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THE MAGNANIMITY Os
JESSE PLUNKETT FORD.
BY EDITH BROWER.
[Copyriarht, isos, by the Aathor.]
The young woman who sat on the top
•tep of the veranda was nothing less
than an object of adoration to the youth
who sprawled on the lowest step, watch
| ing her while she mended his hat.
“You’re awful good to me. Miss Lyd
don You’re the only one that’s been
real good to me since I camo. I don’t
•ee why my father wanted me to come
here I think be might have taken me
to Europe with him. ”
“It seems to me a very nice place of
the kind. ” said Mary Lyddon. “There
are certainly nice people here."
“Oh. 1 suppose they’re all right, but
I hate ’em They treat me as if they
thought 1 hadn’t ought to live. But
I’m as good as they arc I’m"—the boy
sat bolt nrr’ght—“l'm a Plunkett! Did
you know that? .Ics«e Plunkett Ford—
that's my name Ford’s a good name,
but Plunkett's b 't—r That was my fa
ther’s inoth< r's name, and hesays there
never lived a Plunkett that was mer.ii
minded V hy. do you know my cousin
Sam Ford i- so proud of having that
s naiiii 1 that he puts it last—signs himself
Samuel F< id-Plr.nkett. with a coupling
rod between cm' -
Mary found another rip and was be
ginning to sew again “Say. he mur
mured. gazing dreamily at her.-“if you
den t step making your hand go so
you'll put me to sleep ' He went on.
mumblin ’, his words “I’m most off
now . feel, an if 1 was dying: awful jolly
way to die—to have yon sew me. sew
me. sew me to death What lovely eyes
you’ve got!’
Mary put the hat down in her lap
“Jesse.’ said she. “you are a little
•goose ’
A strong breeze from the sea swept
•round, the house corner and lifted her |
heavy yellow “bang." causing it to
stand up around "her head like a nimbus
“Say. do you know. Miss .Lyddon,
you ought to he called Queen Mary?
You look exactly like a queen now I'm
«oing to call you Queen Mary May I?’ |
“Call me what you like, only don’t
be silly There’s your hat You ought
,to have a better one It’s a shameful
, 'hat for a high minded Plunkett to
wear. ’’
v "I know it. ’ said Jesse, pulling the '
’.•hapeless thing down upon his ears. I
“When my father comes, i’ll have a
lew one. "
“Do you have to wait until then?’
“Yes—l"—blushing—“l haven’t any (
money. ’’
“Yon told me Mrs Rigg kept your
money for you '
“So she did —till 1 spent it. "
“Why. bow did you manage tospend
It all?’’
“Well"—he jerked out a small pack
and threw it into her lap—“l
bought that. ”
“What is this?" she asked, lifting
the cover Upon a bed of pale green
‘cotton lay a ring—a band of gold fully
half an inch wide, with three enormous
rhinestones set at right angles to the
circlet
•‘Jesse Ford, why did yen buy such
a thing, and what are you going to do
with it?”
“It’s foi you His eyes glistened
“For uie?”
“Yes What’s the matter with it?
Don't you like it? Ain't it pretty
enough? It's the prettiest one I could
find and the biggest* I had it marked
—see. *J P. F to *1 L I wanted to
hav< •Q ’.ci-n Mary' put in. but I didn’t
quite like " »
She looked aghast. "Jesse, what am
I to do with such a ring?"
“Wh-why couldn’t yon wear it?
Pleas', Mj-s Lyddon. say you’ll wear
it. V. by can’t yon T”
“Well, to l<rin with, it’s- rather
large for a wmufin’s hand, you know ”
Bhe spoke with ercreding gentleness,
for the l. iy’s eyes .cere growing liquid
•nd quiveiing painfully "It v.o.s >. iv
■wect in yon I will alwa. s keen it to
••member von by. but I couldn't wear
it”
“Then yon shan’t have it at all un
less you’ll promise to wear it.” Ee
I Watched the ring from her ano thrust
fbaek into bis peckot Then he fitfsg
kimself toward her and ciutpid her
knees.
“Miss Lyddoa. won't you wait Pr
sue? Won't yon’ Won't yon*.'
He locked ridi- :l>usly pathz-tie. with
bis largo e.-»rs b nt forward by his hat.
as if they too. joined in the passionate
•ppt ;. i. .
