The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1902-04-10
Observation-Disclosures
...JEAN...
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

When came to Boston as a studel
two years ago, little expected to t
living on Beacon street at the end {
my course. My sojourn in New Eng
land began very modestly. My roor
had been arranged for before I lei
home, and had consented to share
with some unknown young woman, il
order to lessen expenses. For week
that individual occupied my mind t.
the almost entire exclusion of every
thing else. conceived of her as ex
ample of every type common to th'
human race and then as composite
parsonage typical of nothing. O.
course, she would be Nortferner, ant
felt in my Southern soul that my
prOvlncialisms would get the discipline
they needed.
Miss Latham, this is your new
roommate, Miss Courtenay of Balti
mOre.'
am afraid 1 was little nervous as
l shook Miss Latham's hand, but there
was not the slightest trace of self
consciousness on her part. We were
soon talking easily and naturally, and
fifteen minutes of pleasant common
places dissipated my nervousness.
Then she said:
shall have to ask you to excuse
me now, Miss Courtenay. / am doing
newspaper work, and must finish an
article this afternoon"
She went to her desk and began to
write. She did not look formidable,
and was 80 utterly oblivious of my
I oI, ~
criticislng me. Indeed, in less than
fortnight, 1 found that, as rsr as
Miss Latham was concerned, mig Int
as we'll have been without provincial
ismss
Miss Latham and I talked much Of
our work. She almost never men
tened her personal affairs, and though
l felt really did not know her, l be-
gan to admire her thoroughly. Her
quiet, 81 eady way of doing things, her
self-possession, and even her reserve
attracted me.
soon noticed that she was working
toe hard AS her physical strength
lessened, L saw there was underneath
her quiet calmncss something pathetic.
On Christmas eve | came home in a
particularly bright mood. I ran light.
ly up the stcps--feelng sufficiently
buoyan- to 90 away with the elevator
and open our door, waving two let
ters triumphantly.
"Two lovely Christmas letters, Miss
Lathaml The dearest sort of letter
from home; and jnst the jolllest,
chummiesL one from Brother Don."
Miss Latham sat III The arm chair by
the window, also with an open letter
her mother's--in her hand. She was
very still, and walked over to where
she sat. AS 1 reached her, saw a
tear fall on the letter. 1t was too much
for my impulsive Southern tempera-
ment. Forgetting the reserve | knew
30 well, said unhesitatingly:
" What is 1t, Jean?"
But didn't wait for any answer. /
settled down on the arm of the chair,
and drew her head close to my shoul
der. We sat there in perfect silence
for awhile. Presently, she began to
talk, and l soon understood the pathos
under jeans dignity.
I" 1t happened twelve years ago, Hell
on, when l was only II. Dick was
ten years older than I. We lived on a
farm in Vermont, which had been in
our family for generations. Fathers
strongest wish was to have Dick stay on
the farm. But Dick didn't like farm
ing and went away to learn a profess
sion. Father was very angry. lie
forbade Dick TO write to us, and moth-
er's heart nearly broke. Two years
ago father died. We had then lost all
trace of Dick, and mother went to live
with Sister Louise. 1 came TO Boston
TO earn my living, and look for Dick.
If could only find him, Helen, and
give him back to mother, 1 don't be.
lieve there would be anything left tc
wish for. Before father died, some.
one from ouf village saw Dick in
Boston, and somehow 1 can't hclE
thinking he'll come back here some
time"
She stopped talking, and felt tha
l wanted to spend the rest of my
natural life looking for Dick Latham
1 quietly hid Don's letter from Jeans
sight.
{" He wouldn't know me, Helen;
was only II, you know. But Pm sure
1 should recognize Dick. He wa
fullgrown then, and wouldn't hav'
changed much.'
Our Christmas was very quiet one
Jean was not at all well. In the even
ing she became feverish, and by morn
ing was very ILL.,. Her fever increase
80 rapidly that she soon failed t.
recognize me. Expert care was absc
lutely necessary, and we had to re
move her to hospital.
OF course, haunted the place. A
that Christmas week, l came and wer
every day, but Jean never once kne,
1 was with her. One morning, foun
the doctor beside her. He had til
kindest, truest blue eyes I ever saw
and knew 1 could trust him. 0
New Years eve, waited in the co
rldor over an hour, watching for hin
He came at last, and when he saw M
his face lighted up with sympathct
smile.
"Your friend will know you tom
row." he said. L" There is no don
of her recovery now"
Ile was right. Next morning Jef
greeted me with q weak smile of I
cognition. A nurse came in Just the
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