The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-07-21
THE Cushion STORY
what Jen Found in Her Strange
Legacy.

drawl, had an accent now kcener and
sharper than Jen was accustomed 10.
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 Ind
loag been used to regarding Teddy IN
the light 81 an abject slave % all her
caprices, and this faint sign Of disap-
probation startled her.
well 7eddy Barry Jen said, turns
ing full around
"That's the Nance said tire undis-
concerted Ted u was only wonder
ing, my child, why you wasted 81 much
time over that OLD French woman. You
broil yourself every day going down
there 10 make up her room, and wash
her, and cook for her, and read t. her.
OH know, len, you're always back
when tho milk comes In to doyour duty
here; but what hurts me Is that Won
seem TO feel Il equally your mission In
life 10 waste your sweet strength ON
her.
Teds haranEue was over. He
clasped his strong bronzed hands back
of his head, and looked to Jen for an
answer She was d slim slip 81 girl,
not quite eighteen. but there was a
look ii her fearless gray eyes and some
thing III the curve Of her very sweet bnt
proud young lips which made one Il cl
.instinctively that she not only had the
courage 81 her convictions" but she
had weighed those convictions before
accepting them. She was the niece Of
Tedlys step-uncle, old John Barry,
and since her aunt's deatRa 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 enfeeblcd his
uncle that the old homestead was now
In the hands Of a man only waiting for
his date TO foreclpse.
tied, " said Jen, very gfhyely, do
You think II you were d poor lonely old
woman, you would like 10 10 tntirs{y
deserted2 You know Nine Bupre
came here first trying 20 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 poor
Teddy's face was decidedly gcntIer
in expression by this time. '.Jen, he
said, smiling in his slow way. You're
all right Its only that know how
hard you work at home; and when l
see you going down to spend your leis-
ure over the French lady wen, II goes
against me.
I'm be back to tea for sure, said
Jen, because"
As Jen hesitated. Teddy supplement-.
ed with wicked but triumphant
laugh: "oh, Jeak Because Does the
old miser eeer give you anything to eat?"
TEDDY" Jen's eyes were grave with
reproach. Doyou know she has just
avery little money in an old silk glove2
take few cents at time, and spend
it for her on the barest necessaries.
There have been times my heart has
ached to think conld not do more for
her
By this time the step-cousins were in
the porch Of the old, farmhouse 1t
was at the back. facing the garden
which they both had lSnowpland loved
from childhood. Jen's bed Of valley
lilies, her sweet-pea vines. the long
strip of box border, belonging to her
earliest reeolIection; and where the
bean poles stood near an old plum tree
was the place made years ago for
special planting Of radishes, which
Jen, six-year-old girl, had declared
would thrive best therci 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
weightof Dall's mortgage,
Poor old gardenr sighed Jen,a
"Well, Teddy, Wei have to DO the best
we can, J suppose, when Ne leave ii. N
Ted watched the girls slim upright
young figure down the road a few mo
ments in silence His western venture
had proyedlnnsuccessful bit through no
fault Of his. Attwenty ne had, soreIy
against.h his win given up his chosen
career " iife-eiyii engineering to seta
tlematters % the Oh farrn, aftcr which
he went back Sc the west. resumii1r
work pnder hniapered conditions, All
has savings had been sunk ia .trying to.
extricatc tis uncle from Ills bondage.
He had returned 10 fluid Hiram Dali
ready and anxious 10 forcrlose at once,
Meanwhile Jenny had reached the
bridge wliieli spawned a small brook
near ola Nime Dnpre's lodgings.
She felt AZ th"ugb d step fronl child
hood " 'Holaanis Kingdom lad bcen
taken since she had learned The actual
emergency wlsioh had confronted her
home life, ana like n4a1iy another girl
similarly placed tAe question. .What
can do2 Vas upperinost I'M ber MINI Y
There were her nilnble tFprers reads
with the needle, there tyas her farmiur
life airywork was 4 specialty WftbH
her She was young, strong. ljfll,arn.
peFed BY nerves Or foolish faae{ss
u ouaAtto % something, Jea tlf5urjt,
almost audibly, and lined hcr eFt.s
with q deep, earnest look in them VI
Suddenly meet the small sharp otbs sif
Lawyer paED IleMt too, wasEerossi n9
the little bridge I
a Well Jenny, ~ Aaif stiecrc,l
what DE- sen want i'm {be catth. ard
the bridge too2 Now Guess ,;noy
yotgr erFand; you're bonn,I fqr had.
anne
Ies, Mr. DALI Jcn said, With ~
enort at eempasare i must hurry
mn ~ ~ sais HtE%G