Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1875-04-07
My Little Stratagem.

Jesie Hale was the merriest, prettiest
most provoking daughter of Eve that
ever existed-at least | thought So
though perhaps | was not an impartial
Judge, as l must confess was deeply in
love, and, in fact / don't think | could
remember the time when | was not in love
with her. first ventured to ask her
company home from church, when after
four years absence, l returned to my
native town and set up as surgeon. Oak
dale was very healthy place, or else the
people felt afraid Of trusting their lives
in the hands of such a 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
tantaIizing little wretches that ever fas-
cinated and provoked poor fellow until
be could not have told whether be was in
his body or out Of it--she was the worst.
And there was Willard Tremaine-
standing six feet two in his stockings, led
about by that elf, coming and going at
every beck and call, as if was great
simpleton as in truth l must have been.
for after playing yours devotedly' for
about six months, | was no nearer win
ming 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 a stone wall. All
is fair in love or war, or at least
thought so, and resolved to try the re-
suit of strategy on my willful lady love.
One fine morning. as we We're 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
beneath the saddle had nothing to dc
with it, By the time she was fairly seat
ed he had become perfectly unmanage-
bic, throwing her violently from the sad
die of course l caught her before she
reached the gronnd. 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 mt
in moment.
30, WILL" she said, piteously, "that
terrible horse has broken your arm: what
will you do Poor VIII! Poor viii ?
How like villain felt at the sight o.
her distress; but was not going to give
up then; so l answered family, 1T is no
thing, dear Jessie; l would suffer thou
sand times more to feel that | had sayeC
your precious life"
But, o, l am so sorry What can b,
done for you 2" she said, in touching
accents.
Only tell me that you love me, Jes
sic darling, it will soothe my pain NOR,
than anything else in the world, Ant
then, like the great simpleton that I was
put that right arm around her, anC
never discovered my mistake, till sh,
sprang suddenly away,
Wouldn't little brandy and water d,
as we'll Mr.. Tremaine y she asked, arch.
ly. There don't seem to be any bone,
broken; the injury was internal, l shoulC
think"
Wouldn't I have sold myself for six.
pence? But there was no help for it +; 81
| had TO own the trick, and went home
wishing l had broken my arm or neck
l didn't care much which. After that.
for while, l was rather shy of the loved
object, for | didn't fancy hearing Of my
last attempt; but one morning, however
| weft over the way, resolved that the
matter should be decided before | return.
ed Jessie was sitting by the parlol
window, busily sewing, and hummine
some merry tune to herself as l entered
She was looking prettier than ever ant
found it terrible hard work to begin
AT last | broke in upon some of hel
nonsence with, "Why in the world
Jessie, don't you say whether you love
me or not? | believe you dom fact
| know you do" "
Here was again making simpleton
of myself.
30, you know, then, doyou?' She said
coolly, with a twinkle in her eye.
Then. of conrse, there is no need tel
ling your
Nc | did not mean it, Jessie, " I said.
But do you love me? VIII you an