“Wait for yea ? H<nv do you mean ?’
“Wait till I'm grown up. I’ll net be
long I'm 14. «M.at 15, and my cousin
Sam says he thinks I’ll be able to shave
•oon. He shaved before he was 15. Oh,
Bliss Lyddcn, if you'll only bold on I’ll
catch up with, yon* Won't you? You
Bfrt!"
‘ 'Jesse, ” said she, “listen to me calm
ly. Do you know how old I am?"
“No, nor 1 den't care."
“But you must care. I will tell you.
I am 28—twice as old as yon are now.
and by the time you are ready to —
ready for ms—l shall be—at least, you
will think me—an old woman. You
will then be looking out for girls youn
ger than yourself."
“No. I shan't I’ll never look out for
anybody hut yon. ”
He still held her by the knees, staring
at her with beseeching eyes. Mary
loosened Jesse’s bands. “Let us go
down to the beach." she said.
As they walked along the esplanade
she noticed for the first time how tall
tho lad was f< r bis years. Ho evidently
read her fr.ind Squaring his narrow
shoulders, be said proudly “See, Miss
Lyddon. how big I am already l’v»
grows lots this summer." stretching
out his lean uncovered wrists “Soon
I'll be as tail as my father. "
“Is he a very tall man ?" she asked
“My father? tie's tall, and he’s broad,
and he’s good looking He's the splen
out l t fellow in the world every way
But 1 tell you a fellow has a hard f tme
getting along without a mother A wo
man's the thing a fellow wants If I’d
had a mother. Miss Lyddon. maybe I
wouldn t have thought so much about
you I don't know, though; maybe 1 1
would Anyway, it's all I think about
now er ever will think about ’
Gu reaching the shore they clambered
into an old boat, the remains of a I
spiing wreck |
“Josh" - she spoke with great, serious
ness— “there is something lam going
to tell you. and I brought you down
here to speak cf it. because 1 did not
want to run the risk of being over- |
heard. She drew out her hand and laid
it pi.-liD downward upon his It was
adorned with several rings. One of
these was set with a blood red ruby.
"Look 1 ’ pointing to the ruby “Do •
you know what that means? It means
that * can t wait for yon. even if there
were no other reason It means thet
somebody is waiting for me. and I prom
ised when I put it on not to keep him
waiting long." j
He remained so long silent that at
last she leaned forward to look into bis
face. Hia features were working fear :
fully A conflict to the death was go
ing on between tears and Plunkett
pride. The agony was tremendous It
Seemed to Mary that she could feel it
vibrating along the tense cords of the
boy’s slender body
“Jesse, dear,” she whispered, “do
you really care so muoh?"
The vibrations redoubled in speed
and intensity. Then with a sudden re
calcitrant movement that nearly knock
ed her over Jesse shot out of the boat. '
He landed on his head in the deep sand, i
whirling about considerably in the es- ■
H.
o
gg
An Excellent Combination.
Tie pleasant method and beneficial
cite ts of the well known remedy,
Sy .i t- of Figs, mauufartnred by the
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tiv- principles of plants known to be
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■he in the form mo-. refreshing to ths
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disj>elling colds, headaches and fevers
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manently. Its perfect freedom from
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in <e process of manufacturing fins
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iav majv«uoe. cak.
WXHHtVXKLZ. IT. wsrw Tfenw. W. T.
Far aahi ’ey *U BreaffiatA--Price S»e. I«r»i
When Baby's (U.
When the little loved one is sick, when
its brow is fevered, its pulse rapid, its
features pinched with pain and there are
great blue circles under its eyes, the mother
hovers about the bedside, and with anxious
eyes tries to read the meaning of every ex
pression upon the physician’s face.
