The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-06-13
N ehafge 81 81
taste ard e,
ne ladies are res ee 6 ,ii = i
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taste ard. :. : - {.
he ladies are res Sc :sli E 1.
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"a year Or two don't make no great
odds, John
"Well, perhaps it don't, +" he assented
s'Jobn, cried the woman, as her son
took up his hat, "where are you goingg''
''I'm going to New York for a day or
two, to see about that new hay-cutter,
mother, before the grass gets too high, -
answered he
To-day, Johnl"
''Yes, to-day. Why motif"
ssGo over and see Melinda fist, John.
Get something settled" pleaded Mrs.
Jaggett.
"Wby, mother, what a hurry you're
in TO get me married off" he cried,
lightly.
.sShe expects it, JOHN
Couldn't you manage it for me.
motherl" jestingly demanded the young
man
,'John,1
swell, really, I don't seem able to get
up any enthusiasm, said he, Struggling
his broad, handsome shoulders. s'And
must get that hay-cutter ordered. We
shall have a thundery summer, and the
grass meadows must be looked after"
John Jaggett went his way to the city,
and straightway forgot all about Miss
Melinda Butts, who lived at the red
shingled farmhouse on the other side of
Skull Mountain.
Shewas plain and red haired, and never
seemed to have very much to say for her
self; and John Jaggett had all a mans
appreciation of beauty and softness in
womilnly presence. Why should he
think about Melinda Buttsl
&c ordered the hay-cutter, looked in
at sale Of stout farm-horses, made in
quiriiss as to new cocking-stove for his
mother and finally stopped at little
millinery store, kept by former Skull
Mountain neighbor.
II want to get mother lace cap or
worsted Ghoulder-cape, or something"
thought he.
But the store was ftill 81 stfsl,'
and new name glahaissE
painted letters, On lf
door.
HallOi" said Jaasls What's shs
matterl'
+Mrs. Mixsell was buried last month, "
said the new incumbent, a stout widow
with row of artificial auburn curls
which did not in the least match her back
hair ''And poor Alice is crying her
eyes out in the back room. P'r'aps you
know some of her friends2 It don't stand
to reason as can keep her here, with
three daughters of my own. And you
know"
"oh, Mr.. Jaggett, uttered soft, ap-
pealing voice from the stuffy, half-lighted
little apartment beyond, ''is that youl
Oh, poor mother has died and left me,
and don't know what to dom
Alice Mixsell was fair haired, mount
ain-daisy-eomplexioned girl of seven
teen. Her blue eyes, drenched in tears,
looked piteously up TO John Jaggett-
her coral lip trembled. They were old
acquaintances, and he had always adj
mired her. Nay, once or twice, when he
had been staying in the city, he had
taken her to a theatre matinee or a pict
ure gallery. As he looked at her sweet,
helpless loneliness, great wave of pro-
tecting tenderness swept over his whole
nature.
Alice, said he, ''my darlingl Sweet
Alice, dry your tears. Henceforward you
snail be my care. Get your bonnet and
thingsl Wen 90 to the little parsonage
around the corner and be married at once
land I'll take you back home with mew
Alice drew back-her velvet blue eyes
gashed.
mop said she. eYou are saying this
simply out of PITY"
sim saying it because ] love you" be
cried, eanestly--and the deep light of
his dark eyes coroborated his words.
Man is a creature of impulse, and John
Jsggett's feelings had taket. such COM
pIete possession Of him, that it was not