The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-02-15

4 "Well, Jennie, i do sincerely wish
that he may as soon care as little Tor you
.as you do for him.
AS the, months passed away Mrs.
| Long, watching Jim, concluded that he
had not suffered much by the rejection
4 he had received. The kind Hearted WIS
clad to think it was SO. Considering all
things the less attraction her daughter
mad for the ysung fellow, the better.
Jennie, also, hoping, as we may sup
pose, that Jim, for the sakerof his peace
of mind, would outgrow his affection tor
her, after little while, decided that he
had. She was very glad of it. And YET
there was q tinge of melancholy in the
] discovery. She was glad fer his sake,
because he had suffered SO; but it was,
abstractedly considered, a very solemn
thought that SO strong an attachment
was 80 short lived. Not that she would
have had it last longer in this particular
case, oh, no; but there might come q
time when she should want to know that
the one who had so great,a regard for her
was to have it forever. But what was
she to expect? Was Jim fair sample
of mankind in this respect?
If Farmer Long had been an observing
man, during these days he could have
seen coming into Jim's face something
that could not have failed to remind him
of the time when the youths mother
and Mrs. Long were girls, and the best
looking ones in the village. The fathers
strength had come into Jirn's body and
limbs, but he was getting his mothers
face by installments. These were to be
his possessions when he was of age.
As his twenty-frst year drew towards
its close, he could not tell whether to be
glad or sorry for it. His reason told him
to go and forget--he had not forgotten,
you see--in the excitement of business
somewhere, his disappointment. But
that heart of his kept forever answering,
"stey another year" He was in this
state of mind the day before he was
twenty~one. After dinner that day he
went and sat on the bench under the
great maple. He went there that he
might be alone to decide whether he
would follow the dictates of his reason
or give way to the longings of his heart.
Reason at last carried the day. He
arose from his seat, and said aloud,
and decisively: 81 shall go. It was
settled. He had told the family all
along that he should 60 away when he
became of age. He was glad they knew
it and had become reconciied to- (perhaps
wished) it. He was set upon looking
straight ahead now, and determined not
to look back.
And he did look straight ahead--look?
he stared, for just a second or two, and
then went ahead, straight and fast Up
the slightly ascending meadow Jennie
was running toward the house, and not
far behind her was the four-year old
lime-back. pursuing. 1t was fortunate
for Jennie Long then that Jim was near:
and that he was " big" and strong and
brave. Jim was benton getting between
Jennie and thatmad brute, and be could
notstopt to find the weapons. He rushed
past her, and ct that moment her
strength gave way and she fell. if Jim
had mate mismove--but he did not.
With great dexterity he seized the ami
NAL by the horns as it came UP, and put
ting forth all his strength drew its head
with such dorce and suddenness to one
side rs to throw it down. Then spring
ing to where Jennie had arisen and stood
unable TO move, from fright, he caught
her in her arms and bore her to o place
of safety over the wall.
When Jennie could speak, she turned
to him and asked: What if you had
been killed?n
"Oh, there would have been q beggar
less, that's all 2 said he, and he walked
away. ' g
An hour later Jim, in "a deep reverie,
was sitting under the old maple. He
heard the rustling of dress, the sound
Of approaching feet, and then Jennie's
gentle call, "Jimip
He arose and looked at her
s'Jim, do you--hate met"