Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-08-10
Gboiff Yiteratnre.
JESSIE;
REuBEE,s CHOICE.
BY GEORGE MARTIAL.

lane, CHINO the style, cross the meadow,
"walk on piece" turn the left-hand cor
ner, and the first pink house with green
blinds on the right was Squire sConway's.
It had front door, but no one ever
thought Of awakening It's echoes by using(
the poaderous knoeker with which it was
decorated, but 4nrn;ag the sorner, followed I
a little path, skirted by lilacs and sun-fow-
ers, to the vast CHEEKY kitchen, which serv.
ed as sitting and dining room, where, one
pleasant June evening, the Squire was sit
ting With his family.
Said family consisted of Aunt Judith, as |
she was familiarly termed-a maiden sister
of the Squire who reigned supreme over
pantry and henroost short sharp, spare,
and austere, and his only daughter Jessie,
dark-eyed, laughing, dancing fairy, whom
| will attempt to describe, when some one
will catch sunbeam and analyze it.
whats a coincidence, Jessie?" asked
her father, who had been watching her
keenly as size sat by the window.
"What strange question, father. You
know as well as | do. Why do you ask?"
Nothing; only saw Reuben Ellsworth
coming up the walk, and you've got on
that new frock you teased me so to get for
you"
Jessie laughed and shook her head. "If
you will talk riddles, father"
"Good evening, Squire-how do you do,
Aunt Judith---hhow are you, Miss Jessie!"
and Reuben Ellsworth, broad-shouldered,
stalwart young man, with good-humored
face, and feet that he was always at loss
. to dispose Of, took seat near Jessie, who
blushed and tossed her head.
mo need to ask how you are" he said,
looking at her admiringly, "there amt
rose of them all out there that can come
up to your cheeks"
Looks are deceiving, Mr.. Ellsworth! !"
returned Jessie, pertly, ''for, have no
doubt, locked az if l was glad to see you,
and am not bit" @
Reuben laughed family, and shuffled his
feet, as if anxious to get rid of them at any
price.
i "Never mind her" called out the Squire,
"but come over here, and talk to me, Reu-
ben. How's the old elks?-father little
aiiing lately | hear-ay, ay, we are getting
!old--we are getting old! Now remem.
Der the time-but who's that? There's
some one knocking at the front door,
Jessie, why don't you gol" For that young
lady had grown wonderfully interested in
her work.
"Don't stir, Miss Jessie!" said pleasant
voice, "as you wouldn't let me in at the
front door, invited myself to come by the
back way. Good evening, Mr.. Ellsworth
How are you, Squire?"
"Quite we'll, thank yo1, Mr.. Gresham Y
replied the old gentleman, stifay, affecting
not to notice the profered hand of thl
new conner, handsome man of twenty
five or twenty eight. "By the way, Jess,
turning abruptly to his daughter, 81 thinl
| was wrong in my definition little Will,
ago."
Jessie's face grew scarlet. Arthur Gre
sham crossed over, and seated himself be
side her.
"Haye you kept your promises" he ask
ed ia low tone.
IL don't remember what it was"
"You said you would think of me"
eff had nothing better to do"
"Cruel; but see how it is-you wer
entertaining our friend of the patriarchs
name there, and are vexed that interrupt
ed you-I will net detain you-good bye.
"Oh, no; don't go" said Jessie, quickly
deceived by his apparent sincerity. 9
lislike him, and have scarcely spoken
him since be came"
Mr.. Gresham smiled coldly.
"Shall we walks" he asked. awe sha
not be missed. Your father and Mr.. Ell
worth are deep in the crops"
81 should like to, but father would-th;
is, Mr.. Ellsworth would consider us rude
. "Some time," he murmured, close
f her ear, 81 will have the right to walk wit
you, when / choose"
"Hush! speak lower-my father is
prejudiced-so peculiar"
: "And if he should refuse me-" he inte
rupted, "you would"
DO nothing against his will'
/: Then yon do not love me. To plea
your father you would condemn me to en-
t less misery
$ You know that I do, but
0 Jessie, that man is going. will a
e him now, and put an end to this suspens
d For PHYS sake, no; wait till
= But he was already at the other end
il the room.
y Mr.. Conway, when You are disengag
l. could have the pleasure of word "
Z with yous'
: Certainly, certainly replied the
4, gentleman, not little furried, and look
y dabiously at Gresham, who was as imp
N turable as ever.
Jessie sat still. Reuben Ellsworth ca
to bid her good night, and she did
n- even hear him. Aunt Judith spoke,
10 she made no answer She was listen
N to the murmur of voices in the adjoin
ut room; presently it ceased, and Gresh
= Jeanne out and went down the garden pa
ne but he did not even turn his head, and
e. could not guess whether he had triumph
er, or no. Finally the Squire came, and
no YEARLY down in his arm chair.
1t, And SO, Jess, he said, after pa
"a yon want to be married, and leave y
,e, old father, for the love of strangerT
ed Jessie was silent.
Come here he continued, 4 want