The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-04-28
OUR COUSIN JACK.

"Do you think so. aunt?"
81 don't think anything aboutit-Iam
sure he does"
1 smile, but say nothing in answer to
my annt's very positive assertion.
"Tts very strange" she resumes rather
sharply, for she had noticed my smile,
aud it has apparently nettled her. Its
very, strange that you should have alter
eel in your opinion 50 much of late.
"How altered?" I answer, coloring
up.
Don't pretend you do not under
stand me-" responds Aunt Deborah,
sharply.
81 don't wish to pretend anything" is
''wen, Jane, we won't have words
about ii. I cannot bear disagreeables,
especially with those whom i love; but
YOU know quite wei that was o time
when your Cousin Jack was everything
in your eyes, and believe everything in
your heart, too, but of late you seem to
have changed towards him In the most
extraordinary manner imaginable"
"T am sure you are mistaken, Aunt
Deborah, answer, nerviously. "Jack
is just the same in my eyes "a he ever
was"
'But not the same in your heart, child,
eh ?"
Really, aunt"
"Oh, don't be affected or foolish, my
dear Jane; you know cannot bear any
thing Of the kind. Your Cousin Jack
was very dear TO you not SO many weeks
ago-aye, it is Us lately as weeks only, so
You need not exclaim with astonish-
ment when 1 suggest something Of the
kind"
81 like Jack very much, I know" is
my reply, my eyes still attentively fixed
upon my work, and the tell-tale color
still suffusing my cheeks.
'Like him, indeed" exclaimed Aunt
Deborah contemptuously. "You used
to love him, and you cannot truthfully
deny it," =
81 love him still, aunt, as-as-"
Gas what?"
Gas brother"
Aunt Deborah laughs outright, q
scornful, disbelieving, and, I must own,
O most aggravating laugh.
Gas o brother !" she exclaims, echoing
my words. "Dear mel What q nice
way of putting it. As brotherp'
Then she adds more sternly:
'Do you think, Jane, you can deceive
me by that worn-out evasion; that paltry
exchange offering which women are SO
fond of proffering TO the man whom they
have ceased to love, or whom they have
led to believe they loved, but in reality
have never cared about at al? you think
I have lived in this deceitful world for
fve-and- -ffty-years, and am to be taken
in by any such rubbish as that?"
"fm sure don't wish to take you in,
aunt"
Don't you, really2 It's very good of
you to say so, Tn sure, but il you don't
wish TO take me in, it's apity you should
endeavor to do so palpably."
rise to leave the room, but my aunt,
as anticipated, will not part with me
on such easy terms.
please don't leave the room at pre-
sent; have more to say to you"
I reseat myself with subdued sigh of
impatience.
$50 you don't think your Cousin Jack
grows handsomer every dayP"
81 think he is the same in appearance
as usual" reply.
''But people can grow handsomer in
other things, as well as in personal ap-
pearance," responded Aunt Deborah.
"Of course they can" say I.
'They can grow handsome In their
actions" observes my aunt.
by which / suppose you mean no
blc?' i question.
Precisely"
There is slight pause, during which
feel that my aunt has been eying me
keenly; but I do not look up from the
work have resumed
'I think" says my aunt at last, "thai
his conduct is most noble towards you.
'He is always very kind" I faltered
out.
''He is more than very kind" say.
Aunt Deborah. ''He is very charitable
towards you.
II know he is" I answer. ''The las
present he made me is" 81
Present.! screams my aunt, indig
nantly. "What on earth do you mear
by referring to presents? What hav,
srumpery gifts got TO do with charity
Are you resolved to drive me mad will
your evasions, your shallow false preten
sions9 You know perfectly well what
mean when I speak Of this charity to
wards you II he were not the mos
charitable minded young fellow in tn
world, he would scorn and despise 20,
for your treatment of him, which is dis
graceful in the extreme"
am sure" / commence.
"Hushl" cries Aunt Deborah; 'T vii
not be interrupted For months an,
months, you and your Cousin Jack hav
perfectly understood each other. II,
has land may Heaven help him out @
his misfortune) loved you with all tn
strength Of his generous heart for thes
three years or more-in fact, from th
first day on which he was unluck
enough to meet you. And you, too, wer
always partial 10 him from the first; an
during the last year by your manner
even when in the presence of others I
my knowledge, showed him sufficien
preference TO lead him TO believe yo,
reciprocated his affection. How muc
-nrther have you led him ON by word {
mouth, / don't pretend to know; bu
doubtless you have said hundreds {
loving words to him In your time. Br
now your ladyship suddenly takes il int
vour head to show indifference for thi
noble-hearted fellow. I call him noble
hearted because he merits it, and nc
ouly ont Of any sentimental prejudic,
He sees the change in you-if he wei
not blind, he could not help seeing il.
i.e the change in you; and 1 see whs
N alteration In him that change hs
made. He is not the same man. And
la L. II L
Lwo pins about him, wish TO know whl
has caused this fickleness on your part.
"You speak as though Cousin JAG
and | we're engaged" I answered indiI
nantly.
"And so you were, virtually" rotor
my aunt.
He never asked me TO be his wife, {"
answer.
He never lsked youp responG
Aunt Deborah with infinite scorn. 'Pe
kans voyr xuill bava the oa.,~oxco L., q,