Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-02-06
MY LITTLE STRATAGEM.

Jessie Hale was tho moriiest, prettiost mos
provoking daughter of Evo that ever cxisted-a
least thought so-though perhaps WAS not al
impartial judge as | must confess was dcepl,
in love, and in fact | don't think could rcmem
Der the time when 1 was not in love with her
first ventured to ask her company home from
chrrcl when after -four years absence, / re
formed to my native town and set up at eur
geon. Oakdalo was healthy place, or else the
pooplo felt afraid of trusting their lives in the
hands of such a ecapegrace as they had know
mo to be- for somehow my horse and gig fount
more empoymentin carrying Jessie Hale to i,dt
than any othor profitable business yet of all thu
tantalizing lirtle Wlotches that ever fascinated
and provoked poor fellow until he could moi
have told whether he WAS in bis body or ont OF
it she was the worst.
And thore was Willard Trcmaine- standing
Bix feet two in stockings, led about by that elf
comin, and going at every beck and call, as if
was great simpleton as in Truth L must have
been, for after playing yours deyotedly' fol
about six MONTHS was no nearer winning hei
than at first. Open hearted and candid she was
on every other subject but just lot me speak
of love or marriage, and might al well talk to
stone wall. All ii fair in love and war, or ut
least thought 10, and resolved to try tho result
of strategy Oh my wilfu lady love.
Ono fine morning, al we were about starting
for ride on horseback, and assisting Miss Jes-
sic into the saddle, her horse commenced rear
ing and kicking at an alarming ratio of course
the jagged bits of iron had cautiously inserted
beneath the saddle had nothing to do with it.
by the time she was fairly seated ho had become
perfectly unmanaSeable, throwing her violently
from the saddle of course / caught her before
she reached the ground. No sooner was she i'll
safety, when, with deep groan, | staggered
Iun1 t1,nT put I,,,
helplessly by my side II took nicely, for Jessie
was beside nc in Il moment.
40, Will" she said. piteously, Z" that terrible
horse has broken your arm what will you do /?
Poor Will Poor VIII !"
How like villain felt at the sight of her
distress but was not going to give up then
20 answered family, " 1t is nothing, dear Jes-
sic; would suffer II thousand times more TO
feol that had saved your precious fe."
" But o, am sorry What can be done for
youY' she said i'll touching accents.
~ Only toll me that you love me, Jessie, dar-
ling it will sootle my pain more than anything
else i'll tho world" And then like tho great
-lnpleton that WAS, put that right arm around
her, and mover discovered my mistake, till she
sprang suddenly away.
Wouldn't a little brandy and water do AZ
we'll, Mr.. Tremaine?" she asked, archly. "1'hore
don't seem to be any bones broken; tho injury
was INTERNAL should think"
Wouldn't have sold myself for u siXpence
iiut there ITO help for it; so had to own tho
trick, and went home wishing had broken my
arm or nt ok, L didn't care much which. After
that, for while, was rather shy Of tho love
object, for didn't fancy hearing of my last at
tempt; but one morning. however, went over
the way, resolved that tho matter should be do
cled before | returned. Jessie was sitting by
the parlor window, busily sewing, and. humming
some merry tune to herself rs | entered. She
was looking prettior than ever and | found il
terrible hard work to begin.
At last broke in upon some of hor careless
with g Wliy in tba world .Ipssin don \
you say whether you love mo or not l believe
You do-n fact, know you do
Here was again making Il smpleton of my
self.
%, you know, then, do you ? she said coolly
with twinkle in her cye.-' Then of course
there is no need telling you.
mo did not mean it, Jessie, said But
do You loyo me ? viii you answer mo yes OF
nof
'Yos or no, she answered, demurely.
o. jessie Hale I exclaimed, impaticntly
You will drive me crazy.
"A terrible misfortue, surely, she said. with {
laugh, throwing down her work, and stopping
through the low window upon the lawn. Now
Will II tell you what will do if you will PROMISE
never to plague me again about this,
will promise anything, If you will only Glvt
me an honest answer, 1 said eagerly.
Well, then, if you can catch mo before
reach the elm tree, will give you decided an
swer.'
thumped my head against tho window sash
with ten times more eagerncss than | ever dis
played in playing catch in my boyhood days.
caught her before she was half way to tho ole
elm
Now for tho answer, said, eagerly.
50, but can't you wait until l get my breath
drawing it in quick spasmodlc jerks. Lot mt
sec what was it promised to tell You?
Whether you love mo or not you provoking
little wretch ! said /, fairly out OF patience.
Now Look here, Mr. Will, if you don't lcav'
oil calling mo names, won't answer you, nov
SEQ if | do And suro enough, no answer coul
get from her.
Gle, stating that his assistant had left him ant
asking me to take his place. This was just thu
situation had been wanting for years, and
hailed it with delight now.
=" But jessie, / thought 'could leave her
moments reelection showed me it was jus
what was needed, for if she really cared for M
my absence would mako her willing to aclnowl
edge it. 1t did not take long to make my III
raneements, and before night they were all com
peted and tho ncxt morning l started for tn
station, calling at Mr.. Halo's on my way to bi
Jessie goodbye. / could see the little witc
did not believe one word of tho story told her
II hope, MIR. Will, you won't break your arr
on the train it would make it so bad for you,
Hhe said, with smile, as l concluded
And you not there to cure it, / retortee
But seriously, Jessie am in earnest now.
ls probable l shall not sec you again for years
for,f.I like the place shall remain there
She still believed il some trick, for her eye
said plainly, You can't cheat me again. An
slie said good-hy a. cooly as if it were only ft
n day. went down the walk. feeling much as
think Adam must have felt when he left Par'
disc, except that he took his Eve with him, an
left mine behind.
| was pleased with tho place. and was not lon
m accepting my uncle's proposals. | wrote
this effect to lawyer, desiring him to dlspot
of my property at Oakdale. l knew that Jess
would hear of it and it would give her to unde
stand that had no intention of returning. l
three days l followed the letter. determine
That il did not succeed this time, would CIV
her up forever, though my heart gave qnit
tlirob OF pain at the thought.
1t was just at twilight OF pleasant septemIb
Gay, whom / reached Oakdale. Direct to Nj
iiaie's took my way, saying to myself as
wont Now never 7 l entered the dusky pa
ior unannounced BY the dim light. saw JeH
sitting on sofa, her head resting on tho SO
step.
m, Was she asleep? A quick sob answered m
mat argued well for my success. In nome
was kneeling beside her, and had raised u
bowed head.