Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1869-10-23

UuO ~ uiu no ndfm JUST tnen, ana no one
saw me. Then dressed myself and
went, in the dusk of the evening, 70 see
Jessie.
was such an old type Of the family.
Jessie was singing-not to herself A
tall young fellow, whom had never seen
before, stood near the piano. Grand.
father Ashburton slept in bis arm chair,
evidently believing himself wide awake
all the while.
captain Hawthorn, Mr.. Patterson-
Mr. Patterson, Captain Hawthorn" and
l bowed.
might have smiled more naturally
had the naval officer been less hand.
some and many years older. We talked
as people talk, Of thousand different
things waited for Captain Hawthorn
to go; be fingered. II grew late. ]
would have given worlds for an inter.
view with Jessie that night, but it seem.
ed impossible We took leave together
at last, the clock striking eleven as we
departed. When we had turned the
corner l found that our WAYS were not
the same. bowed adieu TO the captain,
skirtcd the block, and stood before the
house wa had just left again. suppose
the servants had all retired for the night,
for Jessie was fastening the shutters.
ran up the steps.
"Jssie," said I, "Jessie, forgive me.
1t is late, | know, but l must have one
word-only one"
Then leaped the colonade of the bal
cony and entered the parlor.
Grandfather Ashburton was not there.
We were all alone, my beautiful Jessie
and !. / sat down on the sofa; she
looked at me smiling. had never seen
her look so happy.
"Jessie," said |, 81 wanted to speak to
you as / could not before that captain,
confound him. / am taken into partner
ship"
81 congratulate you," said Jessie.
81 have loved you since we met. You
remember the time. For nearly ten
years l have waited-waited to be able
to marry. Now I have achieved the
step at last. Lam partner in a rich
and respectable firm. can live well and
elegantly. I have struggled with my
heart so long-I hare forbone so long
Oh, Jessie, turn to me and give me your
hand, and tell me that you will be my
WIFE, Otherwise all this prosperity is
worthless to me-"
But Jessie did not give me her hand.
She drew back from me, turning very
pale.
81 hope your are mistaken in your
feelings" she said, "for l can not return
| them"
"Jessie," I cried, "doz't say that-any
thing but that. l have loved you so
lcns, so deeply; have striven against
my own heart. / have worked for this
SO long. Oh, Jessie"
And then told her how often words
of love had been on my lips and / had
forced them back. Each time remem-
bered so well, SO vividly.
She was pale as death when ceased,
but she put me back when would have
taken her hand, with motion OF her
own.
GAS you say, you have been prudent, ~
she said !; "be SO still, and say no more.
You are too late. If you had spoken on
that Christmas night, which forget no
more than you, would have answered
differently. loved you .hen."
"Then love me again" l moaned, Glove
me again"
She smiled.
"If life and eternal happiness depended
on it. could not" she answered. "That
night, when you were gone, / wrestled
with myself. | tore my love from my
bosom and trampled upon it. No wo-
man who is worthy of the name will love
man who does not love her.
She smiled at mo little scornfully l
thought.
"Your great prudence prevented me
from knowing it" she said. "That Christ
mas night ended all the folly on my side.
You have been nothing TO me since that
moment but what you are now, friend.
You can never be any thing more"
"Jessie," cried, 81 shall go mad; if
you could say you never cared for me, it
would be bad enough; but to own that
you had loved me, and to show that of
my own act lost that love, it is more
than l can bear. will have it again,
Jessie. will -"
"Hush % said Jessie. 81 must not
hear this. l am engaged to Captain
Hawthorn" .....
"You say this to torment me-" ! cried.
"a stranger, a mere acquaintance"
"We have known each other fort
night, and have been engaged wsek," :"
said Jessie, blusbing deeply. eve are
not prudent people, You know. From
the moment our eyes met, wondered
that ever cared tor any one else. Oh,
Mr.. Patterson, am sorry you feel this
so deeply. 1 can not think myself to
blame"
The tears had rushed into my eyes, and
had hidden them from her with my
trembling hands. She was not to blame,
prudence had done it all, that prudencs
which was my pride. l had thoug hts
enough in my heart, heaven knows, but
my grief and selfreproaeh were too great.
| could say no more. / opened the door
and went out. l have never spoken to
her since.
People call me Prudence Patterson
now. / merit the name. Yet sometimes
when I look back upon my lonely life,
and remember that Jessie Ashburton