The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1881-05-27
OUR COUSIN JACK.

"EIe grows i1andsomer every day OK
claims Aunt Deborah.
"Doyou think so. aunt?'
II don't think anything aboutit-Iam
sure lie does.
| smile, but say nothing in answer to
my aunts very positive assertion.
'Its very strange, she resumes rather
sharply, for She had noticed my smile,
and it has apparently nettled her. Its
very strange that you should have alter
ed n.yonr opinion SO much Of late. "
How altered?" l answer, coloring
Don't pretend you do not under
stand me-, responds Aunt Deborah,
sharply.
II 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 love; but
You know quite well that was 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.
,
Deborah, | answer, nerviously. 'Jack
is just the same in my eyes as he ever
was
''But not the same in your heart, child,
eh?'
Really, 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 as weeks only, so
you need not exclaim with astonish-
ment when | suggest something of the
kind
81 like Jack very much, I know" is
my reply, my eyes still attentively fixed
upon my work, and the tell-tale color
still sutfnsing my checks.
Like him, indeed, exclaimed Aunt
Deborah contemptuously. ''You used
to love him, and you cannot truthfully
deny it.
q love him still, aunt as-as-"
''S.s what?"
''As a brother"
Aunt Deborah laughs outright, a
scornful, disbelieving, and, must own,
most aggravating laugh.
"As brother !" she exclaims, eehoing
my words. Dear mel What a nice
way OF putting it. As a brother I"
Then she adds more sternly:
DO you think, Jane, you can deceive
me by that worn-out evasion; that paltry
exchange-ottering which women are sc
lond of protfering to the man whom they
nave ceased to love, or whom they have
led to believe they loved, but in reality
have never cared about at all? you thini,
! have lived in this deceitful world fol
hye-and-fifty-years, and am to be taken
ID by any such rubbish as that?"
aunt
Don't you, really? It's very good oi
you to say SO, I'm sure, but if you don't
wish to take me in, it's apity you should
endeayor 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; have more to say to you"
! reseat myself with a subdued sigh OF
impatienee. -
80 you don't think your Cousin Jacl
grows handsomer every day?"
u think he is the same in appearance
as usual, " reply.
But people can grow handsomer in
olner things, as well as in personal ap
pearance, responded Aunt Deborah.
"0f course they can" say I.
.Ihey can grow handsome in thei
acaons, observes my aunt
by which ! suppose you mean no
nleT question.
Precisely"
There is slight pause, during which
leel that my aunt has been ewing M
Aeenly; but / do not look up from tn,
work L have resumed.
l.. l think, says my aunt at last, "tha
his conduct is most noble towards you.
out Ai-l' i'o' y
He is more than very kind" say
aunt aunt Deborah. "He is very charitabl
towards you.
- know he is, | answer. ''The las
present he made me is"
RESENT screams my aunt, indie
IIahtiy: What on earth do You mea
w referring to presents? What hay
Iaunpery gifts got to do with charity
are You resolved to drive me mad wit
your evaslons, your shallow false prefer
slonsf You know perfectly well what
mean when | speak of this charity Il
Sras You. If he were not the mo-
ouaIitahle-minded young fellow in Ill
sNofldih he would scorn aud despise yo
ot your treatment Of him, which is di
graceful in the extreme. p
am sure" I commence.