The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1881-05-26
OUR COUSIN JACK.

":He grows handsomer every day." ex-
} claims Aunt Deborah.
DO you think so. aunt?"
81 don't think anything aboutit-Iam
sure he does"
smile, but say nothing in answer to
my aunt's very positive assertion.
cts very strange" she resumes rather
sharply, for she had noticed my smile.
and 1t has apparently netted her. Its
very strange that you should have alter
ed in your opinion so much of late"
GLOW altered ?" / answer, colorinp
up.
'Don't pretend you do not under
stand me, responds Aunt Deborah,
sharply.
81 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 I love; but
you know quite we'll 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 in the most
extraordinary manner Imaginable"
am sure you are mistaken, Aunt
Deborah, L 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"
ooh, don't be affected or foolish, nv
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 l suggest something of the
kind"
81 like Jack very much, 7 know" is
my reply, my eyes still attentively fixed
upon my work, and the tell-tale color
still suffusing my cheeks.
Like him, indeed" exclaimed Aunt
Deborah contcmptuously. "You used
to love him, and you cannot truthfully
deny it"
II love him still, aunt as-as-"
Gas what?"
Gas n brother"
Aunt Deborah laughs outright. q
scornful, disbeheving, and, must own
most aggravating laugh.
AS brother !" she exclaims, echoinp
my words. "Dear me! What q nice
way of putting it. AS brother!''
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 SO
1ond OF protterlng to the man whom thew
nave ceased TO love, or whom they have
led to believe they loved but in reality
have never cared about at all? you think
nave lived Ill this dcceitful world for
nVe-and-fitty-y and am to be taken
III by any such rubbish as that?"
"lm sure [ don't wish to take Won in
aunt"
Don't you, really? It's very good Of
you to say so, Tn sire, but if Won ado don't
wish to take me in, it's pity you should
endeavor to do so palpably."
rise to leave the room, but nv 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"
feseat myself with d subdued sigh of
lmpatience
80 you don't think your Cousin Jack
sroWs T Ihandsomer every day?"
thlnk he IS the same in appearance
as usual, reply,
But people can grow handsomer in
othef things, as we'll as in personal ap-
pearance," responded Aunt Deborah.
~ course they can." say T.
Lhey can grow handsome in their
'oCtohS, observes my aunt.
10y which suppose you mean no.
ble?" I question. ''''
Precisely
There is " slight pause, during which
feel that my aunt has been ewing me-
keenly; but do not look up from the
work L have resumed.
IL think, says my aunt at last. "tbat
his conduct Is most noble towards Won "
"He is always very kind" I faitered
"He is more than very kind" savs
Aunt Deborah "He is very charitable
towards you.
"I know he is" I answer "The last
present he made me is
Present." screams my aunt, indie-
nantly. ''What on earth do you mean
by referring to presents? What have
trumpery gifts got to do with charitv9
Are you resolved to drive me mad with
your eVasions, your shallow false preten.
slons! You know perfectly we'll what T
mean when speak of this charity to.
wards you. If he were not the most
charitable-minded young fellow in tho
world. he would scorn and desnise 1n,,
Tor your treatment of him, which is d;s.
graceful in the extreme"
am sure" commence.