The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-11-14

broke off her love-song forever Under
the circumstances the sight that met her
eyes was decidedly appalling. In the mid
die of the room stood Jessie, her graceful
head bent forward, her eyes fixed on the
carpet at her feet, and bushes mantling
her delicate, lily-like face, which now ri
vailed the roses in the garden. DIR. Cook
was holding her hands, and talking so ca
gerly and rapidly that neither observed
that they had an interested, although near
ly petrifed, listener.
"You must have known-you must have
seen-why came here, Jessie, and why L
will continue to come forever until you
promise to go with me to my home, my
darling, my own little wife.
"No, no" protested Jessie, growing
pale, and raising scared face. Il never
knew-never suspected; and indeed, DIR.
Cook, I dare not believe it, for we all
thought that my Cousin Kate was the
magnet that drew you here. She thought
so, too. Everybody. Oh, dearl''
"But no, my sweet Jessie. 1t was
you, - interrupted the ardent lover. GAS
for Kate-I ought to say Miss Kate
'Pray don't mind such a trife, inter
rupted Kate, having now recovered her
voice and breath "Kate will do very well
DIR. Cook Cousin Kate, if youlike And
now, pray, let me congratulate you both,
and beg pardon for this untimely Interrupt
ton, but Jennie made mistake, and told
me you were waiting to see me" And
with a mock-playful courtesy, and smile
that did not wholly conceal her chagrin,
Kate laughed and ran out of the room,
humming an air, but this time it was not
love-song.
DIR. Cook and Jessie stared, appalled,; and
then, the situation being absurd, after
while they laughed, and sitting down on
the sofa, talked for long time in whispers,
holding each others hands. And when
they parted it was as betrothed lovers.
But Kate Macfarlane's assumed spirits
only lasted long enough for her to gain the
privacy of her own room, and was then
quickly replaced by the rage, jealousy and
despair which was consuming her, for she
loved Clarence Cook with such passion and
intensity as she was capable of feeling, and
just in like proportion she hated Jessie,
and at that moment she could have killed
her happy rival.
When Jessie's engagement andapproach-
ing marriage was announced, Aunt Phemie
felt keen pang at the prospect of losing
her pet; and this was increased almost to
bitterness by what seemed to her Jessie's
unseemly haste to leave the home which
had sheltered her since childhood. She
could not know that Kate's hate and jeal-
ousy made Jessie's life torture while they
continued under one roof; and Kate took
pains to augment her aunts feeling toward
her favorite, and would have succeeded in
causing a lifelong breach between Aunt
Phemie and Jessie but for the latter's un-
failing sweetness and gentleness. As it
was, she hastened the young girls depar-
ture, and in her absence did everything
that deceit and malignity could suggest to
undermine her power in the heart of her
aunt.
Aunt Phemie was very lonely after her
pet went away, and if Kate had not been
so Ingenious in her malice it is quite pos
sible that the old lady would have followed
Jessie into her new home; but, as it was,
she had been made to feel that she would
be an unwelcome guest to the girl she had
befriended and cared for so many years,
and therefore she continued to abide with
her real nieces, and to long for her absent
and only adopted one. Perhaps it was be-
cause she was so lonely, and so anxious to
be loved and cared for, that Aunt Phemie
lavished her affections even more than was
her wont on her own kith and kin. Certain it
is that she grew more kind and indulgent
to their various whims day after day; and
never did she hear any one of them ex-
press wish but what she hastened, if pos
sible, to crafty it without delay. Very
likely she became too indulgent and anx-
ious to please them, for they took advant-
age of her generosity in many ways, and
encroached so much, indeed, that even this
most generous and affectionate relative was
at times surprised, and once or twice even
wondered in her secret soul if they really
cared anything about her at all, for her
own sake, or only made show of affection
for the sake of such profit as they could
bring to themselves You see, it doesn't
do to be too kind, too unselfish even toward
ones own nearest and dearest relatives.
1t was about this time that curious
phrase made use OF by her niece, Jane, was
accidentally overheard by Aunt Phemie,
which set her thinking and wondering more
than ever. All her relatives were chatter
ing together over the breakfast table one
morning. She had left it little while
before, and they didn't know she was within
hearing. These were the words she heard
Jane say;
'I tell you what, good people, if you
take friends advice you will be careful
not to kill the Golden Goose. l have no.
ticed her grow little restive, once or twice
lately"
''Pshaw !" exclaimed Kate. "What is
the use of Golden Goose if she no longer
l,,- ,,,Ida,, aorsys 9''