The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1877-04-12

anu tuC DCu IOoul bulbs oul aoh 9Ou
II you knew what 1t was all forY"
Jessamine looked surprised.
"All forY Why for nothing, but tC
have the house look nice and more IA
shionable. What else would it be forY''
Maude spread her rustling silk skirt
over the clean steps, as she sat down.
"Is it possible that you don't know
any more than that, JessieP" Why
didn't you guess there was going to be
weddings"
The gray eyes opened suddenly wider
"a weddingS Why, no! Whose
wedding, Maude?"
There was slow drawing of white
pain on her face; of which she was not
conscious; but Maude saw it and was
satisfied.
"You baby! Why, Johns of course
Whose would it be?"
Her earnest, pain-stricken eyes were
looking so searchingly into Maude's
face, and Maude blushed and turned
away in pretty confusion of manner,
that startled Jessamine with the truth.
"How do you suppose | know, Jessie,
unless-unless-"
Jessamine stuffed the pang that was
tearing at her heart, and finished the
coquettishly hesitating sentence:
"Unless you have right to know,
Maude. Tell me, please, her name"
Her heart told her who it was-she did
not need to have Maude's lips confirm
the truth she felt in her own soul; and
yet she felt that if there was shadow
of a POSSIBILITY that she was mistaken,
Maude's were the lips to tell her so. So,
with an agOnizing little prayer, away
down in her heart, that she might be
mistaken, she put the question.
And Marde laughed, and evaded it
gracefully.
81 was afraid you wouldn't like it,
Jessie, knowing so well as do that you
are in love with John yourself, and"
"Maude Trevanien, stOpw
Jessamine fairly gasped the words,
and her face grew white and stony
but Maude went on--softly, gently,
mercilessly:
81 speak in all kindness, dear, and
you will thank me some day-when
Johns wife comes, and you will find
what | have said is true, that you will
no longer be welcome in the house
where you will almost be a rival to her.
You will thank me for telling you, so
that you can get away without any
body's feelings being hurt-for Of
course the future Mrs. John Horton
will not want you here, and the old
people would hate to send you away,
delicate, weak as you are."
GA hot, scarlet wave rushed over
Jessamine's face. This from the "fu-
ture Mrs. John Horton" herself!
"No one shall send mew she ex-
claimed, passionately. 81 know as well
as you have no business here, and you
can tell the future Mrs. Horton ! will
never trouble her!"
The sweet, panied voice quivered,
and she walked hurriedly away, as if
the brilliantly beautiful face was
Medusa head; while Maud's red lips
slowly curved into smile of triumph,
contempt, satisfaction, as she watched
the slender, willOwy figure.
"She is dispensed with, at all events.
AS II / hadn't read both her secret and
her pride! And with her out of the
sight of John Horton, it shall not be
my fault if he does not propose to me,
as that credulous little fool thinks he
has already done! We will see whether
or not the new furniture is for Johns
wedding and-mineW
The round harvest moon was coming
slowly up the dark blue sky, looking
like great golden ball, and Jessamine,
with her eyes looking as if they had
never known a tear, so bright and clear
they were, for all she had been crying
all the afternoon, for all her foolish
little heart was throbbing and pulsing
with pain-Jessamine was waiting, be-
side the big, flagant, syringa bush, for
John Horton to come.
81 will hear it from his own lips,
that he is going to be married to Maude
Trevanien, and If he is, | will 90 away
TO New York, where / will be able to
earn my living In some of the stores
I've heard Maude tell about--where l
will not be in their way"
And she stiHed the sobs she felt were
coming, as John Horizons firm, quick
footsteps sounded near by, and the tall,
handsome fellow came striding along
in the golden moonlight, looking grand,
manly enough to win any girls heart.
He stopped short when he saw her,
and took her hand caresslngly in his
and drew it through his arm.
waiting for me, JessieS That's
good of you, puss. What glorious
night 1t isl'
Jessamine plucked up all her cour-
age.
81 was waiting for you, John, to ask
you-whether or not--whether it is
true-whether-if-John, 1t is really
true you are going to be marrledW
Her sweet face was pale with ear
nestness, and John looked down on 1t,
half amused, half gravely tender.
"What Of 1t, dearp Surely you will
not be dlspleased2 Tell me who told
you, JessieP"
Her face was averted, for her rebell-
ious lips were trembling--he had as
good as admitted iti