The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1898-05-07

Anu INC lONlHp Htuit va 'hS "i''Ni
asserted itself in burst of tears at
thought of the coming separation.
Jack looked at her regretfully.
81 hate like everything to leave
you, Cynthia, but l suppose must.
We're going right away, too, he
added, looking out of the window to
avoid the rare and piteous sight of his
strong, bright sister i'll tears.
CYNTHIA Lee swallowed her grief as
best she could, restoring her brothers
self-possession by few commonplace
words; then he went out, and she
worked on with nimble fingers, she'll
ing beans for dim r.
Soon the outer door flew open, i'm
PEELED by the eager hands of young
girl.
1.-The Bartlett pears are ripe, Gym
thia; see these" rolling some beauti-
full specimens Of the fruit mentioned
across the table.
The fruit did not call forth any en-
thusiasm on Cynthia's part, and the
younger girl, seeing that something
was wrong, began to shell the beans,
her face disturbed by frowns.
She, like her brother, had an I'M
pleasant communication to make this
morning, but the time seemed scarcely
favorable, Judging by Cynthia's face.
There was long silence, broken at
last by Cynthia.
Jessie" she said, "Jack is going
to leave us; how shall we ever get
along without him?"
"How-he is?" stammered Jessie.
She had known it for weeks. sob, "
she went on, "there's no use beating
about the bush, Cynthia; l knew Jack
was going, and am going, too, at the
same time he goes.
Cynthia turned pale, stern face
toward her sister.
"You do not mean it, do you, Jes-
sie?" she said, with a quaver i'll her
voice. ''Why, 1 promised mother
never to let you out of my sight till
you were grown up, able to"
"Why, Cynthia! I'm II, and lots
of girls marry even younger than
that" interrupted Jessie, impatiently.
The expression of Cynthia's face
changed once more.
Marry she exclaimed. "In the
name of mercy, whom are going to
marry?"
"Why, Frank Bailey, of course
Jack knew it, and l should think he
might have told you and saved me the
trouble. l should think you nigh
have seen low things were going ant
been prepared for this and saved get
ting yourself so worked up over it,
grumbled Jessie in an injured tone.
"Why,I did know pretty near abou
Jack, but you-you're only child,
said Cynthia, drearily.
"Well, I'm engagedto Frank Bailey
any way, and I'm going to marry hin
and 90 west with him and Jack an,
Jennie and his folks, and You vii
have to get along the best you can
You ought to be glad Jack and 1 ar
doing so well.
Cynthia thought that time woul
prove whether they were indeed doinj
we'll, but she did not say it.
"Then l must live oil alone" sh
said.
ooh, no! You have the two dog
and six cats and Moody and the hens
And you know how to manage tn
place. Wasn't it lucky that fathe
left it for your share and gave til
money to me and Jack?"
Cynthia listened to the end of Jes
sizes speech, then dropped her fac
into her hands and laughed and erie
Historically, till Jessie left the rool
with an air hslf-indignant, half-so
rowful
Cynthia did not harrow the feeling
of her brother and sister by any MOI
displays of grief. She set cheerful
about preparing outfits for the tw
!, young emigrants, and before the tin
, for their departure had arrived thel
stood ready, locked and corded in th
, hall, two big boxes for each of then
| containing, as Jessie we'll knew, I'll
lions share of the household line
which by right belonged to Cynthia
Soon the time came when the doub
wedding, the good byes and the d
parture were all events of the past, al
Cynthia was alone.
, She felt indescribably miserable
t she turned to go in after watchil
r them out of sight, and the dogs. loo
: ing into her face, knew that som
s thing was wrong and plainly show,
q il by their atfectionate demonstr
tions.
"You dear old boysr' she cried, l
r turning their caresses. 'We mu
fight it out alone now"
Cynthia's nature was not east
crushed. 1t bounded up from t
a pressure of ill fortunes iron heel
" does a child's toy of India rubber
~ which it has set its tiny foot to see t
rebound.
= She missed the brother and sist
naturally, but when two years pass
and they had not written to her me
than half dozen times, she could L
but feel less desire for their comps
ionship than at first. Indeed, scar,
ing her mind, she found little in it |
content.
- She had worked hard indoors a
out, and as a result she found h
ie self, in addition to her content
III mind, possessed of perfect health q
ei O bank book.
Is. Still, on that second anniversa
le, it seemed to Cynthia that she VOL
nd have given much to see her you
IN brother and sister walk in and s
CO themselves at her lonely dinner tai
- For the first time since their departl
~ she gave way to a fit of crying 4
~ was childish in its intensity, as :
III sat waiting for her dinner to cook.