The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1881-05-25
OUR COUSIN JACK.

"IIc grows handsomer every day." ex.
claims Aunt Del --rah.
"Doyou unink 70. aunt?'
"Idon't think anything aboutit--I am
sure hc does,
smile, but say nothing in answer to
nv aunt's very positive assertion.
ats very strange" she resumesrather
sharply, for she had noticed my smile,
and it has apparently nettled her. Its
very strange that you should have alter
ed in your opinion 50 much OF late"
GLOW altered - | answer, coloring
up.
"Don't pretend you do not under
stand me-" responds Aunt Deborah,
sharply.
81 don't wish to pretend anything" is
myrcply,
"Wcll, Jane, we won't have words
about it, ! cannot bear disaGrccablcs
especially with those whom | love; but
you know quite well that was 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 Ill the most
extraordinary manner imaginable"
81 am sure you are mistaken, Aunt
Deborah, " ] answer, ncryiousIy. "Jacli
is just the same i'll my eyes as he ever
was.
'But not the same i'll yourhoart, child,
eh?'
"Rcally, 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 as lately us weeks only, SO
you need not eXclaim with astonish-
mcut when | suggest something of the
kind"
81 like Jack very much, I know" is
my reply, my eyes still nttentiycly fixed
upon my work, and the tell-t color
still su.lusing my checks.
"Like him, indeed, exclaimed Aunt
Deborah contemptuously. "You used
to love him, and you cannot truthiully
deny it. y
81 love him still, aunt as as"
"As WHAT
"As a brother.
Aunt Deborah laughs outright, Il
scomful, dishclieyinG. and, ! must own,
amost aggrHyating laugh,
"As a brUthcr' she cXclaims, cchoiug
my words. dear me. What nice
way of putting it, AS a brothcr'
Then she adds more sternIy:
"Do You think, Jane, you can deceive
NE by that worn-out evasion; that paltry
eXchange,oilering which women are SO
fond of prolcring 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 4? you think
have lived in this deceitiul world for
Acknowledgements, and am to be taken
in by any such rubbish as that?'
"lm sure don't wish to take you in,
aunt"
Don't you, really? It's very good of
yon to say SO, I'm sure, but if you don't
wish to take me in, it's apity you should
endcayor to do so palpably."
! rise to leave the room, but my aunt,
MS anticipated, will not part with mo
on such easy terms.
'Please don't leave the room at pre-,
SENT have more to say to YOU. '.
lrcseat myself with subducd sigh of
impationcc.
80 You don't think your Cousin Jack
grows handsomer every day"
81 think he is the same in appearance
as usual," reply.
"But people can grow handsomcr in
other things, as well as in personal op-
pearance," responded Aunt Deborah
"Of course they can" say |.
"Tboy can grow handsome in their
actions, observes my aunt.
by which | suppose you mean no.
bley | question.
Precisely. -
There is slight pause, during which
feel that my aunt has been cylnS me
Eeenly; but I do not look up from the
work have resumed.
81 think" says ny aunt at last, "that
his conduct is most I,hlc towards you.
HE is always We. kind," faltered
out
He is more than very kind" says
Aunt Deborah. "IIe is very charitable
towards you.
u know he is" 1 answer. "The last
present he made me is"
Present. screams my aunt indig-
hahtly. "What on earth do you mean
by referring to presents? What have
TIumpery gifts got to do with charity
are You resolved to drive me mad with
your evasions, your shallow false preten.
Aohs? You know perfectly well what
mean when l speak of this charity to,
wards You. If he were not the moS'
chaTltable-minded young fellow IN the
Sorid, he would scorn and desplse You
ior your treatment of him, which Is DIS
graceful in the extreme"
am sure" | commence.
Hush" cries Aunt Deborah; 81 Wi
not be interrupted. For months ano
months, You and your Cousin Jack have
perfectly understood each other. lie
mas land may Heaven help him out o
MS mlsfortune) loved you with all the
strength of his generous heart for thes'
shfee years or more-in fact, from tn
INST day on which he was unluck.
enough to meet you. And you, too, wcr
Always partial to him from the first; ant
during the last year by your manner
even when in the presence OF others
my knowledge, showed him sutficien
preference to lead him to believe yol
'eciprocated his affection. How niue