National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1874-05-30

| udys io' 'oAo"'S"o, "' "
weeks forgetfulness of my very ex
istence."
A look of mingled love and re
proach from her beautiful dark eyes
"a moment of silence, and he SPOKE
again:
You have your own way, usual
ly, have you not, Jessie 7"
III have rarely been C! c!ossed in my
life" she replied with smile, "ant
since mamma died, poor papa seem'
only to live for me !"
"Well, cara milo, listen Wher
the fall comes, persuade your father
to bring you abroad for six months
You can study music and the Ian
guages; we can all he together. IL
learn language thoroughly, make
love in it, says an old scholar
Think of a winter for us in Italy
Yes, dear Jessie, if your wishes are
commands your father will surely
bring you to me, ere long"
So they parted. Give Lee went
over the ocean, and during the sum
mer that followed, Jessie proved a
most faithful correspondent.
Early in the fall, Mr.. Trevellyn
was taken very i'll, so that for many
weeks he lay between life and death.
Letter after letter came from young
Lee, which Jessie scarce found time
to read, much less to answer.
"COusin john" she said one morn
ing to. Mr.. Trevellyn's nephew, a
young man of twenty-five years of
age, who had been constant at
tendant at her fathers bedside ;
"Cousin John, you know | cores
pond with Give Lee, but poorpapa's
illness has left me no time for my
pen. Please write Give, explain
the cause Of my silence, and tell
him." she added. with tell-tale
blush, "that we do not forget him. "
AS soon as MIR. Trevellyn was able
to move, his physicians ordered him
South. 1t was not until they reach
ed Key West (the point of destina-
tion} that Jessie had leisure for a
careful perusal of Gives letters.
She noted with pain how they had
grown less tender but reproachtul
in tone, till, at the last, they were
cold and intiequent.
81 am sure he cant have received
Johns letteI," she said to herself;
''but | will write to day and explain
all. Poor Give! Yes, | will write
this very day."
For an hour her pen moved over
and across the paper, filling sheet
after sheet with details of the past
three months. AS she was sealing
her letter, a knock was heard, and
to her cheerful "Come inw a tall
figure appeared in the doorway.
Good morning, fair cousin, |
have just left your father very com
Portable. Have you any commands"
"Tllanks, John. just post this
missive tor the European mail.
What would papa and 40 without
YOU? You seem like his own son,
and my own brother"
81 am content to be his son, dear
Jessie, but not your brother"
"Cousin," said the ycung girl,
scarce needing his reply, "did you
write Give, as | asked you to do 7"
"Did lever break a promise to
you Jessie ?"
81 remember no promise, John,
but simply my request. Poor Olive
evidently knows nothing of papa's
Illness"
"Oh no! this pointing to the
packet explains ALL"
Weeks passed. No letters from
young Lee came to cheer the heart
Of Jessie, as day after day she sat
in her fathers sick room. She grew
panied ; then hurt; finally annoyed
and indignant. Meanwhile, Mr..
Trevellyn was growing weaker and
weaker with each day y,and conscious
of his approaching end, he begged
his daughter to reward the devo-
ton of young Treyellyn toward him
self by giving him her hand.
81 used to fancy, darling child"
murmured the sick man, "that
young Lee loved you! But he is
far away, and too young to think
of marriage. John wOrships you.
He has maturity, and much wisdom.
should die easier to see you his
wife and under his protection"
With a heart half.brOken at her
lovers neglect and her fathers sink
ing condition, Jessie consented to
his dying request. A quiet bridal