Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1892-11-26

otSeSue aSh q ouHSu Va tAcoS nS"S.A
every evening from the yard in front
Of theccttagsthey had called "oursf'
She had seemed benumbed, but
the lilacs and their memories open
ed the floodgates of tears. Through
the long weary hours she kept watch
with her dead love, aud then buried
"foreyer," abe said.
= -
JEAN said Farmer Murray, en-
tsring the room where his daughter
was busily engaged in domestic du-
ties, !" do you know Jack Phillips
has gone out West-started this at.
ternoon ~
All the color left the girls face.
@No,n she faltered us it moi
rather sudden thing ~
Well, you ought to know best
about that, seems to me, seems he's
been danglin' round you for the last
seven years. And now they say he's
offered himself to that city gal up to
Square Johnssns, and she's refused
him and he has cleared out. How
came you TO bungle your affairs this
wayi You ought to have married
him long ago, when he first built
that cottage, that's what you ought
to have done. / couldn't have spar
ed you very well, but I'd never have
stood in the way of your happiness
Jean did not answer she could
not. All her sacrifices, all her love,
had ended thus-dessrtion on one
side, reproachss on the other. She
held up trembling hand to stay
further words, and then left the
room, TO bear her grief alone.
After that day it became an under
stood thing that Jack Phillips name
was not to be mentioned in the MUIR
ray household. Jean lived her life
In sweet patience-her fathers as
sistant, her brothers counsellor and
friend. As the years went on she
changed somewhat, her girlishness
giving place to noble womanhood
but her face was fair and sweet still,
Notwithstanding its look of suffer
ing.
She never married; her heart was
true to the old love. But one by
one her brothers left the farm and
founded homes of their own, until
she and her father were left alone.
One night, possessed by the spirit
OF restlessness. she walked down to
the gate where she had parted for
the last time from Jack. Why did
he seem SO near her? Why did she
feel a new sensation of pity for himl
Busy with sad memories che had not
listened to the conversation of q
nsighbor who was sitting on the
porch retailing the latest gossip to
her father; but all at once she caught
her breath as she heard the Words
They say old Mis- Phillips son
Jack, who has been 80 long away,
has come back. He got hurt in a
mine and his partner brought him
home to-day. He can't get well,
they say, and is as poer as pouyerty,
after all his wanderings. 1t comes
hard on Mis- Phillips to have to
nurse him alone"
Jean heard no more. Jack was at
home-not the strong, manly Jack
who had left her years ago, but poor,
MANNED, dying man.
Jack has come back ! Jack has
come back |" she kept saying over
and over again. Her whole being
seemed transformed and not stop
ping to don her wraps she started
down the lane toward the cottage OF
Mrs. Phillips.
They needed her there, this poor
widow and her unfortunate sen, and
she whose first thought had ever
been the duty she owed to others
would not evade it now. What mat
tered the wrong she endured in the
past! All was forgotten, save that q
suffering fellow-creature needed her
service.
In few minutes she had reached
the house. She opened the door
and entered the kitchen, where Mrs.
Phillips bent YEARLY over hot fire.
have come to help you to take
care of Jack, she said.
The sad mother understood and
without a werd led her to the room
whore Jack lay tossing in delirium.
"Jeanl Jean!" he called. Will
you not forgive mes 1t was all q
mistake-I knew not what I did
Come back, Jeani Oh, Jean, Jean. I"
The two women looked into each
others eyes.
he has been like this ever since
he came home" the elder said.
Then Jean few to the bedside and
fung her arms about the sick man.
Il am here, Jack" she whisper
ed.
His rawlings ceased at once. The
light Of reason returned to his eyes.
He lifted feeble hand and caress-
ingly stroke her cheek.
Jean I" he cried in a glad tone,
then added, Kiss me, DEAR And
aha kia9cd him az fha taara fall an