Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-03-27

her little boots beating brisk tattoo
on the gravel, ! lay quite still till she
passed me, then rising on my elbow, l
watched her covertly. On she went,
straight up to my house, up the front
steps, and then, bang went the knocker.
1 heard the door open, and knowing
that she had been admitted, l rose, and
sauntered up myself, thoroughly vexed
at the tremulous eagerness L felt to
know who and what she was She rose
from her seat as L entered, saluting me
with pretty little bow. q ~ gAG u
excuse me, sir" she said "but
you are Mr.. Charles Trowbridge, 1 be-
lieve, and / am Jessie Dunbar"
The silvery voice, the familiar face,
the name, and some glittering ornament
in her bosom, all struck me at one. and
the same moment. / felt my head spin
ming round like top but 1 managed to
ask her to be seated again, and as she
complied, 1 satisfied myself in regard to
the ornament she wore. 1t wasmy ruby
brooch, the one for which had given
the savings of poor mother, 1 could
have sworn to that. What could it
mean ' . HH.. ..Et.
"We are holding a fancy fair, Mr..
Trowbridge," she began, for the bene-
fit of the Queer Fellows orphans every
one is giving us something, and I've
come up to see if you won't help us.
You will, am sure"
"No," 1 answered, assuming a stern
ness 1 did not feel ; GO tbs a principle
with me never to encourage such institu-
tions.
"Sir," patting her dainty foot impa-
tiently against the carpet, "not en-
courage feeding the orphans of dead
Queer Fellows Do you mean that 2"
Her clear, dove-hke eyes embarrassed
me with their steady gaze. 1 arose, and
took out my pocket-book.
"How much shall l give you, Miss
Dunbar 2" a.r
"What you can afford, sir.
h. [ handed her a fifty-pound note.
Her eyes gladdened SO they fairly dazzled
me.
"Oh, Mr.. Trowbridge !" she cried
"I did not expect this. You are so good
SO generous!" ..E h
She took out delicate little purse,
and crammed it in then she turned to
go. ....- ...
"Good-bye, Mr.. Trowbridge," she
said, pausing in the doorway, and hold
ing out her hand. "I thank you very
much, indeed but won't you come down
to the fair tomorrow evening? Please
do, Mr.. Trowbridge ~
Ibid not promise her, but I went, nev-
ertheless and, after the fair was over, ]
attended Jessie home. Ny old sweet
heart, Lady Dunbar, grown into buxom
matron, met me in the hall.
"At last, Charley" she said, grasping
both my hands; "but you've been an
unfriendly old curmudgeon all these
years, and we may thank Jessie for Turing
you out of your den, suppose. She
won her bet by it, too. You see, the
girls were all here laying plans for the
fair, and they got talking about you; and
young Mr.. Smyler offered to bet five
pounds that none of them had the
courage to go up to Walnut Hill and ask
you for donation. But Jessie made
the venture; and now that you have
come out of your seclusion, do b.
sociable, Charley, for the sake of our ole
friendship"
took her at her word. Almost every
evening after that found me at Sil
Walter Dunbar's pleasant home. Ant
one spring night, when the air was swee
with balm, and the moonlight soft anC
mellow, and the great apple tree beneatl
which we sat was white with fragran
bloom, l made the same proposal t.
Jessie that [ had made to her mothe
twenty years before, not on my knees
however, but sitting by her side, will
her little hand in mine.
81 loved your mother years ago, Jes
sic, " [ said; "but was silly boy then
l am man now, and / love you as N
man ever loves but once. Do you thinl
you can be my wife,"
81 think can, Mr.. Trowbridge," sh
answered, simply; " and I'll do my bes
to make you a good one. I've though
of you a great deal all my life, anc
loved you, I believe, even before I eve
knew you. Mamma used to tell m,
about you when was little girl; and
always thought it was wrong in her t,
take your poem and your brooch, ant
then laugh at you; though, of course, i
was right for her to like papa. But Tv
always felt very sorry for you; it mus
have been terrible when you went hom
and found your mother dead. I've go
the poem and the ruby brooch you CAV
mamma; and I am very glad you low
me so much, Mr.. Trowbridge. Yes
I'll be your wife, and I'll try to max
your life SO happy that you'll never re
member the sorrowful past.
So married the daughter of my oil
sweetheart; and there she sits in tn
great armchair, before the blazing fire
and that little thing on her lap is my so
and heir, Charles Trowbridge, Jr. An,
in regard to myself, Charles Trowbridge
Sr., I am the happiest man that ever til
sun shines on.