Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-07-16

Jessie did not come down /" breitNlsls,
[ and as soon as the meal was oyer, [ wen
up t" her room. had sent up Il tray wit
coffee ard toast and was surprised /" Sc
it untouched, while Jessie lay on til
lounge pale and languid. She started up
and with II faint attempt ut IL laugh. said
lis it time TO dress. and have you come t.
scold me for my laZiness?"
"4ou have time enol. I'll, dear; but how
is this--no breakfast?''
"Oh. [ am not hungry this morning
Indeed" she added aft r IL pause, 81 d.
not know why il is, but l. feel so strangely
as if something terrible was about to hap
pen; were ut all inclined to BIZ supprsLi
tious, l should call it a presentiment."
''Nonsense!" | interrupted. 'What ter
rible calamity can possibly befall you o..
this, of Ill days! Dismiss your mind Of all
such idle fancies; or, it yon must have i.
presentimenl, let it be OF coming joy. |
come again, let me find you looking beau
tiful and happy, as becomes u BRIDE
! Jessie blushed through her tears. and
kissing her tenderly, / left her alone.
| Two hours later returned, and found
that she had strictly obeyed my parting III =
junction. She wore IL heavy white silk,
her veil, pure and soft, tloated about her
like Il cloud, and in place of tears wer
bright, joyous smiles.
~ ell, little snow-drop are you ready?''
II believe So
Come, Them" and together we went
down to the library, where John was wait
ing IFS.
"Punctual to the Moment" he said ,
looking at his watch, and coming to meet
us.
"Shall we start Immediately, and disap-
point the minister and people by being on
time?''
wonder that he did not wait to admire
Jessie, or even to exchange a Jew fond
words, but suppose his Impotence was al
lowable under the circumstances. Pas
sing through the vestibule of the church,
Jessit's dress was caught on mail: We
were detained but q moment, yet [ dis
tinctly heard young Gleason, who stood by
the door, say to friend" Bry:lmi was on
jolly spree last night; went home at mid
night, half tight.''
started. Could they, too, have heard
him? One glance convinced me. Every
vestige of color faded from Jessie's face,
while from Johns eyes there shot an angry,
defiant look, as he hurried her, almost
rudely. into the church and up the aisle.
The minister was waiting, and imn aliately
commenced the ceremony. Johns re-
spouse was clear and firm; but I listened
in breathless suspense, when the mOmen-
tous question was addressed to the bride.
She hesitated an instant, then dra wing
away her hand, said distinctly-"I Yrill
not"-then, with Il pleadii g look al Ia },
she :.dded---sstaise me home -
He led her to the carriage, and I fol
lowed. CONSERVATION and amazement
were depicted on every countenance. I,
alone was not surprised; had feared this
denouenent. We rode home in perfect ST.
lence. AS we entered the house, Jessie
turned to John and said-''You believe
that 1 have this day publicly insulted
and disgraced you. Prove that you have
not deceived me, and your promise has
been faithfully kept, and 1 will make any
reparation in my power, no matter how
humiliating it may be-"
II cannot" he replied. ''Instead let me
make confession" Then he told her,
how he had met some friends the night be-.
fore, and after enduring every possibles
taunt and ridicule, had in a moment of
passion yielded, and swallowed a glass OF
wine. More followed, and, as Harry Glea-
son said, he returned home more than half
what he had done. He did not close his
eyes in sleep that night. More than once
he was tempted to acknowledge everything
trusting to her love and charity for forgive
ness. But if she refused, could he give her
up at the veryllast moment? No, he could
not; he would keep this secret, at least I'M
til she was his own, his wife; then, per-
.laps, he would have the courage to confess
it. He acknowledged that he had acted
dishonorably, and that the retrlbution was
Il just one, III 50 far us the punishment fell
upon himself alone. The hardest thing
to endure would be the CONSCIOUSNESS that
he had embittered her life, and perhaps.
broken her heart. 81 will not ask your
forgiveness he said; IL have not deserved
it; but if you can once more place conf
unworthy, trust me, the time will come,
when may at least claim your respect, al
though your love may be forever lost. :"
He paused, and then exclaimed passionate
ly. Jessie, my darling, will you let me go
from you forever without one word?'
"No, john" and she laid both hands in
his; ''the forgiveness you were too proud
to ask, freely offer you. dOnot utterly
condemn you for one fault; but oh, John!
| with all the recollections OF my childhood
to warn me, could not act otherwise. I
90 trust you, and believe, in my heart that
some day shall be proud to own that
loved and was beloved by you.'' She with
drew her hands and turned away, but he
cIasped her to his heart in apassionate EN-.
brace, kissed hSE once-;ln,l was gone.
The next week he sailed for Europe.
The firm he was with had long employed a
resident clerk in Paris, and learning from
John his desire to go abroad, they offered
the position to him. Jessie went to Ohio
TO visit all aunt, and shortly after her al
rival there entered a seminary as mnsic.
| teacher.
Four times had Christmas come and
gone since their departure, and on the
night before the fifth, sat alone in INV
quiet room, missing with sad heart over
the past. A knock startled me from nv
painful reverie, and the servant entered
| ,rit q IN