The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-09-29

visitor.
If you have any intuitive perceptions
at all, you can hardly mistake the look
in woman's eyes and the smile on a wo'
mans lips, as she speaks of the man she
loves.
Apparently Hetty was surprised at my
silence for she gave me quick glance,
folded her hands lightly one in the other
and let them fall upon her lap, and with
sort of child like wonder in her great
soft eyes, said slowly:
why, Patience you never saw Cousin
Jackr'
read her heart like an open book.
She pittied with all her gentle soul the
benighted being who had "never seen
Consin Jack" 1t was difficult to her TO
form an idea of what the world must
seem like to that person whose world
did not contain Cousin Jack.
mo, l have never seen him, Hetty.
May see him tonight, dear? Will your
mother give ME n cup of tea, and then |
can sit with her while you and Jack are
at church,
So it was settled like that. We car
ried over my nice fresh bunch Of water
crosses and my glass beehive full of
lnarmalade, and made sort OF joint
feast of it.
Hes bonny lad is Jack" said Mrs.
Deacon before he came. Hes II sailor,
you know-petting on we'll, too-in the
merchant service. Never voyage he
comes home from but he brings me some
pretty gift or another; nor he don't for
get Hetty, neither Why should he, in
deed9 He used to carry her about when
he was strong chap of 10 years old,
and she bit weakly -like lass of 3. He
was handy, too. and made u go-cart-aye
that did he. She shall ride i'll her car
riage like queen! he'd say, laughing so
as you might hear him mile off. My
poor husband was alive then and we were
well -to-do.'
Here Hetty. ever watchful of her
mothers moods and fancies, cried out
that Jack was coming down the street,
and that he had posy il his coat. So
he had; and | hardly know which was
brighter and more bonnie, the young
fellows face or the posy of summer flow
ers at his breast.
He was sailor, every inch of him,
stronly built. sun-burned, curly locks.
dark ewes. He had ringing happy
laugh, and was fond of watercresses and
marmalade: indeed, he complimented
me on both articles, Mrs. Deacon having
explained that they were my contribu-
tons to the entertainment
But what struck me about him most
was his marvelously tender, gentle ways
to his Cousin Hetty. She, on her part,
seemed more silent than usual; but the
beautiful Madonna face was all alight
with quiet radiance-a calm, restful
ioy--a look as if she were forever saying
to herself, "He is here, here beside me,
like bird singing a song of content over
and over again.
The cousins went to church together.
and l staid with Mrs. Deacon mean
while. listening with quiet yet keen
attention to "reminiscences of bygone
days-of Jacks boyhood-of Hetty Us girl
hood.
"Jack was the orphan son of Mrs. Dea-
cons only sister, and was never grudged
nothing no more than if he'd been our
own, said my informant with air OF pride
in tue late Deacons generosity toward
his wife's kin.
Jack had not been unmindful of these
benefits, and when evil days came, many
more than mother.
NcNcT iOIScttiuS IIttty, "ttCN AVAIL
Deacon. Hes main fond of Hetty, is
Jack, l can tell YOU
This last remark was made with
certain gentle defiance, and the dim eyes
were turned to me with a sort Of wistful
hope that l might make some further
comment. But had none to make.
read the mothers hopes and fears; /
read my dear girls heart; but kept 81
lence.
The evening was warm and still; from
the far distance came the sound of church
bells pealing; from somewhere near at
hand the sound of an organ and OF hymn
singing. Mrs. Deacon had fallen into
doze, and as sat there waiting for the
cousins to come home, a mist came over
my eyes, something rose in my throat
and tried to choke me, and voice IN
my heart cried out: "Oh, Hetty,
Hetty can l do for you, my
dearie?"
The summer was at its height. In
Western London the great folks were
setting themselves to think where they
should go for their autumn outing. We
folks at the East End just had to make
the best Of things. and be grateful for
small mercies such Us water-carts to lay
the dust, and the peripatetic ice.vendor
with his truck and little tumblers Of