't let you CO. Belle" and Jack boldly
threw an arm about her waist.
''Oh DEAR" she complained, ''what am
to say? You're very rude"
''Say, Il love you, jack"
She looked as if about to speak; he stopped
to catch the words. She turned archly aside,
but, happening to turn toward the window,
shrieked out a startling "Ohr' and broke
away with violence that nearly sent Jack
head over heels.
He saw at once the cause of alarm; doz-
en- children outside on the balcony and clam
bering over the railing, at least half dozen
of the small noses fattened against the glass.
Tom was in a broad grin, prim Maud looked
shocked, and Flossy in very wide-eyed Won
der. Charlie was turning the catch of the
long window. In an instant the tribe were
inside; in another instant the whole house
would be informed that "Cousin Jack was
hugging Miss Darlington in the library
"Hellor' exclaimed Tom.
"What it'll you doin'?' said Flossy.
Jack tumbled his shock of hair with an
action of despair, then met the emergency
like good fellow and a clever fellow as he
was.
81 was telling Miss Darlington a story
he asserted, facing he small inquisitors.
Poor Belle, who could be cruel and vexing
to dozen desperate lovers, was scarlet and
mute before these dreadful youngsters.
''Ho! guess so," exclaimed Tom, doubt
ingly; but the smaller ones were arrested by
Jacks impressive face, that bore serious
and seemly expression, defying scrutiny.
81 was telling Miss Darlington a fine sto-
ry, a wonderful story, story that scared her
so, was obliged to hold her tight to keep
her from screaming"
The grin faded off TOMS face, and Belle
lad xot n1,
dren had experience of Jacks sto res, and
tragic effect seemed not unlikely.
eyes," continued Jack, "there was
great deal of horror in it; knives and rob-
bers and dark night and a massacre" he
went on in his deepest bass, and rolling his
RS tremendously.
"Tell it to us, won't your" asked Tom,
fairly thrown out of certain vague suspi
cions.
''Oh no! That story is not for children,
answered Jack, skilfully whetting their curl
osity.
There was storm of demand at once. 1t
is human as well as child-like to want eX-
actly what is not fit for us.
''Give us the massacre" shouted Tom.
"Yeth, give nth the mathacre," echoed
Flossy
'Whats massacre? anyway" inquired
Charlie honestly.
LII Wnen some people go and XIII some
other people all of sudden in the night,
and it's wicked" explained Maud to every
ones satisfaction.
Jack was set upon by the whole crowd.
He had drawn the attention from the stua-
ton so awkwardly surprised, and the next
thing was to distract them thoroughly; then,
for fear the older ones, after the excitement
had passed: should return to the incident,
Bellies consent must be obtained, so the at
tack of a dozen cousins could be met with
the frank avowal of an engagement Talk
about your heroes facing the enemy. Think
of Jack with battalions of raillery and gossip
on all sides except one, and on that the
fearful uncertainty of a coquettish girl who
has not yet said the final Eyes"
''Sit down, all of you. and keep very STILL"
said Jack impressively-"Miss Darlington
here by me, because she's nervous; Tom on
the left,-so; and Tot on the floor by my
knee. There. Now, attention all. This is
the story of the
DREADFUL MASSACRE.
1t was sunset. A gallant tribe assembled
with much state and clatter. They spoke
together in their own. tongue pleasantly and
peacefully. There were fathers and mothers
and little ones. They had plenty and to
spare of fine things to eat. They lodged in
excellent houses; they brought up their fam