Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-06-01
THE GOLDEN GOOSE.

''EafAFsfaf NOVtfAs
Aunt Phcmic was the a. Golden
Goosc. fncctious niece had be-
slowed the sohriqurt upon her. but Il
was long time before Aunt Phemie
found II out: when she did. She smiled.
not without touch II bitterness. how
ever and made sudden. though not
very strange resolution. which she kent
with great iirmncss for such an amiable
old lady.
The family To which Mrs. Phemic
Maciarlane was aunt consisted of five
persons nephew, Henry; three
nicccs, Mary, Jane and Kate-nll Mae
ihrlanc. and an adopted niece. by
name Jessie Lambert. Aunt Phcmic
was fond of them all. but somewhat To
the modification IT her blood relations.
she seemed to carc most for Jessie. the
adopted niece, who was not n blood re-
latiOn.
Aunt Phemic was warm-heartci.
generous, simple old lady. very alice
tlonatc and unsuspccting; and I don 4
think she even knew herself that she
cared more for her adopted niece than
Tor her real ones. The fact is. Jessie
loved the old lady very dearly. and
quite uncOusciously the old lady loved
her In return. and loved her better than
she loved her own relatives. for n
similar reason because Jessie loved
her best. But II Aunt Phcmie was not
aware Uf the state IT her own feelings.
Mary and jane and Kate Macfarlane
understood them too we'll: and they
made Jessie feel that they understood
them, too and that i why the
poor girl sometimes APP aJol with wet
and swollen eyes. and seemed wrctchrd
and confused when Aunt Picnic qurs-
TONED her ~ To- the cause-only she
never acknowledged Il. No. she was
too genuinely attached Ia her bcnc-
tactrcSs to complain Of bitter tauntS
and cruel inucndOes bestowed ON her
when out ct her hearing; and deter
mined io bear the uudcservcd NORTH
cations aud huml,atlons put upon her
rather than wound the heart of the
clear old lady who loved them all and
was too supplemented and aiiectionatc
herself 10 suspect envy. ranCOr and
jealousy In the minds of others.
But her patience was often severely
tried anil gradually the thought forced
itself into her mind that il might be
necessary for her to look about for
another Lonesome cmployment. she
meant, when she debated the matter
with herself. by which She could earn
enough money to pay her frugal way
In the world. But all unsought another
nome presented Itself To her. and very
earnestly hcsuught her acceptance.
In n house full Of pretty girls-and
all Of Aunt Phcmie's nicccs. Jessie in
cludcd. were prrtty-of course. the
magnetic power of good looks is shown
IN the number Of young people of the
opposite sex that come To- the house:
and u was pretty we'll understood by
their friends and .ncighbors generally
that 1.-The Macfarlanc girls had plenty
of bcauN."
Among these hcauN some were elipi-
BILE, and some were not. for the position
uf partners for life; and one of the lot.
Clarence Cook, young physician of
large practice. was decidedly the IA
NOrcd one Of Kate, the beauty of the
family. who was allowed. i'm all such
matters, being the beauty, To have first
choice more especially rs the GENTLE
man admiration seemed 10 have set
tied the point anyway. 40 from the
first DIR Cook Clare, rs he soon
came To be- Cal!ed.-was regarded rs
Hates property exclusively. The fair
Nate accepted the position ~ once. and
only waited tO be- asked i'm form To ac-
Ccpt his handsome hand and fortune.
Strange 10 say. DIR. Cook did not seem
to be- In n hurry; aud although Kate
may have wondered secretly nj his de-
liberation, she never for moment
doubted his ultimate decision. Imag-
inc. then, her consternatiOn-for that
was her first fccling-and thon her rage
az discovering that Jessie, and not her
self, was the object Of his choice. Once
Or tvl's such an idea had forced itself
into her mind. hut shc had always dis
missed II ~ something too absurd u he
seriously entertained; but at last the
appalling fact was past doubling. and
the overwhelming proof stared her in
the face" impudently stared her out
Of counicnance.' rs she said afterward,
In describing the scene.
II happened in Aunt Phemie's front
parlOr. aud In this way: The parlor-
maid had just told Miss Kate that DIR.
Coax had called. and had indulged in
the quiet smile permitted TO n privi-
legged servant ~ her young mistress
danced out of the room and down stairs
To mcct her sutton Bounding into the
room, trilling love-song ut the full
pitch If her clear voice. she came 10 n
full stop with n suddenncss that literal
N took her breath away, and appropri-
atcly hr,ko on her love-song forever.
Under the Circumstances the sight that
met her eyes vas decidedly appalling.
In the middle III the room stood Jessie.
her graceful head bent forward, her
eyes iixod on the carpet az her feet, and
bushes mantling her delicate, lily-like
face. which now rivalcd the roses In the
rar,lcn. DIR Cook was holding her
hands. and talking so eagerly and rap
idly that neither observed that they had
an interested. although nearly petri6ed.
listener
you must have known-you must
have sscn-why I came here. Jessie.
and WHY will continue 10 come forever
until YOU promise TO 60 with me TO my
own home. my darling. my own little
wife"
"No. not" protested Jessie, growing
pale, and raising n scared face. Il
never knew never suspected; and In
decd. DIR. COX. dare not believe Il,
for we all thought my Cousin Kate was
the magnet that drew YOU here. She
thought 20. too Everybody. Oh.
But no. my sweet Jessie. ]. was
YOU" ip,csTu.ted the sSsent ..ver