The graphic. (LaGrange, Troup County, Ga.) 188?-190?, April 11, 1899, Image 5

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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 California Fig Syrup Co., illustrate tie xl.te of obtaining the liquid laxu tiv- principles of plants known to be .nedicinally laxative and ore sen ting ■he in the form mo-. refreshing to ths tase and acceptable to th* system. It is the *ne perfect strengthening laxa tive deansing the ty.- tem effectually, disj>elling colds, headaches and fevers gently yet promptly and enabling one loovreome habitual constipation per manently. Its perfect freedom from every objectionable quality and sub stwe, and its acting on the kidneys, liver and bowels, without weakening or ir. dating them, make it the ideal laxa'ive. in <e process of manufacturing fins are used, as they are pleasant to the taste. but the medicinal qi.aiitiesof the r<‘me'ty are obtained from' seaaa. and other aromatic plants, by a method known to the California Fig Syrup Co. only, in order to get its beneficial effects and to avoid imitations, please remember the fall name of the Company printed on the front of every package. CALIFORNIA FIG SYRUP CO. 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 will but take proper care of her womanly health during the period of gestation. A child born of a mother who is thoroughly healthy in a womanly way will almost unfailingly be healthy and robust. Dr. Pierce’s Favorite Prescription acts directly on the delicate and important organs that bear the burdens of maternity. It makes them well, strong and vigoious. It heals all internal ulceration and inflammation. It stops debilitating drains. It fits for motherhood and insures a healthy child. Thousands of happy mothers have testified to its merits. No honest dealer will urge you to take an inferior substitute for the little added profit it may afford him. "A lady told me that Dr. Pierce’s Favorite 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 Dr. Pierce’s Favorite Prescription and the first 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 was born I suffered terribly. 1 don't know how to thank Dr. Pierce enough." They don’t simply give temporary relief, but are a permanent cute —Dr. Pierce’s Pleasant Pellets fop constipation. They never gripe. One little "Pellet” is a gentle laxative and two a mild catharic. 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# the experimental stage. While it always shortens labor and lessens the pains ol 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,