The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1881-05-27
J. D. BURKE, Editor.

honuls, You anu your Cousin Jack have
perfectly understood each other. He
has (and 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 to 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, | 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-hearted fellow. | call him noble
hearted because he merits it, and not
only ont OF any sentimental prejudice
He sees the change in you-if 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. lie is not the same man. And |,
as the only relative he has left who cares
two pms about him, wish to know what
has caused this tickleness on yonr part.
Z You speak as though Cousin Jack
and | were engaged, answered indig-
nantly.
"And 50 you were, virtually, retorts
my aunt
'He never asked me to be his wife, !" /
answer.
i" He never asked your responds
Aunt Deborah with infinite scorn. "Per-
haps you will have the assurance to tell
me you did not know that he loved you.
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 my favor
lite sisters only son, and when she was
on her death-bed I'promised faithfully
to do my best for her child. You are
the only daughter Of my dear brother. [
promised him on his death bed to take
charge of you. have tried to do my
best
You have ever been" I commence,
my eyes filling with tears, and pang of
renorse shooting through my heart for
ever having said a word or committed an
net that could wound Aunt Deborah's S
! gentle spirit
But Aunt Deborah interrupts me.
II don't need any thanks, she ex-
claims; ~ have only done my duty.
Answer me one question, and this pain
full subject shall be dropped. DO You
love anyone else? Are you fonder of
any one than you are of Jack?"
My color mounts to my forehead.
"No," 1 reply.
My aunt rises, and putting her arms
| ,,,,r ,,ooi, Iyiconc mo al offaatIpnatptV
''Ihank Heaven for that, my dear,
she says with much emotion"
And so the conversation ends
Aunt Deborah's house is situated on
the parade at Ramsgate. have lived
with her for more than seven years, and
she has proved q mother to me in every
way. | have to-day, for the first time
in my life, told her q deliberate false
hood. do love some one better than
Cousin Jack. This afternoon | mean tc
meet him ON the beach. He has asked
me to he his wife, and | have all bui
consented Ours have been clandestinC
meetings. To own the truth, | spoke tC
him without a formal introduction
One afternoon, when / was alone upoi
the sands, he made an excuse for speak
ing to me He warned me of the IN
coming tide, saying he feared | might b'
surrounded. Since then our meeting
have been frequent; since then my feel
ings for Cousin Jack have grown colde
and colder.
1t is afternoon, the afternoon of tn,
same day on which ! have told Aun
Deborah the deliberate falsehood as t.
my affections, my newly-found lover i
at my side, my handsome gay-hearte'
Arthur. Soon, / trust, the day ma.
come when l shall be his wife; when
shall bear the name of Stanford.
/ tell him about my aunt's lecture.
'All this kind of thing" he says
''must be put stop to, my little Jane
as soon as possible Don't You think
far better that it should be sop
"How can it be put a stop to? / ask
''There is but one way" he answers
"and to that hardly dare hope you WI
consent
"Tell me what it is, / say.
''For MS to elope, Jane.
The color mounts TO my checks, an
my breath comes quickly.
"Jane, my darling Jane, he murmur
twill you fly with me to-night2'
Before we have separated / have col
sented to his proposal.
: The wind is blowing briskly as
wishes me an revoir.
~ am Just going to have sail in n
/ favorite little slziff-a farewell sail,
, says; and then 1 must return to n
hotel and make all necessary prepar
TONS"
t "Ifs blowing so strongly" i" I answe
"m.l 4 I'm always afraid of some accidel
/ when you go sailing in that slend
craft. "
$ 'tNever fear" he responds gaily,
e can swim a mile or two if need be; there
no danger of my coming to grief. Far
t well until tonight; tonight, darling
and then we shall meet to part no more
: He grasps my hand, oh, so warml
q and then he leaves me. | watch his I
e treating figure as he makes his way
Z wards that portion of the beach whe
4 he hires his sailing skiff.