Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 65, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 November 1917 — Rechristening Jane [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Rechristening Jane

By Hl AKERS

(Copyright, 1917, by W. G. Chapman.) “I wish Carr you wouldn’t call me Jane!” “My land! That was the name you was christened!” The little old lady with the thin, gray hair drawn very smoothly back in a small, tiglit knot at the back of her head, and the lined face bearing evidence of the storm and stress of many years of poverty, looked her surprise at the young, rather pretty girl who had paused in the-act of putting on her hat before the small looking glass, and turned upon her aunt with some impatience. The neighbors had been telling her they thought Jane had come back to the little village with some “high falutin notions” after her visit to the city, but this seemed to Aunt Carrilla Bean about the last straw. “Well, suppose I was christened Jane, the middle name was Mabel, and I want to be called Mabel. That’s what they all called me at Aunt Carolyna’s.” “Hm !’■ sniffed Carilla Bean. “So she’s gone and changed her name, too. When I married Joel, her name was Carline. Seems awful queer to me what’s took folks these days. Even sensible names ain’t good enough for ’em any more,” “The world has been moving, and the people with it,*' said the girl. It’s only people who want to stagnate and stick in the mud who object to new ways.” • “Well I never supposed I was sticking in the mud —but mebbe I am,” sighed the little woman. She seemed to be thinking hard, trying to draw up an estimate of herself, for she repeatedly questioned: “Mebbe I am.” Jane Mabel was neither unfeeling nor entirely selfish beyond the human tincture of these things which is always to be found in youth. The average young human has not yet suffered enough to think of the hurt in a heart

But Jane Mabel had some affection for Aunt Carr, who had taken care of her ever since her parents died, when she was a little child, so she noticed the look and tone of the other, and said: “Well, you know, aunty, it isn’t to be expected when you live here in this little village year after year, you would know what people are doing and thinking out in the big world, in great cities, where you meet more people in a day than you do here in a year.” Aunt Carr’s gentle gray eyes looked slightly incredulous, and again she said: “Mebbe. Mebbe.” Then she added: “But it’s going to come hard for. mg to call you Mabel after you bein’ brought up ‘Jane.’ I’m likely to forget pretty often. And how are you ever going to break in Dan’l Jaynes?” Jane Mabel turned a rather flushed, defiant face toward her aunt. “I don’t intend to try to ‘break in’ Mr. Jaynes. I don’t mean he shall have a chance of “calling me either Jane or Mabel!” “My sakes! When did you break off with him?” “Some .time ago in my own mind. If he doesn’t know it yet, he’ll soon Jnd out,”- flashed the girl. “Well, I must say he’ll he some taken back,” said Mrs. Bean., “He was asking after you ’bout every day while you was 1 gone. He’s about the nicest young man in this place, and lots of girls would just jump at keepin’ company with him.” “They can have him,” was the terse reply. “Well, I guess you found somebody down there in the city —is that it?” “I met gentlemen,” a strong emphasist on “gentlemen.” “Yes, I did meet one I liked pretty well.” The girl’s face seemed to tell so much more than her words to the observing woman, she answered: “I reckoned so. Poor Dan’l! I hope he won’t take it too hard. Mabel, she meant henceforth to be

called, gave her hat a parting tilt, and tripped out.of the house carrying a letter to the post. It was addressed to Mr. David Sperry, at his office in the city. He had asked her to write him when she arrived home, and Mabel had taken pains with the letter. She meant to impress the gentleman with the fact that she could express herself in good English, and also not to let him see too much of her feelings regarding him. The letter must be simply friendly and dignified, for little Mabel was iwise in her day and generation.

