The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-02-26
81 I s e eILaaa g oEz 8 /.
NY Il tile stratagema

Jessie Hale was the mcrriest, prettiest,
most provoking daughter of Eve that
ever eXisted-at least thought so--though
perhaps l was not an impartial judge, as l
must confess | was deeply in love, and, in
fact / don't think / could remember the
time when I was not in love with her.
first ventured to ask her company home
from church, when after four years. absence,
returned to my native town and set up
as a surgeon. Oakdale was a healthy
place, or else the people felt afraid Of
trusting their lives in the hands of such q
scapegrace as they had known me to be.
for somehow my horse and gig found more
employment in carrying Jessie Hale to ride
than any other profitable business, yet of
all the tantalizing little wretcbes that ever
fascinated and provoked q poor fellow until
he could not have told whether he was in
his body or out Of it-she was the worst
And there was Willard Tremaine -
standing six feet two in stockings, led
about by that little elf, coming and going
at every beck and call, as if was great
simplcton, as in truth must have been, for
after playing yours devotedly' for about
six months, | was no nearer winning her
than at first. Open hearted and candid
she was on every other subject; but Just
let me speak of love or marriage, and
might as well talk to stone wall. All is
fair in love and war; Or at least I thought
so, and resolved to try the result of strategy
On my wilful lady love.
One fine morning, us we were about
starting for ride on horseback, and as
sisting Miss Jessie into the saddle, her
horse commenced rearing and kicking at
an alarming rate of course the Jagged
bits of iron | had cautiously inserted be-
meath the saddle had nothing to do with
it. By the time she was fairly seated he
had become perfectly unmanageable, throw
ing her violently from the saddle; of course
| caught her before she reached the ground.
No sooner was she in safety when with a
deep groan, staggered back against the
fence, my right arm hanging helplessly by
my side. 1t took nicely, for Jessie was
beside me in n moment.
80, Will,' she said, piteously, "that ter
rible horse has broken your arm; what
will you do Poor Win + Poor Win"
How like q villain felt at the sight of
her distress but was not going to give
| up then; so | answered family, ut is
nothing, dear Jessie; ] would suffer
u thousand times more to feel that had
saved your precious life"
"But, o, am sorry What can be done
for you?" she said in touching accents.
"Only tell me that you love me, Jessie,
darling; it will soothe my pain more than
anything else in the worlt." And then
like the great simpleton that / was, put
that right arm around her, and never dis
covered my mistake, till she had sprane
suddenly away.
"Wouldn't little brandy and water dc
as well, Mr.. Trcmaine 2" she asked archly
"There don't seem to be any bones bro
ken; the injury was internal, I should
think"
Wouldn't have sold myself for sixpence
But there was no help for it, SO / had tc
own the trick, and went home wishing
much which. After that, for a while wa,
rather shy Of the love object, for didn'
fancy hearing of my last attempt; but one
morning, however, l went over the way
resolved that the matter should be decid
cd before | returned. Jessie was sitting by
the parlor window, busily sewing, anC
humming some merry tune to herself as
entered. She was looking prettier thar
ever, and found it terrible hard work t,
begin.
At last broke in upon some of he
careless nonsense, with, "Why in tn,
world, Jessie, don't you say whether you
love me or not / believe you do-in fac
l know you do"
Here was again making simpleton O
myself
40, you know, then, do yeu2" she saic
coolly, with twinkle in her eye. "Thel
of course there is no need of tellin,
YOU"
mo, l did not mean it, JESSIE" said
"But do you love me? viii you answe
me yes or NOS"
"Ycs or no." she answered. demurely.