Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-12-18
INDEPENDENCE, IOWA, FRIDAY, DECEMBER IS, 1874.

will be up here this summer? Ionly
wish she could have come with us
but she hardly dares travel yet. I
never dreamed she could recover,
last winter. Do you remember the
time / sent Bob over to bring you,
when she telegraphcd for me?
never got such fright in my life as
that gave me--and it all seems like
a nightmare now. She was so low
all those weeks, I did not suppose
she would ever recover. But the day
before she started she wrote, saying
her physician tho1 ght her almost
strong enough to travel"
Jessica expressed her pleasure, and
Bob said:
"And, by the way, Jessica, that
was the first ride you ever took with
me. have Carrie to thank for that.
havn't |? | remember my little nag
made good time that day going up
Spring street" And then Bob fell
to thinking Of how bright his hopes
were that day in another direction,
and his face clouded.
But Jack Wilson, sitting near,
heard every word and remembered.
Surely that was the very ride that
had made all the trouble. Had he
been such a fool, after all
He tried to speak to Jessica that
evening and the next morning. but
she avoided him. That afternoon
Carrie and Jessica announced their
determination to climb to the top of
the highest cliff-a feat they had
been too tired to attempt before.
Two or three others went along, and
Jack and his brother followed after.
Jessica, being fleet of foot and light,
outstripped them all. But Jack was
not far behind her. She turned
quickly to descend, as soon as he
reached her side, but slipped and
wrenchcd her foot. Jacks outstretch-
ed arm saved her from falling. She
turned white. 'Lcan on me- he
said; 81 will help you down. You
are uttTl, KNOW.
"Only Il little" she said. 81 think
| can get down alone, or Mr.. Bris-
bow will assist me-
'Mr. Brisbow will not assist YOU.
He is helping that elderly lady up
the cliff. 1t would be unkind to
call him. | am here at your service,
and | think it Will be cruel and
mean if you refuse my ARM
at will not be the first time YOU
have thought me mcan," Jcssica said
quickly, and then bit her lip.
81 have been a fool, | am afraid"
Jack answered, and then "Oh, Jessi-
ca! | have been so miserable and
wretched all these months. / love
you more madly than ever; for Gods
sake, let us 50 back to the old rcla-
ton and forget this miserable misun-
derstanding."
st is too late" Jessica answered.
"Mr. Wilson feel faint, and my foot
pains me. | must get back to the
hotel"
Jack helped her back, and little
was said on the way. The hotel par
lor was deserted, and he assisted her
to the sofa, and sat down by her. Il
will stay here, till Carrie comes
back. My foot is not hurt much,
and cnly pains ma when step on it.
You can 90 now, Mr.. Wilson; thank
ypIJ for >-o1,r II uta,,n -
"But III not gow cried Jack. Il
love you and I know YOU love me,
and | want you to say YOU will be
my wife"
Il can't" she said, firmly;'I am en-
gagged to Mr.. Brisbow."
Jack said some hard words, and
started out Of the room. He heard a
little sob and came back. Jessica
was sitting with her face buried in
her hands. Jack called her name
but she only said, "Go away" He
looked at her Il moment, started to
90, came back and caught her in his
arms, and laid her tear-wet face on
his shoulder. just at this iuncture
Bob Brisbow burst into the room.
He had come back for Carries para
sol, which she left in the parlor, to
find his promised wife sobbing in
Jacks arms.
'Ha.lo" he said, and stared at
them.
If he had been more in love he
might have said something more en-
phatic. AS it was, he only said 'hal-
10" to express his surprise. Then
Jessica sprang up and Jack rose and
said:
81 beg your pardon, but | loved
her first. We were separated through
a foolish mistake, but we love each
other yet. She refuses, however, to
make me happy because she has
promised to marry YOU"
"Well, she's yours, old fellow, with
my blessing" cried Bob, and hurried
away with mist in his eyes, which
Jessica fondly imagined was occa-
stoned by her loss, but which was,
on the contrary, caused by the thought
of Dora Smith. Then Jessica told
Jack all about the matinee occur
renee, and they were both in Fools
Paradise the rest Of the day. Jack
went back with the Milwaukee com
pany, and Carrie Somcrs was on the
qai Uice to know what had occurred.
Something, she knew, but she could
tell what. When they got home
Bob told her of the scene in the Cliff
House. "And you gave her up, you
dear, good felloww cried sympathet-
ic Carrie. "IIow noble of your
"Not bit Of it," growlcd Bob. II
never loved her. | only engaged
myself to her out Of spite, and | find
she took me for the same object.
Joke on both Of us, wasn't it?"
Then Carrie questioned about and
worlned the whole story out of him.
a few days later she said she must
run down to Chicago to see her sister
before she went away. The very af
ternoon of her arrival, though, she
called on Dora Smith. Found her
with her trunks all packed, ready to
go to Waukesha or Oconomowoc-
Pm not sure which place-for 4 few