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

darling have dared hope-Oh, Maude
1 beg pardon! We came very neal
running over yOup
And seeing how easy Miss Trevanier
accepted her own intruslon-no, o.
course it could not be an intrusion
when John was her loyer-little Jessa
mine stole away, with her last hOpC
crushed, her one earthly happiness
trampled down.
81 will go-I must gol / should die
if | stayed here and saw themw
And while Miss Trevanien sang sen.
timental songs on the front piazza, and
John Horton sat tilted back in his chair
listening and thinking-we shan't tel
what-Jessamine was quietly explain.
ing to "Auntie Horton" in the kitchen,
the necessity of her own future depen-
dence on her own exertions, and sue.
ceeded in coaxing from that gentle
yielding old lady the direction of dis.
tant relative in the city, who might aid
in procuring her pleasant situation.
"Whatever John will say, daren't
think" she began plaintlvely; but Jes-
samine smiled family.
"JOhn will not care, and he need not
know until after am gone. He and
Maude are so much taken up with each
other, they'll never miss me, and !
| shall really like il SO, I"
Mrs. Horton stared through her gold.
trimmed glasses at the girls truthful.
lovely face; and then, when she turned
around to peep at the sponge just set,
a grand, motherly smile broadened her
dear old face.
The afternoon sunshine came hot and
bright through the one uncurtained
window of the forlorn little station,
where Jessamine was patiently sitting,
waiting for the three fifteen train, that
should take her up-away from the
| sweet, wide, country she had known
all her life-away from John Horton
and the Gear old homeland deposit her
among the hustle and confusing strange
ness, and sitting heat, and crowded
misery Of the metropolis.
She was unspeakably miserable and
home-sick. The red chimney of the
farmhouse, cleaning picturesquely
among the buttOn-balls quarter-mile
away, seemed thousands OF miles dis
tant, judging by the lonely pain she
felt, sitting there, solitary, on her self
instituted term of Punishment, and
shrinking off in one corner of the car
seat-seat, after the long, dusty, shrek
ing train had stopped second, in obe-
dience to the little red flag she had
hung out, and then dashed on, away
into the new, strauge wOrid-the new,
strange, lonely life.
1t was dark when she reached the
city-hot, breathlessiy hot, and horribly
noisy aud dirty. And oh, what had
made Maude Trevanien tell her John
wouldn't care for her after he was mar
ried? What had made everything so
miserable and tangled up, and desolate {?
Her tears were coming in great salt
gushes, and she was wearily getting
her little shawl and big satchel to-
gether, to leave the almost deserted
train, with heart heavier than lead ,
when a firm hand was laid on her
shoulder, and her name, in low, re-
proachful tone, was almost whispered
in her ear.
"Jesssamine?"
She turned affrightedly at tirst-then,
with sudden bliss at her heart, met
John Horizons eyes.
"You would persist in running away
from home, and | was just as persistent
in following you, Jessie! just caught
the train-by the rear car, too. So you
are trying to get away from me, are
you Jessamine2"
Her eyes filled with tears,
"Oh, John, how could / stay after
what she said? l would much rather
go than be told | wasn't wanted, or to
stay and be unwt ONE! you have been
so good to me, JohnW
Johns face was perfect picture of
bewilderment.
"Really, cannot fathom one word
of all this mystery, Jessie. Who told
you that you were likely to be unwel-
come at my house or my mothers
home? ?"
He had coolly captured her satchel
and shawl, and was looking at her very
curiously.
"Your betrothed, John--and she
ought to know. Miss Trevanien-"
Johns lips suddenly parted over his
handsome teeth.
ooh yes, seel And so | am en-
gagged to Miss Trevanien, am | ? Jessie
you jealous, loving little darling Ill
never thought of being engaged to her
bold, scheming creaturel- l-nor is
there but one girl in the world l 'oould
be engaged to. Jessie, Jessie, look at
me, and see in my eyes who she is Tell
me If she says yes, after my chasing her
hundred miles for the answer"
And Miss Trevanen paid her board
bill, with the inward conviction that
the Horizons and she would remain
apart for the future, which conviction
was well sustained by the Horizons
while to dear, foolish, loving, jealous
Jessamine came such undreamed.o
happiness that it more than thousand.
fold atoned.
-a-na'.'a-sss-~--.-ua-sa-s
A Promise.