The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-07-27
THE CUSHION STORY. "
What Jen Found In Her Strange
Legacy.


flint's. and In this sunl-
Teddy's voice, usually good-natured
drawt, had an accent now kcener and
sharper than Jcn was accustomed 70.
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 20 all her
capriccs, aud this faint sign OF disap-
probation startled her
Well Ts'dy Barryr Jcn said. turn
ing full around
That's the NAME said tho undis-
concerted Ted II was only wonder
ing, uly child. why you wasted 30 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, Jen, you're always back
when the milk comes in 10 do your duty
hcreS but what hurts me is that you
seem TO feel il equally your mission In
life % waste your sweet strength on
her.
Tcd's llarangue was over lie
clasped his strong bronzed hands hnck
OF his head, and looked TO Jen for an
answer She was slim slip Of girl.
not quite eighteen. but there was a
look In her fearless gray eyes and some
thing In the curve az her vcry sweet but
proud young lips which made one feel
instinctively that she not only had the
courage 81 her convictions" but she
had weighed those convictions before
accepting them She WINS the niece Of
Teddy's step-uncie. old John Barry,
and since her aunt's death a year ago
had kept house for him Ted, brought
up with her from childhood had Just
returned after two years absence
west, 10 find III health, worry Of mind.
and advancing age had SO enfeebled his
uncle that the old homestead was now
ri the hands Of a man only waiting for
his date to foreclose.
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 tho wedding. She was
looking for his people. She couldn't
find them. She Is 30 sick and poorl"
Teddy's face was decidedly gentlcr
in expression by this time. ''Jen. he
said, smiling in his slow wny You're
nil right Its only that know how
hard you work at home; and when I
see you going down 70 spend your leis-
ure over the French lady we'll, It goes
against me"
.Tll be back to tea for sure, !" said
Jen, because"
AS Jen hesitated, Teddy supplement-
ed with wicked but triumphant
laugh. ''Oh, Jenf Becdusei Does the
old miser eaer give youanything to cat?'l
.'Teddyf' Jen's eyes were grave with
reproach do you know she has just
u very little money in nm old silk glove?
] take few cents at time, and spend
1t for her on the barcst neccssarics
There have been times my heart has
ached 70 think ! could not do more for
her"
Iiy this time the step-cousins were in
the porch Of the old farmhouse. II
was al tic back. facing the gasden
which they both had known and loved
from childhood. Jen's bed of valley
lilies, her swect-pca vines, the long
strip Of box border, belonging to her
earliest recollection; and whore tho
bean poles stood near an old plum tree
was tie place made years ago for \
special planting 81 radishes. which
Jen, six-year-old girl, HAD declared
would thrive best thcrci 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.s
"WelI Teddy, we'll have 70 do the best
we can. suppose. when we leave 1t. "
Ted watched the girls slim upright
young figure down the road a few mo
la silence. Ills western venture
had proved unsuccessful, but through no
fault ~ his At twenty he had, sorely
against his will, given up his chosen
career ID life civil engineering to set
tie matters on the old farm, after which
he went back 70 the west. resuming
work under hampered conditions. All
his savings had been sunk In trying TO
cxtricate his uncle from his bondage.
He had returned TO find Hiram Dali
ready and anxious to foreclose at once.
Meanwhile Jenny had reached the
bridge which SPAWNED small brook
near old Nine Dupre's lodgings.
She felt as though a 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 Tdo?" WAS nppcrmost In her mind
There were her nimble fingers ready
with the needle; there was her farming
life dairywork was d specially with
her She was young, strong. unham-
pered by NERVES" or foolish fancieA
''Iou9ltto do something, Jen thought.
almost nudibly, and lifted her eyes.
with deep, earnest look in them, to
suddenly meet the small sharp orbs VI
Lawyer Dali lie. too. was crossing
the little bridge,
well, Jenny" he half sneered.
'.what do you want--all the earth, and
the bridge. too? Now guess know
rsn. n.r.nd. ,-oIi,re hound for mad