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

Legacy.
Going again TO old Madame Skim
flints, and in this SUM"
Teddy's voice, usually n 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 aud annoyance were mingled.
Jen's face reflected the look. She had
long been used TO regarding Teddy in
the light Of an abject slave TO all her
caprices, and this faint sign OF disap-
probation startled her
"Well Teddy liarryl' Jen said, turn.
ing full around
That's the name" said the undis-
concerted Ted. II 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, and cook for her, and read to her.
Obi | know, Jen, you're always back
when the milk comes In 70 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. He
clasped his strong bronzed hands back
Of his head, and looked TO Jen for nm
answer. She was slim slip Of n girl,
not quite eighteen, but there was a
look In her fearless gray eyes and somo-
thing In the curve of her very sweet but
proud young lips which made one feel
instinctively that she not only had tho
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 aunts death n year ago
had kept house for him. Ted, brought
up with her from childhood, had Just
returned after two years absence
west, to find III health, worry of mind,
and advancing nge had so enfeeb led his
uncle that the old homestead was now
In the hands OF a man only waiting for
his date to foreclose.
Ted" said Jen, very gravely, do
You think IL you were poor lonely old
woman, You would like to be entirely
deserted2 You know Nine. Dupre
came here first trying TO find some of
her old friends. Her daughter was 10
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 poor"
Teddy's face was decidedly geDtler
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 ut home; and when
see you going down to spend your leis-
ure over the French lady-well, 1t goes
against me-"
"I'll he back to tea for sure" said
Jen, because"
AS Jen hcsitated, Teddy supplement-
ed with wicked but triumphant
laugh: "Oh, Jeni Becdusei Docs the
old miser erer give you anything TO eat?"
Teddy" Jcn's eyes were grave with
reproach. "Do You know she has Just
avery little money in an old silk glove?
take few cents ut time, and spend
IL for her on the barest nccessaries.
There have been times my heart has
achcd TO think could not do more for
her"
BY this time the stcp-cousins were in
the porch OF the old farmhouse. II
was at the back, facing the garden
which they both had known and loved
from childhood. Jen's bed OF valley
lili0s, her swcet-pea vines, the long
strip OF box border, belonging TO her
earliest recollection; and whore tho
bean poles stood near an old plum tree
was the place made years ago for a
special planting Of radishes, which
Jen, a six-year-old girl, had declared
would thrive best there! Teddy and
she had been so proud Of that special
garden given them long agol 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 garden" sighed Jen.
"Well, Teddy, Wen have 10 do the best
we can, suppose, when we leave it."
Ted watched the girls slim upright
young figure down the road few mo-
ments in silence. His western venture
had proved unsuccessful, but through no
fault of his. At twenty he had, sorely
against his will, given up his chosen
career in life-ciyil engineering-to set
tie matters on the old farm, after which
no went back TO the west. resuming
work under hampercd conditions. All
his savings had been sunk in trying 10
extricate his uncle from his bondage.
lie had returned TO find Hiram Dali
ready and anxious to foreclose ut once.
Meanwhile Jenny had reached the
bridge which SPAWNED small brook
near old Nine. Dupre's lodgings.
She folt as though step from child
hood TO woman's kingdom had been
taken since she had learned the actual
emergency which had confronted her
home life, and like many another girl
similarly placed the question: "What
can Ido9" was uppermost In her mind.
There were her nimble fingers ready
with the needle; there was her farming
| life-dairywork was specially with
her. Sho was young, strong, unham.
pered by "neryes" or foolish fancies.
~ oughtto do something" Jen thought,
almost audibly, and lifted her eyes,
with deep, earnest look in them, to
suddenly meet the small sharp orbs Of
Lawyer Dali lie, too, was crossing
the little bridge
swell, Jenny" he half sneered,
"what do you want-all the earth, and