The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-12-15

No, you little, demure witch, you don't
suppose anything of the kind. Would |
have come down here in our busiest season
for that? No, | came to look for a jewel
without which my life will be nothing
my Jessica's love VIII you refuse to lis
ten to me now, darling."
There was no need for words; Jessica
turned her blushing, happy face to Bernard,
and he clasped her in his arms.
AT last'' he said, rapturously. ooh,
my dearest, have waited long for this. If
l were not so happy l would reproach you
for having been so cold and cruel to me.
But, you love me at lastr'
Il will make a confession to you now,
Bernard: / loved you all the time >"
My darling! And you let me think
you did not care for me. Why did you
send me away without the least glimpse of
hope for your love? Why did you tell
me you despised me-"
mo, no, Bernard, never said that"
"What you did say amounted to the
same thing, and you would not even soften
it by saying that you would try to love
me-"
"What security would | have had, that,
after you had won me, you would not re-
lapse into your old self? l loved you, but
| wanted you to be worthy of my love"
You are mine now, at all events" And
he held her more tightly.
But" he said, thOughtfully, "what will
you do up there in that rough region. away
from your old friends, and you will not
have the comforts you have now in the old
farm house."
IL would a thousand times rather be up
there than in your uncle,s fine house.
But we have plenty of time to consider all
that"
Not so much time! / can only stay
four days, for we are very busy just now
and we ought, by all means, to be Dlarried
by the end of the month"
The head was quickly raised from the
shoulder why, Bernard! Are you
craZy?"
"By no means. What in the world is
the use of our waiting? We have known
each other all our lives, and how do you
suppose l can take the time to come phi
laundering down here every week? In fact,
| ought not to be here now, but | made a
confdant of Daryl, and he took compass
sion on me. At the end of this month he
thinks they can do without me for week,
and then we must be married. 1t is not so
bad up there after all. 1t is beautiful
country, and we have little society. The
superintendent wife, and the wife of the
engineer live there in funny little houses,
just like mine; and they are both ladies.
And there are good many cabins dotted
here and there in the woods, and the labor
ers' wives are nice, kindly women"
Jessica laughed. "You will make it
out a sort of Paradise, expect, if 1 let
you 90 on. But may ask if you had that
fol of
me:"
Il did not feel at all sure of you, but
could not help little feeling of hope. /
did not believe you would care so much
about the life | led if you did not love
me the least little bit However, the house
was already built. One of the members of
the company used to live in it, Every
thing seems to have happened just right
for u.s."
"You take too much for granted, Mr.
Bernard, have not yet consented to your
arrangement"
But Won will .darlinG9 Inst consider
how much you will make me do when You
get up there
"That is a consideration, certainly"
"Ohi l we'll know I shall have a hard
task -mistress. But you will make happy
home for me as a compensation"
Perhaps Jessica felt she had been arbi
trary enough. AT all events her lover had
his own way, and the wedding-day was
fixed to suit him. the bride elect reflect
ing that her simple rousseau would not
require much time for preparation. Ruff
fed dresses and trailing silks would be en-
tirely out Of place in the lumber region.
They were so happy, sitting there under
the dropping branches of the ash, with the
silvery sands at their feet, and the river Gid
ing gently by, that they forgot to go up to
the house to tell the wonderful news to
the family until the dusk of evening stole
upon them Woods Household Mdgazine