Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1926-02-19
A Girl Named
Jean
ANNNN~~~N~~~~
BY CLARISSA MAcKIE

~ Blake-I don't know whether
you remember him or not he used to
come and spend holidays with me
when was at prep school-we used
TO have bully times!" Silas Meade
ran Off and left his sister to receive
the tall, handsome young man with
the grave eyes.
"Slt down, Mr.. Blake, and do you
care for tear II Is so hot today that
I made It lced-sugar1' She gave
him the tall frosted glass fragrant
with lemon slices and orange pekoe
tea. do you like these nut cookiesf
I adore them" she gave him the
plate, took a cookie herself and
pushed the tea wagon aside. please
roar little, Mr.. Blake. Silas says
you write the most wonderful stories
and books. and will soon be a social
lion."
Help" he said feebly, and took
another cookie. Same nut cookies,
same blue plates, same muffin stand,
same shady lawn-I have never for
gotten a thing, even to the beds Of
mignonette and pansies"
"They are all the same, now and
forcverp laughed the girl Then
she added alphabetically. "You were
somewhat alone, weren't your We
used to love to have you here"
He looked embarrassed, as II he
was trying to recollect her-place her
in those earlier days. II was a
lonely little beggar. My mother died
when I was quite small, and father
Travelled a lot, and I was reared
among all my cousins and aunts and
uncles. This was more like a real
home to mel loved It."
There was a girl named JEAN"
he added suddenly. "A most enchant'
ing child suppose she is married
by this time; she should bel" he
added regretfully. I'm those days my
highest ambition was to be worthy
to marry little Jean when / grew
up"
you have sistersH" he inquired.
'Two," she said demurely.
Are they marriedT
"Yesl You will meet them tomor-
row. hope" she murmured.
He could press her no further, and
he dared not question Slas who
would have screamed with mlrth at
the idea Of old Jack losing his heart
to one of his sisters.
81 remember your sister Jean,
Silas," he did venture to remark, as
:, they went for a walk along the sea-
wall that bordered the property.
"Jeanf Oh. yes-she's good
scoutw
81 have been hoping that she would
come home soon," said Jack.
Home from whereT" demanded
Silas.
Jack Blake stared. "Home from
wherever she is-that is, she's alive,
isn't she?"
It was Sila's turn to stare. "Out
with 1t, Jack You knew my sister
Jean when she was a little kid
used to be Jealous Of her fondness
for you. Remember that time she
fell off the fence and scratched the
corner near her eye-I saw you kiss
ing 1t to make 1t well again. You
know we went back to prep that
night, but the folks told me after
wards that Jean positively refused
to allow nurse to wash that particular
spot on her face for fear she would
wash away your kiss And then years
afterwards when ! had that stun
ming picture Of you in uniform, the
girl swlped It, and to this day II Is
on her dresser 7"
"Say, you ought not to be giving
your sister away like thatp blurted
out Jack. very red in the face. "You
see. I've always thought of her as
little kid"
"Come on down to the beach, bath
lng's good, and Jean will be there"
In five minutes, they were fash
ing through the greenish water,
bronzed arms lifting with each stroke,
while girl In q bathing suit stood
on the distant float and watched them
wistfully. She had given her glrlish
heart to handsome Jack Blake, and
foolish and unmaldenly as 1t might
be, she found 1t difficult to readjust
her thoughts Of him. She pushed back
the scarlet silk cap she wore and the
! black curls blew out In the wind.
Jean waved a hand, and they
climbed on the raft. Jack shook him.
self like a big dog, and then looked
eagerly at the girl.
= II was Jeanl The girl named Jean
Ibis little sweetheart of long ago
How charming she was.
Here we are, SlsW painted Silas.
Bnt Jack only stared.
isn't II glorious todayT" asked
Jean, blushlng under his adOrlng eyes.
"Why-why-" he stammered, "You
were Jean all the whllew
She nodded. 81 didn't understand
why you did not recognize me-" But
she did know that she always sat
In shadow so that he could not see
her bushes or her telltale eyes, Sup
pose he had forgotten her? It was
wonderful that he had been her hero
so many years.
Silas glanced despalrlngly at them,
"oh. Mamma !" he grunted, and dived
into the next big sea.
"Of course you would not remem-
Der the last time I saw you" Jack
said wistfully.
81 might" said Jean shyly. ut
raIned. | think" she hastened to say.
"Ralned tears when you fell off
the fence-Some day, may l remind
you more about that dayT he
whispered