The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-03-27
JEAN.

Az al wiz stdTVt ana lTpCQC.
-Varid Jarrett Rt&pf, III The Current.
JEAN.
..Ah, how pretty she isl" he said,
WAS there ever such a pretty lass,
dye think, Jeapt"
perhaps not" said Jean; and she
took her milking pals, and followed
Hu'ta going on before with ligh,
step and u gay sony toward the
meadow where the cows brcwsei.
But when she was quite cut of hearing
OF Ned Welton, sitting perchcd upon
the stile, she muttered to herself,
Pretty! pretty! pretty! All, they
ring the changes upon that, these men!
as the old bcll-rlnge that knew but
ms one tune used to. down in the
church tower. Pretty! pfett, pretty!
It's never 'good;' it's newer .honest:'
It's never true. itsalways pretty. '''
lhen she stopped and looked up, and
said, with a CULVER of passionate grief
In her Voice: "Oh, I'd give the world
I'D give half the shortest life that /
could have-ld give half an hour, Il that
was all had to live, Just to hear Ned
Welton call me pretty! What fool /
am! what fool am! what fool |
ami" and she went on with her pals
toward the cows--Browr Bass and
Lily White and Pretty Polly.
certainly she vas not pretty; and
what there was in her face the man on
the stiio Would have been the last to
see. lad she been a queen, many
would have seen something strangely
fair and regular in her face. Had she
been only rich gentleman daugh-
ter, some one might have dreamed of
those deep eyes and that pure brow of
hers; but red and white, and fat and
dlmples were the recognized beauties
there, as indeed they are all over the
world, to such folks as her lot was cast
among, and she was spoken of rs
plain" Two years before she had
taken into her foolish head to like Ned
Wilton worry much; and he, the farm
er's son, had thought we'll enough of
the dairy-maid to say some very pleas.
ant things to her. She had had q
sweet dream, but Hulda Britton's com.
ing broke it. Her beauty was very
bright and rare, and Ned forgot tho
nice girl he had been SO fond Of chat
ting with. for tho pretty one who
smiled and glance at him.
She was not so good as Jean; she
had not half her carnesthess and con-
stancy; but tho face was all to Ned.
so Hulda Britton wore little plain
gold ring that he had given her, and
had promised to DO his wife in mid
summer; and Jean knew it, and out
ward'y gave no sign that she suffered
only now and then, as at this mo-
ment when Ned babe her notice
Hulda $ beauty-as at the moment
when She paused, meadow midst, and
said to herself that she would give half
OF her life, were it but an hour, to hear
Ned Wilton call her pretty.
They lived upon the coast of Lin.
colnshire, and it was years ago. None
of them knew how to write more than
their names. The farmers deepest
lore was tho market price of grain.
Outside of them, the great world of
iettcrs-great, at that day, as perhaps
it never has been at any other time
rolled on without giving them any
sign OF Its existence. And none of
them had ever read novel or a poem.
or seen play. But they acted out the
drama just as well, and Ned loved
Hulda and cared nothing for Jean, and
Jean loved Ned and hated Hulda.
And Hulda knew the whole, and tri-
umphed over Jean, and cared a little
for Ned. because of his broad shoulders
and bronze curls, but not over.much:
and many novelist would have given
much to have had the little plot of
their daily lives, to touch up and make
pretty with his pen.
The girls slept together in an upper
room Of the house, and on her wedding
eve Hulda SPREAD out gown and shoes
and cheap white veil, and DANCING
ABOUT them, boasted that when the
morrow's sun set she should be mis-.
tress of the house, and Jean her SER.
want. And Jean. thinking of the old
grandmother who had begged her not
TO lose SO good place, said nothing.
but stood silent, whitehead and wan,
and felt bitter hate rising in her
heart. Ned was away at the town,
and would not be back until next
morning, the morning of his wedding,
The old folks were asleep below. How
easy would be, in the dead of night,
to DO this beautiful Boosting creature
some harm-to mar her beauty, OF
even end her life.
The thoughts grew SO, and were SO
horrible. that she could not be sure Of
relief, Hulda, watching her, saw only
a deadly whitcness creep over her lips,
and with the first touch of pity in her
heart, folded her veil away, and said,
unwiseiy enough, but meaning ii
:. mo doubt, the next wedding will
be yours, JEAN"
Then jean, without look, turned
from her and left the room. She
sought to be safe from herself, fol
ficndish thoughts possessed her. and
longing for solitude and quiet, she
climbed a ladder that led to the tiled
roof. and seeking the shelter of the
great chimney, sat down in its shadow
and looked up at the sky. 1t was
calm and full of stars. Its peaceful.
ness had an instant influence on her.
kepentent tears began to flow. She
prayed as simple children pray;
''Please make me good!" And all the
hate for Hulda left her breast, and
her love for Ned-her yearning, ach.
ing love for him-softened into q
sort of tender memory. She was still
sad. A painful humility crushed her
heart u longing for love oppressed
her but Wien she had prayed for
herself, when she had striven with
herself. the evil spirit had departed.
Soon, with her white. well-developed
milk-maid's arms under her head, she
slept upon the messy roof, under the
canopy of the stars.
At last she began to dream. They
were going to church-Hulda and Ned
and she heard the wedding bells;
but going in at the door she saw, in.
stead Of gayly dressed guests, mourn.
ers all in black and a coffin before the
altar, and gave "a scream and waken.
ed. Bells were ringing, but not wed.
ding bclls.the bells that tolled ii
there were any need of the men of the
place-if fire broke out, or robbers
were heard of, or there were any riot.
ing in the town. What could Il
mean?
Jean listened. A strange sobbinp,
furgiuD sound foil nnon b., o.S1