Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-09-01
THE cushion STORY"
What Jen Found In Hor Strange
Legacy.

Teddy's voice, usually a good-natured
drawl, had an accent now kcener and
sharper than Jen was accustomed to.
She was pinning on her hat in front OF
the kitchen mirror, while Teddy, his
long legs dangling down, sat on the
edge Of the table, regarding his step
cousin with an expression In which
surprise and annoyance were mingled
Jen's face reflected the look. She had
long been used TO regarding Teddy in
the light Of an abject slave 10 all her
caprices, and this faint sign Of disap-
probation startled her.
well Teddy Barryi" Jen said, turn.
ing full around
THAT'S the name" said the undis-
concerted Ted ~ was only wonder
ing, my child, why you wasted so much
time over that old French woman. You
broil yourself every day going down
there TO make up her room, and wash
her, aud cook for her, and read to her.
OH ! know, Jcn, you're always back
when the milk comes in to do your duty
here; but what hurts me Is that you
seem to feel IL equally your mission in
life TO waste your sweet strength on
her."
Ted's harangue was over. lie
clasped his strong bronzed hands back
of his head, and looked to Jen for an
answer She was n slim slip of girl,
not quite eighteen, but there was a
look in her fearless gray eyes and some
thing In the curve Of her very sweet but
proud young lips which made one feel
instinctively that she not only had the
courage Of her convictions" but she
had weighed those convictions before
accepting them. She was the niece of
Teddy's step-uncle, old John Barry,
and since her aunt's death year ago
had kept house for him. Ted, brought
up with her from childhood, had just
returned after a two years absence
west, to find III health, worry of mind,
and advancing age had so enfeeb led his
uncle that the old homestead was now
In the hands OF n man only waiting for
his date to forcclose.
Ted" said Jen, very gravely, "do
you think II you were poor lonely old
woman, you would like to be entirely
deserted? You know Nine. Dupre
came here first trying TO find some of
her old friends Her daughter was to
have been married during the war, and
the officer was shot down in battle the
day set for the wedding She was
looking for his people. She couldn't
find them. She is SO sick and poorl"
Teddy's face was decidedly gentler
In expression by this time. "Jen," he
said, smiling in his slow way. You're
all right It's only that know how
hard you work at home; and when
see you going down to spend your leis-
urc over the French lady-well, it goes
against me-"
"rll be back to tea for sure" said
Jen, because"
AS Jen hesitated, Teddy supplement-
ed with a wicked but triumphant
laugh: "Oh, Jeni Becdusei Does the
old miser erer give you anything to eat?"
"Teddyl" Jen's eyes were grave with
reproach. "Do you know she has just
avery little money in an old silk glove?
| take few cents ut n time, and spend
IL for her on the barest necessaries,
There have been times my heart has
ached to think / could not do more for
her"
|
the porch of tho old farmhouse. II
was at the back, facing the garden
which they both had known and loved
from childhood. Jen's bed OF valley
lilies, her sweet-pea vines, the long
strip of box border, belonging to her
earliest recollection; and where the
bean poles stood near an old plum tree
was the place made years ago for a
special planting Of radishcs, which
Jcn, a six-year-old girl, had declared
would thrive best therel Teddy and
she had been so proud Of that special
garden given them long ago! The real
farm lands stretched below-rich, fer
tile, beautiful to see, save for that one
fact that they lay under the dreadful
weight OF Dall's mortgage.
Poor old gardenl" sighed Jen.
"Wcll, Teddy, Wen have to do the best
we can, ! suppose, when we leave it."
Ted watched the girls slim upright
young figure down the road n few mo
mcnts in silence. His western venture
had proved unsuccessful, but through nc
fault of his. At twenty he had, sorely
against his will, given up his chosen
career in life-civil cngineering-to set
tie matters on the old farm, after which
he went back to the west, resuminl
work under humpered conditions. Al
his savings had been sunk in trying u
cxtricate his uncle from his bondage
lie had returned to find Hiram BAL
ready and anxious to foreclose at once
Meanwhile Jenny had reached the
bridge which SPAWNED n small brooh
near old Nine. Dupre's lodgings
She felt rs though u step from child
hood to woman's kingdom had beer
taken since she had learned the actua
emergency which had confronted hei
home life, and like many another cir
similarly placed the question: "Wha
can do9" was uppermost in her mind
There were her nimble fingers read,
with the needle; there was her farming
life-dairywork was n specially will
her. She was young, strong, unham
percd by NERVES" or foolish fancies,
~ oughtto do something" Jen thought
almost audibly, and lifted her eyes
with a deep, earnest look in them, Il
suddenly meet the small sharp orbs o
Lawyer Dali lie, too, was crossing
the little bridge.
"Well, Jenny" he half sneered
"what do you want--all the earth, ant
the bridge, too2 Now ! guess know
your errand; you're bound for mad
ame's."
Eyes, Mr.. DALI" Jen said, with al
effort at composure. ~ must hurr!
on; she is very ill.,"
"Oh, ! knowl" said the lawyer Ant
As Jen was hurrying on he added