Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-03-07
WHAT A WOMAN DID.

Jessica Dale looked from her seat
among the branches of the ancient ash
that stood on the river side. On pile
of planks mans figure was stretched
at full length, and he was apparently
placidly gazing up at the white clouds
slowly dissolving in the blue air.
The man on the planks soon turned
his head in such way that he probably
caught glimpse of her white dress
among the leaves, for he instantly
sprang lightly down from his resting
place and walked swiftly across the
meadows towards her, vaulting the
fences on his way.
"I am so Uery glad to see you, Jes-
sica," lac said, fervently, as he helped
her over the stile.
"For what reason, Bernard? You
seem wonderfully in earnest"
"Why, no reason, except the pleasure
of being with you"
"Not having seen me since nine
o'clock last night"
"But you are always fresh and
beautiful sight. 1 have been wonder
ing what I could do with myself this
afternoon, and behold Fate sends me
to you" -,
''I wonder you are not sun-struck,
lying there on the wharf in this hot,
broiling sun"
ST don't mind the hot sun. 1t never
hurts me-"
"And yet, the coldest day last win
ter, you worked out of doors all day,
building that ice palace for me-"
"I enjoy the cold, too, and take the
seasons as they come. Heat and cold
are alike to me-"
"I should think, Bernard, you must
be as much as six feet high, she said,
measuring him with her eye.
every near the mark I am five feet
eleven"
"Well," said Jessica, stopping under
meath the pollard willows, and survey
ing her companion from head to foot,
"here is a young man five feet eleven,
broad shouldered, never sick, who
minds neither summers heat nor win
ter's cold, nor terrible storms, and yet,
who can find nothing in all this wide
world to do on this long summer day
but lie on pile of planks, or lounge
up and down the river bank with
girl"
The young mans brown face flushed
crimson.
"But what can I do, Jessica?"
"Help those sailors down there on
the wharf, and perhaps you will put a
little energy into them"
Il H. h. 0f
doing that?"
"Just for the sake of doing some
thing. Are you going to live this lazy,
useless life all your days"
"You know very well my uncle won't
help me to get into any business, or,
rather, he can't, for he never has ready
money"
"Help yourself, then"
"How can I, without money? must
have little to start with"
"Put yourself in as capital, and use
your muscles. They are big and strong
enough, I am sure. Such weights as
they tell me you balance at the gymna-
sium-go and break stonesi You are
of no use to anybody now. Your uncle
and aunt don't need you; they have
their own children. I have no doubt
they like to have you with them, and
will give you what you need, but you
should be ashamed to dawdle through
life dependent on rich mans bounty" 4"
"I don't feel that it is dependence.
am one of the family, and we all live
happily together, and have everything
in the world we want. And, more than
all that, uncle wants you to come and
live there too There is plenty for all,
he says. 1t is large house, and there
are so many servants they can't find
enough to do, and great deal coming
in all the time that would be wasted if
we were not there"
"I will never go there with you Ber-
nard. never I would rather die I
would rather live in a log cabin, on
bread and milk, than with husband
who would be willing to lead such life
as you do. I should be SO ashamed of
him."
The sleepy look went outof Bernard s
eyes in moment, and bright light
flashed into them. /" Is that the reason
you would never consent to make me
happy, Jessical Oh, why did you not
tell me that before ?"
"I have not told it now. You
dragged me into the discussion, and I
was only carrying out your supposi-
tion.
I" I will go to work tomorrow, if you
will only promise to love me"
CT have spoken for your own good"
said Jessica, Sand I have but one thing
more to say; never, from this moment,
say to me one word of love until you
can offer me something of your otOn.
The log cabin is enough, tut it must
be your own. Mind, don't say will
listen to you then it is probable I will
not. But, in the meantime, love must
not be named between you end me-"
"It is clear she does not love me, and
she might as we'll have said SO without
insulting me with all that talk" Such
were Bernard's thoughts after Jessica
had left him, and he stood idly kicking
pebbles into the river. "She has said
some pretty stinging things. That is
the way she thinks of me, is it
would be fool to give up all / have
and work like common laborer. She
is always as busy as bee herself, and