The Mineral argus. [volume] (Maiden, Mont.) 1883-1886, 1885-04-02
JEAN.

"Ah, how pretty she Isl" he said.
"Was there ever such q pretty lass,
dye think, Jeanr"
perhaps not" said Jean; and she
took her milking pals, and followed
Hulia going on before with light
step and gay song toward the
meadow where the cows browsed.
But when she was quite out Of hearing
Of Ned WeltOn. sitting perchcd upon
the stile, she muttered to herself.
"Prctty! pretty! pretty! All. they
ring the changes upon that, these men!
as the old bcll-ringer that knew but
his one tune used to. down in the
church tower. Pretty! pretty pretty!
It's never good it's never 'hOnest;''
IT'S never true It'salways pretty"
Then she stopped and looked up. and
said. with CULVER of passionate grief
in her voice: ''Oh, I'd give the world
I'D give half the shortest life that
could havc-Id give half an hour, II that
was all had to live, just to hear Ned
Welton call me pretty! What fool
am! what a fool ] am! what a fool
ami" and she went on with her pals
toward the cows-Brown Bcss and
Lily White and Pretty Polly.
Certainly she was not pretty; and
what there was in her face the man on
the stile would have been the last to
see. Had she been a queen, many
would have seen something strangely
fair and regular in her face. Had she
been only rich gcntlcman's daugh-
ter, some one might have dreamed of
those deep eyes and that pure brow of
hers; but red and white, and fat and
himples 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 very much; and he. the farm
sr's son. had though well enough OF
the dairy-maid to say some very pleas
ant things to her. She had had 8
sweet dream, bu: Hulda Britton's com.
ing broke it. Her beauty was very
bright and rare, and Ned forgot the
nice girl he had been so fond Of chat
ting with, for the pretty one who
smiled and glance ut him.
She was not so good rs Jean; she
had not half her earnestncss and con
stancy: but the face was all to Ned
So Hulda Britton wore "A little plair
gold ring that he had given her, ant
had promised to be his wife in mid
summer; and Jean knew it, and out
wardly gave no sign that she suffered
only now and then. as ut this mo
ment when Ned babe her notic'
Hulda's bcauty--as at the momen
when she paused, meadow midst, am
said to herself that she would give hal
of her life, were il but an hour, to hea
Ned Wilton call her pretty.
They lived upon the coast Of Lin
cOlnshire. and j; was years ago. Non
of them knew how to write more tina
their names. The farmers deepes
lore was the market price of grain
Outside Of them, the great world {
lctters--grcat, at that day. rs perhar
it never has been nj any other time
r.lcd on without giving them an
IN of its existence. And none {
Il ,em had ever read a novel or n poem
or seen play. But they acted out III
drama Just as well. and Ned love
Hulda and cared nothing for Jean. an
Jean loved Ned and hated Huld;
And Hulda knew the whole. and tr
umphed over Jean. and cared lit
for Ned, because Of his broad shoulder
and bronze curls. but not over-mucl
and many novelist would have give
much to have had the little plot
their daily lives, to touch up and nal
pretty with his pen.
The girls slept together in an upp'
room of the house. and on her weddiT
eve Hulda spread ont gown and sho'
and cheap white veil. and dancil
about them, boosted that when II
morrOw's sun set she should be mi
tress of the house. and Jean her Sc
want. And Jean, thinking Of the o
grandmother who had begged her n
to lose So good a place. said nothin
but stood silent. white-faccd and wa
and felt a bitter hate rising in h
heart. Ned was away at the tow
and would not be back until ne
morning. the morning Of his weddin
The old folks were asleep Mellow. Ho
easy it would Ice. in the dead of nigh
to do this beautiful Boosting creatu
some harm-to mar her beauty,
even end her lie.
The thoughts grew so. and were
horrible. that she could not he sure