The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-04-29
OUR COUSIN JACK.

lie grows handSOmer every uay, eN-
CLAIMS Aunt Deborah.
DO you think so. aunt?"
Il don't think anything aboutit-Iam
sure he does.
smile, but say nothing in answer to
my auut's very positive assertion.
Its 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
ed iu your opinion so much of late.
How altered 2" L answer, coloring
up.
Don't pretend you do not under
stand me" responds Aunt Deborah,
sharply.
Il don't wish to pretend anything, is
my reply.
"Well, Jane, we won't have words
about it. / cannot bear disagreeables,
especially with those whom L love; but
You know quite well that was n time
when your Cousin Jack was everything
in your ewes, and believe everything in
your heart, too, but of late you seem to
have changed towards him in the most
extraordinary manner imaginable.
II am sure You are mistaken, Aunt
Deborah, / answer, neryiously. Jack
is Just the same in my eyes rs he ever
was.
But not the same in your heart, child,
oh ?"
Really, aunt"
"Oh. don't be affected or foolish, my
dear Jane; you know l cannot bear any
thing of the kind. Your Cousin Jack
was very dear to YOU not 50 many weeks
ago-aye, it Is as lately as weeks only, so
YOU need not exclaim with astonish-
ment when L suggest something.Of the
kind.
II like Jack very much, 1 know" is
my reply, my eyes still attentively fixed
upon my work, and the tell-tale color
still sulfusing my checks.
Like him, indeed, " exclaimed Aunt
Deborah contemptuously. "You used
to love him, and you cannot truthfully
deny it. 4"
Il love him still, aunt. as-as-"
''As what?'
''As brother"
Aunt Deborah laughs outright, a
scornful. disbelieving, and, l must own,
most aggravating laugh.
''As brother !" she exclaims, echoing
my words. Dear mel What a nice
way of putting it. As a brother -
Then she adds more sternly:
10 you lLlilh, jane, YOU CtlO deceive
me 10y that WORKOUT 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 all you think
1 have lived in this deceitful world for
tiye-and- tifty-years, and am to be taken
in by any such rubbish as that?"
I'm sure l don't wish to take you in,
aunt
Don't you, really? It's very good of
you to say so, Tn sure, but if 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; L have more to say to you"
l reseat myself with a subdued sigh of
Impotence.
80 you don't think your Cousin Jack
grows handsomer every day."
Il think he is the same in appearance
as usual, ?" reply.
But people can grow handsomer in
other things, as we'll as in personal APP
pearance, responded Aunt Deborah.
'Of course they can, say l.
''They can grow handsome in their
actions observes my aunt.
by which 1 suppose you mean no
ble?' Iquestion.
Precisely"
There is a slight pause, during which
| feel that my aunt has been eying me
keenly: but 1 do not look up from the
work have resumed.
81 think, says my aunt at last, THAT
his conduct Is most noble towards You.
He is always very kind" faltered
out
He is more than very kind" says
Aunt Deborah. ''He is very charitable
towards You.
Il know he is" I answer. 1.-THE last
present he made mo is"
Present." screams my aunt, indig-
uantv. "What on earth do you mean
by referring to presents? What have
trumpery gifts got to do with charity?
Are you resolved to drive me mad with
your evasions, your shallow false preten-
sions? You know perfectly well what
mean when l speak of this charity to-
wards you. If he were not the most
charitable minded young fellow in the
world, he would scorn and despise you
Tor your treatment of him, which is dis
graceful in the extreme"
am sure" / commence.
Hush - cries Aunt Deborah; at will
not he interrupted For months and
months, you and your Cousin Jack have
perfectly understood each other He
has land may Heaven help him out of
his misfortune) loved YOU with all the
strength of his generous heart for these
three years or more-in fact, from the
first day on which he was unlucky
enough to meet you. And you, too, were
always partial 10 him from the first; and
during the last year by your manner,
even when in the presence of others TO
my knowledge, showed him sufficient
preference TO lead him to believe you
reciprocated his affection. How much
further have you led him on by word of
mouth, L don't pretend to know; but
doubtless you have said hundreds of
loving words to him in your time. But
now your ladyship suddenly takes it into
your head TO show indifference for this
noble earted fellow. l call him noble
hearted because he merits it, and not
only out of any sentimental prejudice
de sees the change IN you-f he were
not blind, he could not help seeing it.
see the change in you; and / see what
an alteration In him that change has
made. He is not the same man. And 1,
as the only relative he has left who cares
two pms about him, wish to know what
has caused this fickleness on your part"
You speak as though Cousin Jack
and | were engaged" answered indig-
nantly.
"And so you were, virtually" retorts
my aunt.
"He never asked me to be his wife,
answer.
He never asked you'll" responds
Aunt Deborah with infinite scorn. per
haps you viii have the assurance to tell
me You did not know that he loved Won.
Now, look here, Miss Jane Fleming. /
have had enough of this. Your cousin.
Jack Randall, has been as dear to me as
a son for years past. He was NV favor