National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-10-03
love of their pupils, aud the cares of

for whom she was named, and who
came from the city every summer to
spend month or two in the little cot
tago, always bringing pretty presents
to bright the homo of her brothers
widow, and lavishing the tenderest af-
fection upon her neice.
Yet, though Jessie herself had known
of her aunt's supposed intentions,
neither she nor her mother had ever
made calculations on fortune depend
ent upon the death of one whom they
! felt the warmest affection, and the idea
that others would be influenced by it
was n new thought to the young girl.
| She had given to her betrothed
Charles Seaton, the first love of her
young heart, believing his love was all
| her own. In the six years she had
lived in Merton, child and maiden,
Charlie Se0ton had been her devoted
admirer from the first, and had recent
/ ly finished his course Of law study and
been admitted to the bar. His fortune,
inherited from his father, was very
small, barely covering his expenditure
for board and clothing; but he was
energetic, industrious, and, without
brilliant talent, a clear-headed, intelli-
gent student, promising to make capa-
bic lawyer, if not a shining light at
the bar.
Answering her mothers call, Jessie
nestled down in her favorite seat at her
feet saying, sadly;
GO If Charlie was influenced by any
hope of Aunt Jessie's money, mamma,
it is better to know it now. | had sup
posed we would have to wait for our
wedding day until he had some practice,
and you know / have little sum of my
own toward first expenses. We could
live here, and--There, Twill not think
of it any more until the answer comes
to my letter.
while you wait, dear, " said her mo-
ther, "shall / tell you what | think is
the explanation of your aunt's singular
will ? You, who know her oSly as the
gentle, sad woman of her later years,
can scarcely imagine, presume, that
she was once as bright, hopeful, and
sunnytempered as yourself. l think
it is to save you from her own sorrow
that she has taken from You the power
of giving wealth to a mere fortune
hunter She would have you wooed
and won for yourself alone and as she
has never positively said you were to
be her heiress, she has probably never
supposed Charlie biased by that hope.
Still, dear, it is possible"
Eyes, it is possible" said jessie,
slowly; "but tell me about Aunt Jes-
sic.
Your grandfather Markham, Jessie,
of Tho 1aaJipor ,,,ar,lo,te of
New York, when your aunt, his only
daughter, was introduced into society.
Your uncle Hoyt was in good practice
AS physician, your father doing then
fair business, and already married
and in his own home.
1t was therefore with the name of an
heiress that Jessie danced through her
first season, a careless, light hearted
girl, very pretty, and accomplished
enough to make pleasing impression
wherever she went. She was but lit
tie over twenty when she became en-
gagged to Stanley Horton, the most fas-
cihatlng man in all our circle of friends.
Not only handsome and talented-and
he was both-but possessing in a re-
markable degree the courtly polish and
winning grace of manners that go so
Jar toward gaining a woman's heart, the |
absorbing love that Jessie felt for him |
seemed mutual, and congratulations |
were the order of the day, when your
yrandfather failed. From man of |
wealth he became actually poor, and |
losing energy and hope, he came with
Jessie to share our home.
Stanley Horton, the man we all sup
posed devoted lover, was fully aware
of the change in Jessie's prospects, yet /.
he continued his visits, m king no alb
rupt, ungentlemanly desertion of his
betrothed. Yet we, who watched her
with the jealousy of affection, soon dis
covered change in her She became
pale and sad, often fearful, till finally |
she confided to me that Stanley was
evidently weary of her, and had ceased |
to love her. Even then she attributed |
the change to some defect in herself, /
not seeing the mercenary motive till |
from her eyes and heart. She gave
him back his ring and promises, thus
accepting the position his urmanly con-
duct for ed upon her, of herself break |
ing the engagement between them. The |
first love of her life was the last. She
was your grandfather's comfort until
he died, and then she went to keep
house for Hoyt, who lost his wife and
baby one year after his wedding day.
When he died he left her the house and
money, and she lived there till she died.
Still I know she loved you, and l am
quite sure her will is not designed so
much to keep you single as it is to win
the disinterested love of your future
husband.
There was long silence after Mrs.
Markham concluded her story, and Jes-
sic allowed her head to rest in her
lap. under her caressing hand
trying to picture future of easy com.
potency shared by the companion of
her life. 1t had its bright side there
was still love and happiness for her yet.
And then bright face crowned with
curly brown hair would come before
her. and she knew that the handsome
house nor the comfortable income could
ever fill her heart if Charley left an
aching void there. Suddenly, like
gust Of wind, there swept into the little
sitting room a tall, broad d-shouldered
Young man, in gray tweed suit and
slouch hat, which latter article found
a resting place upon the floor, as the
Young giant braced himself before Jes-
sic in an attitude of grim defiance that
sent thrills of glad music into her heart.
"Will you have the kindness, Miss
Markham" said the intruder, towering
in his six feet of manhood over Jessie $
low seat, "to tell me what you mean
by that absurd letter Polly handed to
me Was it not fully understood that
Won and 1 were to share this cottage
yy;tb vonr mamma until attained suffi-