Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1885-10-01
JEssIE's AWAKENING.
By JENNIE s. JuDsox.

Whitney DeVane Of his cousin Jessie
Barnes.
Il had never thought of him as such,
answered Jessie; lut when 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 ad dining farm,
and Jessie had known him from early
childhood.
He had been a constant visitor at her
home until since the arrival of the city
cousin, when his visits gradually grew
less, and now had almost ceased.
5 Whitney DeV ane 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 onding
clerk in q large bank, and that the
close, confining labor to which he had
been subjected had worn upon his
health.
He professed to be delighted with
his surroundings and the country air
and fare, and evinced by the most flat
tering manner that his cousin Jessie
had made 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-
tion and fattery bestowed by her ele-
CANT cousin, and had grown almost dis
contented with her country life and
friends.
Before her Cousins arrival Frank
Graves had boe,A hor idaal 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 sun
couth."
"Thanks, JESSIE" Frank had said
the night previous, as he bade 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
o tree awaiting her, during this con-
versaticn. 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; "he promised to be the
-ssroatast- -ohstanla- tony -Ellans-o
Jessie had gone to the woods one day,
short time afterward, to gather ferns
to adorn the parlor.
whitney admires ferns SO much, /
shall crafty his tastes" she thought as
she plucked the long cool fronds, when
a conversation carried on in the
road near by. broke upon her musing.
A woman and child stood liking to
man on horseback.
"He has never paid me one cent for
ais 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
aim, an expense 1 can i'll afford to
bear"
Contemplate creaturel" 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 il
would do any good to speak to Miss
Jessie about him? She is always kind. y
I'm afraid not, Mrs. Bennett" re-
piled the man, with short, unmirth-
full laugh; aJessie is more infatuated
than Annie, and, l Judge, proposes fo1
herself life of misery by marrying
him."
Can't you talk with her, sir? II
seems dreadful pity"
"Talk with herl" bitterly. Il have
no influence. am only 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 tc
hear her father say, well, Jessie,
have decided to go to Stanton to-mor
row, to make the purchases we have sc
long talked of, and will take you in
stead of mother, as she is not feeling
WE'LL"
Stanton was seventy miles away, anC
was the place in which Mr.. De VanC
had stated that he resided.
well, call on Whitney's employers
and give them an account of his con
duct" he added, laughingly. Get any
letter or messages you may have tC
send ready tonight, Whitney, as We
shall start on the ten o'clock train from
the village tomorrow.
Whitney gave a startled glance a
this intelligence, but soon assumed hi
usual self-possessed manner.
"Curse the luckl" he muttered, OF
reaching his room; II would have mar
ried the girl and got some property II
that way, little greenhorn that she is
but if the old duffer goes to Stanton
and finds out I've never seen the place
that'll end that matter. So I'll b,
| forced to get at the strong box, wher,
/ know he keeps a good pile. The olt
! lady is feeble, and can be easily man
aged. Frank Graves and his fathe
are away threshing, SO therell be NJ
fear from that quarter I'll go over I,
Lehigh tomorrow for my old pal
Charles Douglas, tell the old lady II
be gone for two or three days, but COM
back late in the afternoon, aud finisl
up the job"
He left early in the morning, telling
Jessie that the sunshine of the hous
would depart with her presence, ant
that he did not expect to "live," bu
merely to drag out blank existence
until he saw her again.
A furtive CLEAN of distrust in th
eyes which hitherto had only cast ol
him admiring glanccs, served to furthe