Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1885-09-26
JEss1E's AWAKENING.
BY JENNIE s. JUDsoN.

Barnes.
81 had never though of him as
such," answered Jessie; but when
moment later she compared Frank
Graves, the subject Of their remarks,
with this elegant, city-bred cousin,
she thought the description might
perhaps apply.
Frank lived on the adjoining 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 grad
ually grew less, and now had almost
ceased.
Whitney DeVane had neither seen
nor visited his country relatives be-
fore this summer, but being worn
out, as he said, with city life, he had
come to spend his vacation with
them.
stated that he was corresponding
clerk in a 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 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 a girl
as the county afforded.
She was quite dazzled by the atten-
ton and flattery bestowed by her ele-
giant cousin, and had grownalmOstdis-
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
thatshe would havementally agreed to
her cousin'scOmment that he was Gun
cOuth."
"Thanks, JESSIE" Frank had said
the night previous, as he babe her
goodnight at an evening party. 81
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 a little stung at this care
less reply, and the color rose swiftly
to her face at the intimation it con-
tanned.
Hercousin leaned gracefully against
a tree awaiting her, during this con-
versation. "Could he have heard
Franks remark ?" she asked herself
His manner was unusually tender as
they walked home through the moon
light.
"Thank heaven! Tve managed t.
get rid of that bOor," the courtly Mr.
DeVane said to himself as he entered
his room that night; che promised
to be the greatest obstacle to m!
plans"
Jessie had gone to the woods ont
day, a short time afterward, to gathe
ferns to adorn the parlor.
"Whitney admires ferns so much,
shall crafty his tastes" she though
as she plucked the long cool fronds
when a conversation carried on in tn
road near by, broke upon hermusing
A woman and child stood TALKING
to man on horseback.
"He has never paid me one cen
for his washing this four weeks, M
Frank, and puts me off again to-day
Aside from my labor, l have been a
the expense of wood, soap and stare
for him, an expense / can i'll afford t
bear"
"Contemptible creaturew muttere
Frank.
"Besides, he has poisoned Annie
mind with his tiattery, with the pa
pers he has brought her to read, an
with his talk of city life. Do 20
think it would do any good to spea
to Miss Jessie about him? She is a
ways kind"
"Pm afraid not, Mrs. Bennett" n
piled the man, with a short, unmirtl
full laugh; "Jessie is more infatuate
than Annie, and, Judge, proposes fC
herself a life of misery by margin
him."
"Can't you talk with her, sir?
seems q dreadful pity"
"Talk with herW bitterly. 81 hav
no influence. 1 am only a clodhoppC
compared with her city cousin"
And then their voices were borr
away, but what had been revealed
Jessie was enough, for she felt stunne