A woman may save herself almost all of
this woiriment about her children if she
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health during the period of gestation. A
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It stops debilitating drains. It fits for
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Thousands of happy mothers have testified
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Prescription was good to take when with child,"
writes Mrs, Annie Simpson, of No. 13 Chelms
ford Street. Lawrence, Mass. : “ I was suffering
terrible pains, and was unable to get about the
house without being in misery. I began taking
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bottle greatly relieved me. I took three bottles
before my baby was born, at which time I suf
fered very little. The baby has been healthy
since birth, and is now three months old and
weighs fifteen pounds. When ray older child
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They don’t simply give temporary relief,
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I
■ ' I* i
; ’ * , • ■ •
•At
* : 7/L ■'>■<& 77 f’
& Hi
/OiMl
V/rare V
714 4 I
ON HE WENT.
fort to get bis legs, and .stalled
down the beach. Mary watched, think
ing to see him turn, but on he went
dwindling into a speck upon the white
shore line.
Sitting in her room that evening.
Miss Lyddon became ccn-scicna of a
slight sound in the passage outside A
pajM r was gently shoved under the dr: a
after which last retreating foot;;i. ■ s
could be heard. The letter began. “Dear
Miss Lyddon.' It went en thus
1 lx.g your pardon for acting like I did. I
had to. If I hadn't, I'd busted. That ain’t n
nice word, but I don’t know any other, so i'v«
got to r.sc it. 1 w ent down to the quicksar:,
I thought I’d drown myw ls in them, but first
I Kit down to think, and I thought my fathor
mightn't like it if he came back and found i:.>>
dead and gone. So j thri w in the ring inst
It was no good, you know. They woeU'u’t
take it tack after it had bee* marked, and I'd
never, never give it to ar.y other girl. 1 crt> t
talk abottt that other nan tonight. It makes
me nil hot and ccld when I think about him
Maybe I can tomorrow Yours truly.
.ICSSE PI.VKKETT FOUI>
All this in very large script, but
down in one corner in the tiniest print
ed text. “God bless yon!”
It was several days before Jesse could
bring himself to the point of talking
about “that other man,” and then it
was Mary who started the subject.
“I think you ought to know.” she j
oegan, “that lam expecting the one I
spoke to yon about the other day He
is coming next week."
“Did you suppose I didn’t rcmem
her?” he said “I've tried not to. but
it’s no use. I remember it all the time.'
Then abruptly “Tell me all about
him. What's be like? La ho good look
ing?’
“I dare say you would think so. ’
“Do yon think so?"
“Os course. " Sun and wind together
had never succeeded in bringing such u
r.° to her face
“Say. JwU think an awful lot of him
don’t jen? I wish 1 could make you
get all red like that."
“Then yon have had your wish. Jesse,
dear, for it was surely your words that
made me blush "
‘>Yees, ’’ he said, half scornfully,
half dejectedly, “but it wasn't fur u.e.
It was for thinking of him. ”
Presently he bent over and put his
ball of a head in her lap.
“Tell me some more about him. I
hate him No, I don't I love him be
cause you iio If he had two lives. I’d
kill one ami save the other.”
“Oh. Jess. Jess, what a dear, funny
fellow yon are'"
“Am 1 funny? Ami dear too? Say,"
straightening himself, “if you hadn’t
known that other man. would you have
been willing to wait for me then ? Say.
would you? Don't you think I’ll be a
pretty nice fellow some day—maybe
good looking, too, when i get a beard ?
Do you think you ever could have wait
ed for me? Just say yes to that, and
I’ll try to ba satisfied. "
He was looking up into her eyes with
a sweet boyish ardor that Mary found
irresistible She took his face between
her hands and kissed his brow “Jess."
she eaid. “you are a dear boy. 1 think
perhaps I could have waited for you."
He glowed with pleasure. “Who
knows but I'll have a chance vet.i" He
dropped bis bead .. .t.,., majci.r lap add
lay there silently content
On the day the “other man” was ex
pected Jesse kept himself pretty well
out of the way. though occasionally
Mary caught distant glimpses of a woe
begone visage They met by < hance
face to face after dinner, when be told
her that he was going fishing and that
there wae a possibility of his never re
turning, adding in a perfunctory tone,
as nerved to the utmost. “If 1 don t get
back safe, I hope you'll be happy any
way. ” with worlds of meaning in the
last word He did get back safe, and
early, too—not long after tsaintime.
As be neared the house a porter walked
before him carrying a valise. The por
ter set the valise by the front entrance
Tbiee white initials stared from its
narrow end, and Jesse stared at the ini
tials. Suddenly he threw down his fish
ing lines and rushed to the parlor It
was empty, but he beard voices in a
small adjoining room
A curtain bung between the two
apartments. He pulh dit aside. In the
middle of the floor stood his father,
holding Mary. Queen Mary, in hisarma
They looked at Jesse and smiled.
