The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1879-01-16

Il
ed oy an entire stranger, my tardy tim
idity took fright, and I should have
heaten retfeAt il he had not anticipa-
ted me. 1fuf3 a1AHaT =
II think Jane il coming" be said.
"I will go ont for walk, bdt hope
soon to see you again" "5galr ea
I couldn't help smiling when he
smiled, to save my life. He caught mp
his hat from tho dresser. and went to
the door. s ti 44,
"Why, where are you going, Johnr
said Jane, upon the threshold.
"Ill be back presently" he said, and
| with another little nod to aao he disap
peared. Ik .si7aq ggea ga2
ITO think of that woman next door
sticking . pin in her baby's eye!' said
jane. 81 declare to goodness, . wo-
man that won't sew hooks and eyes OF
buttons on her dress don't deserve to
have Q babyl" 5s{
1 hastened TO turn sideways to jane.
My poor, dear Howard, used to say that
every embrace of Ms was at the risk Of
being stabbed with pin or needle.so'
to change the subject. I asked Jane
who the gentleman WAS that had Just
left us. .....f ,.,- t,..g..,.. -,;.s.s., ao
"Why. that's brother JoHh," said
Jane; ..brother. John. from Long Is
land. Hes such home body. guess
We never seen him before" Here
Jane paused, and winked her eye at me
and smiled. Her smile was like her
blother Johns. and lit up her whole
face. "You sse," Jane went on, be-
ginning to mold her bread, but still
nodding and winking at me, "Johhs
oome down here for somethin' special.
My worst enemy couldn't call me a
mat,h- maker; but when I see p ,or
widow strngglin' along. tryin to k.ep
the volt from tho door, can't help
takin' An interest. There's nothin'
mean or contrivin' about me -"
"I'm sure there isn't. Jaue," said.
"Aud 1 hate q meadlerI but ever
since Belindy died Johns just buried
himself down there at his place on
Long Island; 4 beautiful place-be'y".
ii. .fal." repeated Jane. unctuously.
Trees fairly laden down with fruitI
and what with new-isid eggs and cream,
and home made hams and sadsage. the
place is next door 10 . paradise. There
ain't no manner O. use of John's givin'
mp his whole life to m,nrnin' ever
Bslindy, she hal = good time Of it
while she lived; never bad to raise a
hand. Johns that foolish to raise q
hand. aud that's something for poor
strusglin' widow to think Of, isn't it.
Nslly?"
"Yss." stammered ont. my face in a
glow, and 4 world Of cpnfaAion battling
at my heart. This good creature Jane
had evidently invited her brother John
purposely to soe ma, and though her
intentions were good. what must he
think Of me meeting him halfway in
his consolation little while ago? oh,
how bold and contriving he had found
mel How in the world WAS to know
hs Was q widower. and invited down for
a special purpose?
"Oh. why diiu't you tell me. Janef'
l cried. ..... ..
"Well, you see. I couldn't tell how it
would turn out. john didn't know
there was mortgage on Susan's prop
erty." srfs
''Susanw I repeated.
Eyes; you know Susan-my hus-
bands sister. She's comin' down on a
visit to>day. and John says he don't
care a pin about tho mortage he's
only afraid he can't care for Susan.
You see, his heart was bound up in
Belindy."
I 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
It was so hard to be
alone aud disolate. and have nobody
care whether one lived or died, and
Susan was 30 mnch better of than II
II Thought Snsan was quite comfort
able sitnated,' said.
"Well, there's the mortgage" said
Jane, "she keep botherin' Us about
that mortgage all the time. aud my
husband can't undertake to bolster up
oil his relations. You see. I just told
John all about it, and it's business
Nelly. II she gets John
he won't hear any more about the NOR
tgage."
began to lose all interest in the
aud remembered that my
poor dear Howard had told me how
sordid and mercenary oil these people
were. II Was really dreadful to hear
the most sacred sentiments Of life de-
graded to the level OF mere business
Jane's brother John
didn't look like this kind Of person.
but of course he must DO. The whole
thing % confused and bewildered me
that / went away without my thyme,
.fter ALL, .d.a as lasn esl
We all know what appalling things
can happen in an incredibly short
space of time. snd our dearest hopes
are blasted when ws least look for .
I had not lexpectsd to 30
absent five minutes, and had left my
kitchen window open. = the morning i
was 60 balmy and eweet. Imagine my
dismay when I saw . strange cat ac-
tually standing on nv kitchen table
and helping herself to the meat which
= = 4k..~.ut~ea