Wilmington journal., 1875-07-16

he said, here on my heart.
She looked out into the night, not
at him, as she spoke:
Job" she said, "I begin to think
you are right, that he went down in
the Sphynx with the rest ten years ago.
But what good would do you what
do you want to marry me for?"
The man drew clocer as he answe-
red
Before you were married to Charles
Lester l loved you. While you were
married loved you. All these tenyears
since that vessel went down I've loved
loves if he gives his soul for her."
What horrible thought" said she
His soul"
81 should have said his ife," said
Job. q don't want to shock you. But
you don't know what it would be to me
to have you. And then I'd do every
thing for your boy"
Yes" she answered, "I know you
would. -
There was pause. Then she gave
him her hand
Job, she said very softly, 81 shall
all pretend nothing l don't feel, butt
know I've been crazy all this time, and
f you want me you may have me. It's
very good of you to love me SO
And thus seemed to have ended that
ten years watching and waiting, and
there was triumph in Jobs eyes as he
turned away and left her with his first
kiss on her brow. But at the end of
the green lane he paused aud looked
back
81 told her the TRUTH" he said,
when l said that when a man loved q
womana as I love her, he must have her,
if the price were his sonl itself's
And then he drew from his breast q
letter with a great red seal upon it,
looked at it for moment, and hid it
away again.
Married? Yes, they were to be
married. Every one at McKibben's
Corners knew that now. Jessie Lester
went no more to the postoffice for her
long expected letter. Job was fur
for on the morrow the wedding was to
take place. And it was night again.
A month from that night, when she
had come for the last time, as every
one thought, through rain and mud,
to make her sadly foolish query, she
was sensible at last-very sensible.
She had chosen the substance instead
of the shadhw.
And now as we said, it was night,
and a wetter one than the other
later, too. for Mr.. Fairjohn had closed
the store, and was compromising for
himself what he called might cap"
Of some fragrant liquor, warm water,
lemons and sugar, and was supping it
by the stove when there came upon his
door feeble knock, and when being
repeated, he heard it, there staggered
i'll out of the rain dripping fig ure
that of Jessie Lester, the bride who
was to be on the morrow.
She was trembling with cold, and as
he led her Blong to the fire she burst
into q flood of tears.
I'm frightened" she said. Some
, one followed me all the way. 1 heard
, them.
you've no business to be out alone
at night" said old Fairjohn, bluntly.
''And what's the matter ?"
She looked up at him piteously.
81 thought there would be letter,
said she. '' dreamt there was one.
| thought Charlie came and said:
{. O to the office once more. / have
written, [ have written. And I though
| saw letter with a red seal"
, $50 did - mutter9d old Fairjohn
! to himself.
And he went to the box where the
letters were kept and brought them to
? her in his hand.
Look for Yourself, - he said "And
, now, Mrs. Lester, I'm an old man;
take my advice. Remember what your
duty Will be after tomorrow. Remem
: Der not to go crazy.
" Ten years have gone since your
? husband left this place. If he's alive
he's Il rascal, and you are free of him
: bylaw: but we all know that every man
on board the Sphynx was drowned. So
be a good wife to JobRoper and forget
G this folly, I'll take you HON eagain this
time. Don't come again,
i She made 10 answer but only tossed
. the letters over in her lap, and said:
/ g [ seem to know it had red seal. I"
And as she spoke, old Fairjohn, CLAN
. cling a the door, saw dark shadow
+ there, saw it grow darker; saw it enter,
c and starting up on his defence, if need
Il be, recognized Job Roper.
g He was very pale, and took no notice
II Of FaIrjohn, but crossing the store,
Il oil beside Jessie Lester.
Y 'You love that man best, even now, "
# he said. 1" You'd rather have found a
d letter from him than not, though to-
!; morrow is our wedding day"
s She looked up into his face with
# piteous glance.
e - never lied to YOU, said she.
4 q You know that"
He grew winter still.
s " [ told you a man would lose his soul
s for such a love as mine," said he.
Is Did Won think those were idle wOrds2
y Then he plunged his hand into his
Il bosom, and the next instant a letter,
= with red seal, lay in Jessie's lap.
er I've made you happy, and now LII
Is go, " he said ' FairjOhn, I stole that
) letter month ago o fl the counter
), yonder. [ knew who wrote it at q
II glance" and then the door closed be-
o hind him and he was gone.
sc But Jessie had torl open the letter
'e and looked after him.
r And these were the words she read,
y old Fairiohn reading over her shoulder
le "ABOvE THE SILVER STAR Jessie
IS [ don't know what makes me believe
le that | shall find you mine still, after
/, all these years, but something does.
', So Five of us were cast on desert
it island when the Sphpnx went down.
k The two yet alive were taken off 1t
yesterday in skins, with our boards to
t. our knees. We must go to England
y first-then home. Jessie, Jessie, if
" DO not find you as / left you l shall &C
mad. Your husband, CHARLES LES
TER"
" And 50 Jesse's letter had come at last.
Z snd John Fuiriohn looked into her
II face he saw how angels looked in Para
ut disc.
Il And Job. Job was found drowned
ar the next morning. Jessie never knew
!. it, perhaps, for she and her boy wer
I'd on their way to New York to meet tn
to Silver Star when it made port.