She received a very prompt answer which evinced a decided interest In her. The correspondence proceeded with increasing interest. Then when he one day spoke of the hope of soon seeing her, and hinted that business might bring him to her little village, Mabel was seized with a dreadful misgiving lest he should come to her very humble little cottage with the faded carpet, crazy quilt pillows in the old rockers, and the pipe running up from the stove through the celling. It was all so shabby, old-fashioned, and in such questionable taste. But even Worse than her surroundings was the old-fashioned, countrified aunt with her uncultured speech, toilsome hands and face, and ill-fitting plothes. How was she ever to let David Sperry know this was the aunt with whom she lived, after meeting her with the fashionable aunt who entertained so handsomely in the city. Well, if he did come to her home she concluded she must keep Aunt Carr as much as possible out of sight. She was miserably ashamed that he should know of her humble relative and her surroundings.

The fatal day arrived. She met young Sperry at«the station. He was a cood-looklng, well-dressed man about twenty-six:, with an unmistakable city air. The hangers-on at the station stared. Mabel, torn between her delight at setting the man she loved, and the actual horror of taking him into the presence of Aunt Carr and the crazy-quilt pillows, had a strong impulse to lead him instead to the river, suggest taking a boat ride, and float off somewhere forever out of sight of the weather-beaten cottage with the tumble-down steps. But she steeled herself to the ordeal, and led the way. Arrived at the house, she made no apologies. She was too innately wellbred for that. But she put off the evil moment of introducing Aunt Carr as long as possible. When it could go no longer, she went out and brought in the little old lady who had been persuaded at the last moment to remove her checked apron. Young Sperry’s kindly tact soon made her feel so much nt home with him that she ran on glibly, in her characteristic idioms of the old-fashioned way. Mabel was intensely uncomfortable, especially when the old lady frequently called her “Jane,” and corrected herself with apologies. Aunt Carr invited him to supper, but having made no move toward getting it, Mabel fled to the kitchen, and prepared the very frugal meal. After supper Mabel took him out for a little stroll by the river. There he told her the old story, which is, after all, as young as the dawn. Mabel was very happy, but she couldn’t help dreading the going back to Aunt Carr, and the effect which the announcement might have. But he insisted on telling her. But Aunt Carr’s homely: “My-! I’m glad! I guess you’ll be good to her,” was not so bad, after all. Then Sperry said: “Now, aunty, you’ve got to promise to live with us. All my life I’ve wanted to have just the kind of an aunt your are. I won’t be happy till I get one. I thought the dear old-fashioned aunts were passed off the earth, and here I’ve got you.” Then he grabbed Aunt Carr, and kissed her, and she was so happy she cried big tears into her old checkered apron.

The economical way to buy correspondence stationery is in pound boxes or bulk quantities. The Democrat handles several different styles and qualities of such papers, with envelopes to match, in its fancy stationery department.

“Scarlet Victor,” and both out of our large dark red registered Shorthorn cow. 4 2-year-old steers; 2 2-year-old heifers; 5 yearling steers; 4 yearling heifers; 7 spring calves of both sex. These are not show cattle, but a good lot of well-bred cattle that are reliable breeders and good feeders and stock cattle in pasture condition, that are in shape to go on and make money for the buyers. The breeding is from the best herds of Clinton and Boone counties. We will also offer our registered Duroc herd boar, a good one, from the Amos Alter herd. A good individual and a sure breeder. All stock will be offered in lots to suit buyers. Remember a closing out sale is a bargain sale. You can’t afford to miss this sale. You are invited to attend this sale whether you buy or not. Morning trains on the Monon will be met at Fair Oaks, and persons attending sale taken to and from farm free of charge. Persons coming from the east on the C. & E. I. will stop at Moffitt, which is near the place of sale. Dunch will be served on the grounds by the Fair Oaks M. E. Ladies’ Aid. Terms — A credit of 6 to 12 months’ time will be given, purchaser giving bankable note bearing 6 per cent interest from date; 8 per cent interest if not paid at maturiy; 2 per cent off for cash. D. F. MAISH CLYDE GARRIOTT Col. W. A. McCurtain and Col. F. W. Strickland, auctioneers. E. P. Lane, clerk.

“I Want to Be Called Mabel."