The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-10-01
JESSIE'S AWAKENING.
BY JENNIE S. JUDsoN.

"Rather uncouth, is he not?" asked
Whitney DeVane of his cousin Jessie
Barnes.
Il had never thought of him as such"
answered Jessie; but when q moment
later she compared Frank Graves, the
subject of their remarks, with this ele-
giant, city-bred cousin, she thought the
description might perhaps apply.
Frank lived on the adi Joining farm,
and Jessie had known him from early
childhood.
He had been constant visitor at her
home until since the arrival of the city
cousin, when his visits gradually grew
less, and now had almost ceased.
Whitney DeVane had neither seen nor
visited his country relatives before this
summer, but being worn out, as he
said, with city life, he had come to
spend his vacation with them.
He stated that he was corresp ending
clerk in q large bank, and that the
close, combining labor to which he had
been subjected had worn upon his
health
He protested to be delighted with
his surroundings and the country air
and fare, and evinced by the most fiat
tering manner that his cousin Jessie
had made a deep impression on his
heart Jessie had been well educated,
and was as pretty and sprightly girl
as the county afforded.
She was quite dazzled by the atten-
ton and dattery bestowed by her ele-
giant cousin, and had grown almost dis
contented with her country life and
friends.
Before her cousins arrival Frank
Graves had been her ideal of manly
strength, and it spoke much for the
change that had been wrought in her
that she would have mentally agreed to
her cousins comment that he was "un-
couth."
"Thanks, JESSIE" Frank had said
the night previous, as he babe her
goodnight at an evening party. Il
shall call on you, perhaps, after your
cousins visit has terminated, unless
you should have decided to go with
him; but not before"
Jessie felt little stung at this care
less reply, and the color rose swiftly to
her face at the intimation it contained.
Her cousin leaned gracefully against
q tree awaiting her, during this con-
versation. Gould he have heard
Franks remark?" she asked herself.
His manner was unusually tender as
they walked home through the moon
light.
"Thank heaven I've managed to get
rid of that boor," the courtly Mr.. De
Vane said to himself as he entered his
room that night; she promised to be the
greatest obstacle to my plans.
Jessie had gone to the woods one day,
short time afterward, to gather ferns
to adorn the parlor.
whitney admires ferns so much, I
shall crafty his tastes" she thought as
she plucked the long cool fronds, when
q conversation carried on in the
road near by. broke upon her musing.
A woman and child stood talking to
q man on horseback.
He has never paid me one cent for
his washing this four weeks, Mr.. Frank,
and puts me off again to-day. Aside
from my labor, have been at the ex-
pense of wood, soap and starch for
him, an expense / can i'll afford to
bear"
Contemplate creature!" muttered
Frank.
Besides, he has poisoned Annie's
mind with his fattery, with the papers
he has brought her to read, and with
his talk of city life. Do you think it
would do any good to speak to Miss
Jessie about him? She is always kind.
~Tm afraid not, Mrs. Bennett" re-
piled the man, with short, unmirth-
full laugh; Jessie is more infatuated
than Annie, and, 1 Judge, proposes for
herself life of misery by marrying
him"
Can't you talk with her. sir? 1t
seems dreadful pity"
"Talk with herl" bitterly. II have
no influence. / am only a clodhopper
compared with her city cousin"
And then their voices were borne
away, but what had been revealed to
Jessie was enough, for she felt stunned
and Inundated.
She hurried home and was glad to
hear her father say, well, Jessie, /
have decided to go to Stanton to-mor-
row, to make the purchases we have so
long talked of, and will take you in
stead of mother, as she is not feeling
we'll"
Stanton was seventy miles away, and
was the place in which Mr.. De yane
had stated that he resided.
well, call on Whitneys employers
and give them an account OF his con-