New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-31
Miss ,Jewett met Rowena's eve


40 much? / shouldn't think she'd care neither ior
a Teller that was bewitchcd with somebody else.
M Jim is Jest bewitched bout me, n thaVs
fact"
The girl laughed, but not too triumphanesy.
She withdrew one hand and placed 10 on
Rowena's with strong pressure.
You wouldn't want to keep beau that way
would We, now?" she asked
Rowena recoiled
mo-" she said "but George is Ill and weak,
and so unhappy. Do you care for himP"
oh land, no. not particular, you know It's
amusin', though, to keep him on. M like him
frst-rate. Is she really sick P" with interest.
Yes, really"
Miss Jewett laughed again.
"Odd, amt it, that any one should glt real sick
about Jim Townshend? There amt man on
the face of the earth with gettin' sick about"
The idea seemed to amuse Miss Jewett greatly.
She shook her broad shoulders and broke into
loud laugh. Then she said apologetically that
she was laughin at what she was thinkln on
Nothing at this uncture occurring TO Rowena to
say, she said nothing She knew that she could
do very little more. She began to wonder why
her companion continued TO laugh. she was - not
quite so disagreeabe now as she had been at first
yes"
II thoughts Mkely's not. He's hangin' round
der how he gifts chance to do his work, amt 1t Z"
More laughter.
At last Mary Jane became more composed. She
turned round on the circumscribed buggy seat
I'm sure don't know what there is about you,
Miss Tuttle," she began with broad frankness,
but | was mad nough a few minutes ago to
bit. III kinder like you. * wish knew how
you git such fit on your dress Have you got
pattern?"
Rowena was now very much depressed, She t,,
felt that she had accomplished nothing; and still
there was hope lurking in her heart.
Miss Jewett spent a short time to urging the
horse and demonstrating with it, with no effect
whatever. Then she sat back.
Now I'm goin' to tell we something; it's
secret l amt even told mar yet. lps some
You may tell her, but You needn't lisp 1t 10 an
other soul Promise me you WON'T
mo, l won't
Well, then, Pm ingaged.'
Rowena could say no more She felt great
load lifted from her heart. She already pictured
herself as giving the good news to George
u s,pose you don't know him. It's Charley
Simmons. He's got er place In grocery store IN
Borston m we expect 10 be married in the fall,
m I sh,ll live in Borstonl Mebby it'll be near
you" ,,;.
The glow of exultation and satisfaction on MISS
Jewett's face was superlatlve $50
Twill you tell Mr. Townshendp" ,u-
Wont he be cut up thought" responded MISS
Jewett. ,,os.
will you tell him?" persisted Rowena almost
fevershly.
"Oh, YES of course l will"
"The first time you see him."
How YOU go onl Yes, will. That's prom
Use m III keep it, too. But there coulnnt any
body else have made me do it. Serl EG@s said Ro
Mcbbv you',I Jest kiss me for that" said Miss
Jewett almost shyly and coloring family as sne
'pSNS Now we're real friendly, amt we2' she We re-
msrted after the kiss had been given. You
lest tell George Warner | wouldn't have Done ~
for anybody but you. She's bright one 10 Senu
Miss Jewett went on talking in the same starr,
,;ra ntS' frank manner. She was telling some
neenIiarites of an admirer who had threatened 10
kill himself unless she >" had hlm' "nen 'N' -
terrupted her recital TO eXclalm; .;,,. bo
:" Mercy, Who is that, any way An ne
lest got ND fit to kill. and no mistake Dlu t9%s
ever anything beat that iii T' SoW GTrs which Miss
.Iewetts horse was walking, with the OLD gray ray
stumbling behind, was man on herseDacA' Ito
course it was Keats Bradford. S ons Kind i leg
were not held lest he might fall was Mar os
surveying the landscape with approving EYES, IN
Mr. Bradford not looking to ina kowen rsu ~
this buggy with companion. he was III p"iS IL
was ' yerv near the two before he looked at them
with any interest The her b6 ns a dace fns his
brilliantly lie stopped his hoi0e "u" iA9
cap Miss Tuttle. Marmaduke knew You before |
did. Will you have him? lie was nappy "i'l
Inc The uit terrier ri was wrlggling with joy With
very small aid he leaped from the saddie inOo
Rowena's arms. IN, air,,;sod in
,srest and admiration She was absolutely sure
that she had never seen leather leggings like these
now before her. Her never-seeping instinct OF OF
coquetry became instantly active Ro cond 5f NOT helm
respecting girl who knew man VINO hau sucn
leggings who had glass in his eye or lat4 hir
dangling from cord, and VINO could ttke Oh n n
can with such q manner aS that Inns was no
common beau Charley Simmons seemed; Tor tne
moment 20 recede very far into the background
Bradford had turned bis horse, and the amman
now walking by the sac Oh the TtIe he said
Your mother told me in which direction you had
gone Marmaduke was frantic to come wlth HE
If we intrude. send us away III, ,..,u
The young mans face was radiant. lhere wae
no more any languor on it. He had gone 10 steep
the night before with the resolution to see MISS
futile at every possible moment. The carrying
joyment as he had anticipated it would be. lie
now looked down at the girl with a recH, nss
pleasure in his eyes He felt that he would not
deny himself single glance.
Miss Jewett's shrewd observation was upon
him She was fully capable Of interpreting the
expression on the mans face.
She changed her mind about exercising any OF
her arts upon him. She did not wish to waste
any ammunition. But she pushed powerful
elbow against Rowena and whispered:
Do introduce him. L..
Rowena obeyed. Bradford could. be polite, but
he thought it. was time lost TO look long at any
other face when he might see Rowena. lie was
gratefully aware that his cousin Vanessa was n
good many miles away and that she did not know
where he was at this moment
He did not know that she had the slightest
influence upon him. but he did know that she
knew him almost as well as he knew himself
And there are occasions in life when the absence
of such a person is desirable.
There was a bitterness in his thoughts of his
cousin that was very like the bitterness OF leal-
ousy Later he acted under a different feeling.
Perhars this was the first time that Mary Jane
.Jewett had. since she was grown, been In the
company of gentleman and not been first in his
ewes She was one of those women who seem TO
onnears But now she came nearer effacing her
~ a., aLn hnd over come before She Watched