“Come here, my son,” said Mr. Ford.
“This lady is to be your mother. Won’t
yoa welcome Uez andcougratulate me 1' I
ALL WOMES9
AGREE.
k druggist in Macon. Ga., stys: “1
have sold a large quantity of fftather*#
Friend, and nave never known an !•>
l stance where it has failed to produce th#
good results claimed for it. All womea
agree that it makes labor shorter and leys
painful.**
I ABr'
•
I \>** Z
Mother’s Friend
is not a chance remedy. Its good effecip
are readily experienced by all expectaii
mothers who use it. Years ago it passe#
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delivery, it is also of the greatest bene#
during the earlier months of pregnancy.
Morning sickness and nervousness are
readily overcome, and the liniment relaxes
the strained muscles, permitting them tp
expand without causing distress. Mother’s-
Friend gives great recuperative power tp.
the mother, and her recovery is sure an#
rapid. Danger from rising and swells#'
breasts is done away with completely.
Sold by druggists for $1 a bottle.
THE BRADFIELD REGULATOR CO.
ATLANTA, GA.
Semi for uur free iliupuatcd book, fur expectant niothetx
."..y L. ■’ : o’.ti m i ~.i i.., ‘"CUnie.'
she Haul, l et .!<••••.; moved slowly toward
the window, wi.re he remaiuud fop■
‘ acme i.'-inutcs. When lie tnruid. a look
of having lived through something mid
come out into a new place was upc»
, everv <'.(’<; <1 ovw
to hoi *.',!*?? .’”s (cm his hand
"Dt'.d. ” raid he, and lie with
i out sbaim f.icedness. as a Plunkett
should, “yon vi? come out ahead I
asked Miss'Lyddon to wait for me, but
she said she couldn’t, and 1 don’t blamp
her when she could get you. You’re •
fine fellow, dad, all through, andyou’z*
better looking than I’ll ever be.”
Jesse turned to Mary In his glow
ing countenance admiration, nubli*
pride and renunciation contended to
gether
i “I never would have given you np
willingly, said he. “to any other man
but my father ”
For Pho ogiaphers.
A camera and bland 2 heai
r«s»ts and a good burnisher for
sale all in good order—Apply
Mr. VV I). Foa'lhv at, the Tona
-1 irnsou Gallery.
It is now intimated that some
i ol t he so calh ts canned br«f fur*
jnished ihe army, which tasteß
! s«> qm erly anu had su< h a “ro
puisivfi took.” was tiGise meat
and not beef at all.
. y .
Her Heaitii Restored
C'
Mi
THE misery of sleeplessness can only b*
realized by those who have experi
enced It. Nervousness,' sleeplessness
headaches, neuralgia aud that miserable
feeling of unrest, can surely be cured by Tin.
Mlles’ Bentor.itlre Nervine. So certain *s
j Dr, Miles of this fact that all druggists ar*
authorizjd to refund price paid for the first
bottle tried, providing it does -not benefit.
Mrs. Henry Bruns, wifeofthe well know®
. blacksmith at Grund Jmactfori, lowa, saysc
‘I was troubled with slc' plessneas, nerveuw
ness, headache and irregular rnerstruat-mj
suiTcrfng untold misery for years. I used
•various advertised remedies for I-iaale c».n»-
plaints besides being under the care of loe*
physicians, wl.bout help. I noticed in Dr.
Miles’ advertisement the testimonial of
lady cured of ailments similar U> mi ae, aod
I shall never ceaso to thank that lady, Har
testimonial induced mo to use Dr. Miler
Nervine and Nerve and Liver Pilis, whieh
restored me to health. I ci* not say cno’ssft
for Dr.Miies’llemedies.” ■■awpft’SK2Ws
Dr. Miles' Remedies Kvijv Dr
are sold by all drug- t
gists under a positive Bgl
guarantee, first battle E.
benefits or money re- '‘froa-torfLU 9
funded. Book on die- Er ”
tuu of the heart and
nerves free. Addreaa,
bM. MIJUB9 IDBOKMO. «<k AJULi, 3BC,