Year: 1878




salt. MOI it was PLAN to be seen that
little Howard must do without his Sun
day dinhef. 1 didn't cart for myself,
but my poor little fatherl6ss boy would
suffer for my carelessness and neglect.
And, truth to say, he was not wont to
suffer in silence or uncomplainingly.
should have terrible day. and began
to feel more and more that life Wis a
hideous and unbearable bufden. / saw
through the front window lady go by,
wearing seal-skin sacque, could not
think it possible It was Sin6 I. But it
was-yes, il was Susan. ~s5rs had the
seal-skin sacque which she had SO long
coveted. Some people we're born to good
luck. Heaven forbid any injustice on
my part, or useless repining at the ways
of Providence, but it did seem hard that
Susan should have every thing. To
crown all, I saw somebody else pass my
window. 1t was James brother John,
with a lovely bunch of violets in his
hand. He was only few rods behind
Susan; he would soon overtake her, and
give her the violets, with some nice little
speech about her eyes, which, 1 remem-
bered, were awashed-outblue. Then they
would go into one of James appetizing
little lunches, while 1 and poor little
Howard would sit down to crust; and
the end of it would be that Susan
wouldn't have to raise q hand, while
We'll, must go about my sweeping
right straight away.


Which 1 did at once But the salt
and bitter tears that fell from my eyes
ought to have allayed the dust of my
dining-room. Ididnt care for anything
so much as my little Howard's disap-
pointment. How could I confess to the
child that 1 had left his precious bit of
meat to be devoured by that green-eyed
monsterP He would kick and cry and
refuse to be comforted, and I would be
most miserable.


While the tears were falling like rain
upon my broom big shadow loomed
up at the door, and there stood James
brother John, with the bunch of violets
still in one hand, and a bunch of thyme
in the other. I turned my tear-stained
face away from him, and held out my
hand for the thyme. was sorry to
seem so ridiculous. OF course Jane had
told him all about his mistake, and he
had some to apologize and explain.
wished he would not mind, but go back
ooain to Susan; but he held my hand
tight Ill his own, ana p(.V41SoA y 1AnserS
the pretty flowers, looking down into
my face with world of tender inquiry
as to its forlorn and woe-begone condi-
ton.


"These blossoms will serve to garnish
your Sunday dinner" he said, "in
which I have become strangely interest
ed, and could not forbear bringing you
the thyme which you left behind you"


"It is useless, said, smiling dole
fully; the green-eyed monster has
spoiled ALL"


"Ah," he said, his face suddenly
Frightening, sis that the trouble ?
Bless your womanly little soul, how I
love your frank generosity! How sweet
it is to hear something straight from the
heart, without affectation or sham Ah,
believe me, you have nothing to dread
from the green-eyed monster"


1 knew from the tenderness of his
voice and manner he thought meant
he was jealous of Susan, and felt the
hot blood rush up to the frill of my dust.
ing cap. I wanted to tell aim it was
only green-eyed cat, and faltered out
that he had made mistake; but he
broke in again, eagerly:


"Yes, I know there is some little mis-
take about the relationship. Jane has
told me that instead of being something
or other, that you are the other thing;
but the main thing is that you are the
one woman in the world for me. 1 never
saw any body in my life-at least, that
isl mean-since


And here the poor fellow grew silent,
thinking, doubtless, of Belinda. I was
sorry so sensitive and loyal o nature
should be thrown away upon Susan,
whom knew to be cold and calculating,
thinking more of her mortgage than the
human heart, but could not be treach-
erous and base.


"I am sorry" I said-for frankness
was part of my nature, and Heaven
knows was sorry to my hearts core
"but cannot interfere with the plans
of your sister Jane. know that she is
only my brother-in-law's brothers
wife"


"Oh," cried James brother John,
"won't you please make the relationship
a simpler one? See what mischief it
has done already shall love nobody
but you-I shall marry nobody but
you."


And all at once, while my hand was
still closed in his own, and the violets
were dropping from the warmth of both,
who should burst in upon us but sister
Jane


Her face was fustered, but not very
wrsthful, and she seemed rather pleased
than otherwise at the tableau before
her. "For goodness sake, john, she
said, "when you come back to the house
don't say word to Susan she's en-
gagged to the Baptist minister. I never
liked the looks Of the man myself, and
wouldn't want to marry anybody with
such an ugly squint in his eye; but he
holds Susan's mortgage, and if he looked