Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-08-26
if not a shining ligh. at the bar.

Aunt Jessie's money, mamma, it is better to
know it now. had supposed 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, will not think of it any
more till the answer comes to my letter.
"While you wait, my dear" said her
mother, "shafl tell you what think is the
explanation Of your aun.'s singular will p
You, who know. her only as the gentle, sad
woman of her later years, can scarcely inn
agine. Iprcsume that she was once as bright,
hopeful, and sunny>tempered as YOURSELF
think it is to save you from her own sorrow
that she has taken from you the power of Civ
ing wealth to 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,
'bu. tell me about Aunt JESSIE"
''1our grandfather Markham, Jessie, was
one of the leading merchants of New York,
when your aunt, his only daughter. was intro.
duced 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.
SIT was, therefore, with the name of au
heircss that Jessie danced through her first
season, careless, light hearted girl, very
pretty and accomplished enough, to make a
pleasing impression wherever she went. She
was buta little over twenty when she became
engaged to Stanley Horton, the most fasci,
mating man in all our circle of friends Not
only handsome and talented, (and he was both),
but possessing in a remarkable degree tho
conrty polish and winning grace of manners
that go so far toward gaining woman's heart,
tho absorbing love that Jessie felt for him
seemed mutual, and congratulations were the
order of the day, when your grandfather
failed. From a mau of wealth he became ac-
tually poor, and losing energy and hope. he
came with jessie to share our homo. Stantly
Horton, the man all supposed to be de,
voted lover, was fully aware of the change 10
Jessie's prospects, yet he continued his visits,
making no abrupt, ungcntlemanly desertion of
his betrothed. Yetw who watched her with
the Jealousy of affection, soon discovered a
change in her. She became palo and sad,
often fearful, till finally she confded to me
that Stanley was evidently weary of hor, and
had ceased to lovo her. Even then she nt-
trbuted the change to some defect in herself,
not seeing tho mcrceDnry motive till later,
when time had taken tho glamour from her
eyes and heart. She gave him back his ring
and promises, thus accepting the position his
unmanly conduct had forced upon her; of
herself breaking tho engagement between
them. The first love of her life was the last.
She was your grandfather's comfort until he
died, and then 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 aud money, and she lived there till
she died. Still know she loved you, and
am quite sure her will is not designed so much
to keep you single as it is to win the dsin-
terested love of your future husband"
There was n long silence after Mrs Mark
ham concluded her story, and Jessie allowed
her head to rest in her mothers lap, under
her caressing hand trying to picture future
OF easy competency shared by the companion
of her life. II had its bright side; there was
still love and happiness for her vet, And
then a 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 Charlie left
an aching void there
Suddenly, like gust OF wind, there swept
into the little sitting-room, tall broad -shoul-
dcrcd young man, in gray tweed suit and
slouch hat, which latter article found q resting.
place upon the floor, as the young giant braced
himself before Jessie in an attitude of grim
defiance that sent thrills of glad music into
her heart
"Will you have the kindness, Miss Mark
ham," said the intruder, towering in his six
feet of manhood over Jessie's low scat, "to
tell me what you mean By that absurd letter
Polly handed me? Was it not fully under
etood that you and were to share this cot
tage with your mamma until attained suf-
ficient legal ominence to warrant the purchase
of a brown stone front in New York? Was
L not deluded into the belief that your prcs>
ence in the culinary department of our es-
tablishment was to reduce our expenses to the
limits of our present income? Was it not
represented to me that my present board was
sufficient to meet the requirements of two in
this domicile ? In short. Miss Markham. in
what way was ever led to suppose that the
fortune of your spsnster aunt was to influence
IN the slightest degree your material relations
in regard to myself? pause for reply
Jessie stood up, her hands meekly folded
together and her happy eyes downcast till the
loDeslashes kissed her cheek.
"Plcase forgive me this time. and I'll never
do it again." she said !; and then the laugh
dlmpied her cheek, danced in her eyes, and
rippled out claer and sweet upon the air.
"Oh' Charlie ! Charlie! Iknew you mover
thought of Aunt Jessie's money"
"And you," said Charlie, holding her off at
arms length, 'you can have it all if you give
"As if loved money better than you"
said Jessie, nesting now in the strong arms
wrapped closely around her.
1t seemed, however, as if Charlie was ac-
tuaiiy afraid of the money that was so tempt>
lngly near Jessie's grasp, for be commenced
series of interviews that bore entirely upon
the subject of an immediate marriage.
"What is there to wal. for 2" he would ask.
aud then enter upon calculations of his press
ent expenses and those of the future, proving
most conclusively that there was decided
saving for both in uniting their incomes.