The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-01-25

u BoPSi IL ~ WAab " OcAhS NhS JNo' w
fore the ship sunk And she is waiting
for him yet"
Crazy on that point" said the post
master. well, poor soul, she had only
been married a week when the Sphinx
sailed that makes differance."
"Yes,' said the farmer.
Then, their parcels being ready, they
went on to their wagons, and Mr.. Fair
John having stared out into. the rainy
night awhile, put up his shutters and went
to bed. Meanwhile the woman plodded
on through tho mud walking off her
disappointment" she said to herself 1t
was one she should have been used to,and
now the absurdity Of it seemed to strike
her for the FIRST time in all these years.
They laugh at me-" she muttcred to
herself, IL know they laugh at me. Per-
haps 1 am mad but they don't know
what love is Charley wouldn't have left
me like that. If ho had died he would
have given me some sign; and yct-yet
If he were alive, it would be stranger
still. Nc, no, they are right am
wrong He must be dead"
And as though the news had just been
whispered to her. she clssped her hands
to her forehead gave a cry, and sank
down on her knees in the road.
She knelt there few moments and then
arose. In the interval the wind had
blown the clouds from the sky, and the
moonlight lay white upon the path, and
lit her on to her poor home.
There at the door sat man, strong
determined. looking fellow, who arose as
she approached and held out his hand.
Here you come" he said, "tired to
death, worn out still on that fruitless
errand. Jessie Lester, can't you give up
this nonsense and think of the living :?
Think of me. Jessie, just half an hour"
II do think of you" she said. ~ am
very sorry that you should be so good to
me when | am so bad to you"
Then she sat down on the porch and
took her hood off, and leaned her head
weariy against the wall of the house !;
and the man arose, and crossed over and
sat down beside her.
"Givc it softer resting place, Jessie,
here on my heart"
She looked out into the night, not at
him as shc spoke.
JOB" she said. II begin to think you
are right, that he went down in the
Sphinx with the rest ten yea ago. But
what good would | do you? What do
you want to marry me for 2"
The man drew closer still as he answer.
ed /:
Before you were married to Charles
Lester loved you. While you were
married woman | loved you. All these
ten years since the vessel went down I've
loved you. A man must have the woman
he loves if he gives his soul for her."
"What horrible thought ~ she said.
His SOUL"
II should have said his life" said Job,
81 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 everything
for your boy"
"Yes," she answered. Il know you
would"
There waa a pause. Then she gave him
her hand.
JOB" she said very softly, 81 shall
pretend nothing / don't feel, but l know
| have been crazy all this time, and if you
want me you may have me. It's very
good of you to love me So"
And thus it seemed to have ended, that
ten years watching and waiting, aud there
was triumph in Jobs eyes as he turned
away and left hei with his first kiss upon
her lips. But at the end Of the green
gate he turned and looked back.
81 told her the truth" he said "when |
said that when a man loved her, be must
have her, if the price we're his soul itself"
And then he drew from his breast a
letter with great red seal upon it. look
cd ~t IL Gi uIvlnvu,, auu nIu - away
again,
Married. Yes, they were to be mar
ried. Every one at McKibben's Corners
knew that now Jessie Lester went no
more to the post-oAice for her long ex.
pected letters. Job was furnishing his
house-had furnished it, for on the NOR,
row the wedding was to take place. And
it was night again. A month from that
night, when she had come for the last time
every one thought, through -ain and mud
to make her sadly foolish query, she was
sensible to the last-very sensible. She
had chosen the substance instead Of the
shadow.
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 compounding what he called a
might cap" of some fragrant liquor, warm
water, lemons and sugar, and was supping
it by the stove, when there come feeble
knock, and when, being repeated, he heard
it, there staggered out of the rain, drip.
ping fgure-that of Jessie Lester, the
bride who was to be tomorrow,
She was trembling with cold, aud as he
led her to the fire she burst into food
of tears.
"I'm frightened" she said, "some one
followed me all the way. l heard them. ."
you've no business to come out here
at night" said old Fairjohn bluntly.
"And what's tho matter 2"
She looked up at him pitoously.
81 thought there would be a letter"
said she; II dreamt there was one.
thought Charlie came TO mo and said
60 to the Office once more. have writ.
teD,' And | thought saw letter with
red seal"
80 did |, SO did H. muttered old
Fairjohn to himself,
He went to the box whore 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. Remember moi
to go crazy"
Ten years have gono by since your