Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-03-02

dance, but there was many a stolen glance,
many silent hand press; and when the
music ceased Hugh managed to lead Jessie
behind cIump of laurels, where with the
cleaning light coming through the green
leaves, it was nearly dark there he slipped
his arm round her waist, and pressed his lips
to hers
Il love you, Jessie, more than anything
on earth,'' he whispered, smoothing her soft
brown hair, and trying to make the happy,
downcast eyes look up again into his own.
81 cannot live without your love, and yet |
must go away from here tonight. Promise
to meet me tomorrow night, and I'll tell
you plan I've made which will let me see
you every moment of the twenty four hours !;
promise Jessie.
What could the girl do but promise
Wasn't his arm round her? Wasn't his
hand keeping down, as it were, the wild
throbbing of her full heart? Wasn't his
kiss, the first kiss, still tingling upon her lips
That is all right, then," he said, when
the whispered promise was given. "Ill pay
my duty to the squire, and go my way. God
keep you. my sweet wild flower" This time
Jessie lips half rose to meet his. 1t was
so natural to kiss one she loved so passion
ately, and the poor little girl saw nothing
beyond the kiss-a kiss which many young
forester had tried TO steal, and that. too, in
her mother $. presence. 1t was too dark, she
IL Co. 20 har An haI
face but here Jessie was wrong; Joe had
missed, and was jealously looking about for
her, when the champion brushed past him
I'D like to know who you are?' demand
ed Joe, angriiy, who came and -
Hold your tongue, you fool, =" was the
answer and Joe stared, literally startled into
submission, while Hugh, making his way NJ
to the place where the gentle folks sat, bow
ed before the squire.
Il have come to offer my thanks, my
lord, he said, ''and to say that, with your
lordships permission, will take my depar-
ture, as | have nights walk before me.
I'm sorry for it, said the squire, bluffly.
I'D fain keep such fellows as you in thi:
parish. What say you, parson? Dan't you
think such thews and sinews would be vel
used in our work p
The parson, spare, sad looking man,
smiled gently, bu. cycling the stranger with &
keen, unsatisied look, he said:
Truly, my lord, if the heart is rs good
as the body, it would be well. Where dc
you come from, friend p
From Middieshire, Sir Parson. -
Were You ever here before? Your face
seems strangely familiar.
Yes, sir, have been bnt it is hardly
f,ir TO question a man thus. Not that
have any reason to care whether say yes ol
no; whether | hang or walk.
Then come here" quoth the squire, more
earnestly, and be one of my keepers; there
is room for one.
Faith it is tempting offer, replied th'
other with a merry laugh. What SHOULD
my wages be ?"
As the squire was going to speak one o
his daughters touched his arm. and blushin.
like rose whispered something in his ear
He seemed 10th at first to believe, then sud
denly convinced cried out:
No by the Lord Harry it is SO Faitl
| believe the girl right; trust woman
eyes Well, young sir,--but, hullo
where has he gone? What has become o
our champion ~
'Hc hurried away while Miss Beatric
- Il tbo Ir,l,,
The squire looked vexed, albeit he laugh
ed. and parried the feeling questions throw
out by the parson, nor did he mention tn
matter again until be and his daughter stoo
together in one of the bay windows of tn
drawing room after supper, when he began
''How did you recognize the earl, Trix 2
81 danced with him at the Yeomanr
Ball, papa
only once-and you pretend to remem
her him so well p
mo, papa, twice; nay, almost think
was three times confessed Miss Trix blush
ing crimson, while her father looked grave
Still, | don't see what is to make hir
come masquerading here; why cannot b
come and see US like an honest man p
And that night, when the squire and hi
good wife we're laid side by side, they talke
the whole matter over, and were not alto
gether pleased; for although the young eal
had money enough, and was one of the HAND
soonest men in the kings service, peopl
told sad stories of his morals, and on th
whole, the mother decided that he was nc
the sort of husband to seek for her daugt
ter, and that Trix should pay visit forth
with to an aunt in Scotland. But the goo
folks might have spared themselves som
anxiety, and bad better left the girl at home
to forget, amongst familiar scenes, the sol
voice and tender eyes that had awakene
her maiden heart. The sight of her prett
face had been surprise TO the disguise
CARA surprise by no means welcome-ft
he had no mind to be discovered, or hav
any obstacle pnt in the way of his love m;
king. He had met Jessie in the forest, an
the meeting was somewhat singular. Th
earl had been hunting A lost shoe had r,
suited in losing sight of his comrades, ant
lastly losing his way, so he was wanderin
along, staring helplessly about, when h
caught sight of Jessie, perched upon banI
I II. L IL Il