Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-09-29

being who had "neyer seen Cousin Jack. -
1t was difficult to her to form ar idea OF
what the world must seem like to that per-
son whose world did not contain Cousin
Jack. 81
No, / have never seen him, Hetty. MAY
l see him tonight, dear: VIII your mother
give me cup of tea. and then can sit with
her while you and Jack are at church,"
So it was settled like that. We carried
over my nice fresh bunch of watercresses,
and my glass beehive full of marmalade, and
made a sort OF joint feast of it.
"He's bonnie lad, is jack" said Mrs.
you know-getting on well, too-in the mer-
chant service. Never voyage he comes
home from but he brings me some pretty
gift or another; nor he don't forget Hetty.
neither. Why should he, indeed? He used
to carry her about. when he was a strong
chap of ten years old, and she bit weakly
like lass of five. He was handy, too, and
made go-cart-aye, that did he. she shall
ride in her carriage like queenv he'd say,
laughing 50 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 a
posy in his coat. So he had, and hardly
know which was brighter and more bonnie,
the young fellows face or the posy of sum-
mer flowers at his breast.
He was sailor, everyinch of him, strong
ly built, sunburned, curly-lOcked, dark
eyed. He had ringing, happy laugh,
and was fond of watercresses and mar
malade; indeed, he complimented me on
both articles, Mrs. Deacon having explained
that they were my contributions 10 the en-
tertainment
But what struck me about him most was
his marvelously tender, gentle ways to his
seemed Silent She oa b pal
beautiful Madonna face was all alight with
quiet radiance-a calm and restful joy-a
look As if she were forever saying to herself,
g He is here, here beside me-" like bird
singing Il sweet song Of content over and
The cousins went to church together, and
l staid with Mrs. Deacon meanwhile, listen
ing with quiet yet keen attention to remin-
iscences of bygone days-of jacks bOyhood
of Hetty's girlhood. /
slack was the orphan son of Mr.. Dea-
cons only sister, and was never grudged
nothing no more than if he'd been our Own,"
said my informant, with a certain air of
pride in the late Mr.. Deacon's generosity
toward his wfe's kin.
Jack had not been unmindful OF these
benefits received, and when the evil days
came many a welcome bit of help did he
send to his more than mother.
"Never forgetting Hetty,'' added Mrs.
Deacon, complacently. "He's main fond Of
Hetty, is Jack, 1 can tell YOU"
gentle defiance, and the dim eyes were
turned to me with a sort of wistful hope that
| might make some further comment. But
Il had none to make.
1 read the mothers hopes and fears; 1
read my dear girls heart, but kept silent.
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 a doZe, and as l
cont fho~ 70. 70
home, a mist came over my eyes, something
rose in my throat and tried to choke me, and
a voice in my heart cried out: "Oh, Hettv,
Hetty-what can do for you, my fdearie:"
The summer was at its height. In Western
London the great folks were, setting them
selv IS to thinking where they should go for
their summer outing. We folks at the East
End just had to make the best of things, and
be grateful for small mercies, such as wa
ter-carts to lay the dust, and the perpatetic
ice -vender with his truck and little tumbers
of lemon and strawberry. L.s-.-- e-.
/ had got to know Cousin Jack quite well
by this time. l was able to read ''between
the lines'' in my dear girl's heart-stOry.
Hetty was very dear to her sailor cousin;
dear, as things weak and helpless are apt to
be dear to the strong: dearer because of her
aft iction, sacred, in his eyes, as suffering
child is sacred to all of us who know the
beauty of tenderness and pity. Hetty was
OF what Jack was to Hetty l can not
SPEAK. l dared not try to gauge it at the
time. I put the thought of it from me, as
we put aside thing we dare not look upon
that is, for n time.
The day came when 1 had to take my
courage by both hands, and face all the
cruel truth; for the young sailor took great
fancy to me, though was little old wOm-
an with a Quakerish cap and a shabby
gown. Not only so, but he opened his heart
to me.
We were walking side by side in the park,
where everything looked parched and dried
up with the baking heat, when Jack first
told me that after the voyage upon which he
was just about to start, he was going tot.be
married. y!
81 hope Aunt Ann and Hetty won't take
it unkind that haven't told them all about
it from the first, /" he said, dOubtfully; "but,
to say the truth, Miss Heath. / find it diff
ficut thing to tell. 1 want them to be quite
sure that l will never be any different to
them; that shall always be the same Cous-
in Jack. 1 am so afraid they will fancy-all
kinds of things"
81 don't think they will fancy anything
that is not true" l put in, perhaps with
more warmth than wisdom.
''DO you mean to say You think so meanly
of me as to supposed shall forget those two
dear, gentle women, just because / have a
home and wife of my own!'
mo-" l said, looking up into his brave |
and bonnie face-"NO, you will not forget
them; but it can not be the same-it never
isl
We paced up and down and talked to-
gether a long while after this. 1t was dusk
and gray when we went in, 1 to my own
lonely room, Jack to his supper with Mrs.
Deacon and Hetty. Once alone, sat down
in the dark, united my bonnet-strings and
flung them back, unfastened my shawl and
let it fall over my chair.
1 was stifling-choking felt like the ver-
lest coward that ever drew breath.
1 had task before me from which /
shrank with every nerve of my poor Ii tie
bOdy-the hardest task that had |
ever been set me yet: To wound cruelty the |
Dne creature loved OH earth.
And yet it must be done.
The wornanly pride and self-respect Of a
sister-wOman is dear to any woman worth |
the name. Jack must not tell this thing to /
Iletty. The girls secret was safe SO far. 1t |
should be my work to keep it so. i
1t was the following night. Hetty had |
come to pay me visit. l had been listening |
TO- the account of grand historical picture |
in which she was to figure.
j let her talk on till the room grew dim |
md shadOwy with the coming Of the sum-
mer NIGHT which was Int a DictlIre done i'm /