Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1875-04-07
"Now for the answer, " l said, eager


"Now for the answer, l said, eager
ly.
30, but can't you wait until I get my
breath p drawing it in quick spasmodic
jerks. Let me see: what was it | prom
ised to tell You 2"
whether you love me or not, You
provoking little wretch 2 said |, fairly
out of patience.
"Now look here, Mr.. viii, if you
don't leave off calling me names, won't
answer you, now see if l do" And sure
enough, no answer could l get from her.
The next day | received a letter from
my uncle, stating that his assiatant had
left him and asking me to take his place
This was just the situation | had been
wanting for years, and l hailed it with
delight now.
But Jessie, thought, could leave
her?
A moments reflection showed me it
was just what was needed, for if she real
ly cared for me my absence would make
her willing to acknowledge it. 1t did not
take long to make all my arrangements,
and before night they were completed
and the next morning | started for the
station, calling at Mr. Hale's on my way.
to bid Jessie goodbye. / could see the
little witch did not believe one word of
the story 1 told her.
Il hope, Mr. VIII, you won't break
your arm on the train; it would make it
50 bad for you, she said, with smile,
as | concluded
"And you not there to cure it," I re-
torted. But seriously, Jessie; 1 am in
earnest now It's probable shall not
see you again for years for if l like the
place shall remain there
She still believed it some trick, for her
eyes said plainly, You can't cheat me
again. And said goodbye as coolly as
if it were only for a day I went down
the walk, feeling much as | think Adam
felt when he left Paradise, except that he
took his Eve with him, and left mine
behind.
was pleased with the place, and was
not long in accepting my uncle's propos-
ais. | wrote to this effect to a LAWYER;
desiring him to dispose vf my property
at Oakdale knew that Jessie would
hear of it, and it would give her to un-
derstand that / had no intention Of re-
turning. In three days followed the
the letter, determined that if did not
succeed this time. l would give her up
forever, though my heart gave quick
throb ofpain at the thought
1t was Just at twilight of a pleasant
September day, when reached 0akdale.
Direct to Mr. Hale's | took nv way,
saying to myself as l went, Now or
never / | entered the duslly parlor unan-
nounced BY the dim light / saw Jessie
sitting on a sofa, with her head resting
on the soft pillow She was alone and
had not heard my step.
Was she asleep! A quick sob answer
ed me, That argued well for my sue
cess. In a moment was kneeling beside
her, and had raised the bowed head.
Jessie dear little jessie" | said
tenderly scarcely knowing how she would
receive it. With quick start and a
glad cry of surprise. her head was pill
lowed on my bosom
90 am so glad to see you, VIII.
They told me You would not return, and
have been so lonely without YOU.
And | have been lonely too Jessie. y
said. MY house anywhere would al
ways be lonely without you VIII you
not 90 and share it with me p
The answer was very low, but knew
it was in the affirmative.
"Will you become my wife next week?"
was determined tomake sure work Of
it now.
There was some hesitation, few OBJ
jections raised, but I finally gained the
same answer to that
Then hurried to the drawing-room to
see the old folks There was consider
bic pleasure expressed at my unexpectc4
arrival and great surprise when my errand
was made known, and few tears from
the mother at parting with Jessie, and
hearty congratulations from the father,
concluding with the remark, That Just
as likely as not she would change her
mind while changing her dress"
Not so, however, In week l got the
prettiest little wife in the country, aud
what Is better still, l think so now, even
though she did say ten minutes after the
ceremony, / never told you after all,
Will
And never has to this day