The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1868-11-27

pure and soft, hoated about her like a cloud,
and in place of tears, were bright, joyous
smiles.
"Well, little snow-drop, are you ready ?'
'I believe so"
"Come then y and together we went down
to the library, where, John was waiting
US.
"Punctual to the moment, he said, look
ing at his watch and coming to meet us.
''Shall we we start Immediately and disap-
point the minister and the people by being
on time ?'
wondered that he did not wait to ad-
mire Jessie, or, even to exchange few fond
words, but supposed his impatience was al
lowable under she circumstances. Passing
through the vestbule of the church, Jessies
dress caught on nail. We were detained
but moment, yet distinctly heard young
Gleason, who stood by the door, say to a
friend" Brydon was on Jolly spree last
night went home at midnight, half tight >
l started. Could they, too, have heard
him ? One glance convinced me. Every
vestige of color faded from Jesses face,
while from Johns eyes there shot an angry,
defiant look, as he hurried her, almost rudely,
into the church and up the aisle. The minis
ter was waiting, and Immediately commenced
the ceremony Johns responses was clear
and firm but listened in breathless sus-
pense, when the momentous question was
addressed to the bride. She hesitated an
instant, then drawing away her hand, said
distnctly-"I will not, then with pleed-
ing look at John, she added" Take me
home"
lie led her to the carriage, and followed.
CONSERVATION and amazement were depicted
on every countenance. !, alone, was not
surprised had feared this DENouEMENr -
We rode home in perfect silence. AS
we entered the house, Jessie turned to JiChs Gt.
and said" Y ou believe that have this day
publicly insulted and disgraced you. Prove
that you have not deceived me, that your
promise has been faithfully kept, and will
make any reparation in my power no matter
how humiliating it may be-.
al cannpt, he replied. "Instead, let me
make confession" Then he told her how he
had met some friends the night before. and
after enduring every possible taunt and rdi
cule, had, in moment of passion, yielded,
and swallowed glass of wine. More follow
ed, and, as Harry Gleason said, he returned
home more than half-intoxicated, yet sober
enough to realize what he had done. He
did not close his eyes in sleep that night. -
More than once he was tempted to acknow.
ledge everything trusting to her love and
charity for forgiveness. But IF she refused
could he give her up at the very last
moment No, he could not, he would keep
this secret, at least until she was his own,
his wife +; then, perhaps he would have the
courage to confess it. He acknowledged
that he had acted dishonorably, aud that the
tribuatiou was q just one, in so far as the
punishment fell upon himself alone. The
hardest thing to endure would be the consci-
BUSINESS that he had embittered her life, and
perhaps broken her heart. Il will not ask
your forgiveness" he said, 81 have not de-
served it; but if you can once more place
confidence in one who has proved himself so
unworthy, trust me, the time will yet come
when | may at least CLAIM your respect, al
though your love may be forever lost" He
paused and then exclaimed passionatel ly-
''Jessee, my darling, will you let me go
from you forever, without one word y
mo, john" and she laid both hands in
his "the forgiveness you were too proud to
ask, freely offer you. do not utterly con-
demn you for one fault ; but oh, John with
all the recOlections Of my childhood to warn
me- / could not act otherwise | do trust
you, and believe, in my heart, that some day
[ shall be proud to own, that [ loved and
was loved by YOU" She withdrew her hands
and turned away, but he clasped her to his
passionate embrace, kissed her once-and
was gone.
The next week he sailed for Europe The
firm he was with had long employed q resi-
dent clerk in Paris, and learning from John
his desire to go abroad, they offered the po-
siton to him. Jessie went to Ohio to visit
an aunt, and shortly after her arrival there,
entered a seminary as music.teacner
Four times had Christmas come and gone
since their departure, and on the night be-
fore the fifth, | sat alone in my quiet room,
musing with a sad heart, over the past. A
knock startled me from my painful reverie,
and a servant entered with a card-"J ohm
Brydon." | hurried down stairs and found
him in the library. He was sadly altered
l tried to welcome him. but tears eh0ked
the words attempted to speak.
'My dear John"
"My precious cid aanty."
After a while he told me the story of the
past five years. How he had worked dill
gently and well, until he had risen to part
nership in the firm, and already possessed a
handsome fortune but foreign climate,
intense application to- business, and above
all, the absence of the dear familiar faces,
began to impair his health and he came
back to recruit. II shall be better soon, u
he said, "now that am once more at home,
| for believe that after all l am only home
SICK" He laid his head over in ray lap, and
l smoothed the dark hair, which was already
| family threaded with silver, while he told
me incidents of foreign life and travel until
the gray light in the east heraded the CON-
ing of another Christmas morn, All that
rest, and care, and the tenderest love, could
| do for him, seemed vain. His step grew
more languid, his cheek paler and thinner
Even the balmy air Of spring brought nc
strength to the wasted frame, no color to the
hollow cheek, and by the middle of May he
vas unable to leave his room. Then, fol
the first time, he consented to see physi
cian. The good old doctor looked very
grave and l followed him from the room
"Thege ,s no actual disease" he said
"ouly gradual wasting away of the wholt
system" and he prescribed stmulants, whicl
John resoluteiy refused to touch. In vail
i urged the doctors orders, and told him h
would certainly die unless he obeyed them