The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1877-04-12
JesSamine's Happiness
BY MARY REED CRowELL.

They were as unlike as one could
Imagine two girls to be-Maude Tre-
vanien, tall and stately as lily, with
a naughty way of carrying her head,
and her low, refined voice, that for
worlds she would not have heard above
a certain, well-regulated, aristocratic
pitch-with black eyes and pale, ivory
complexion, contrasting superbly with
the curving, scarlet lips and inky black
hair; that was arranged always in
stylish and becoming way-a way that
the country girls initiated In vain, so
far as the effect was concerned.
Standing in the open doorway of the
Horton farmhouse, where she had been
"boarder" since the first blossom had
been showered, like a rain of fragrant
snow, on the velvety grass, Maude
Trevanien made striking contrast, in
her young, proud strength and pulsing
vitality, to the little thing sitting so de-
murely, so quietly, on the lowest step
of the piazza-a slight fragile girl, with
pale, delicate skin, like the petals of a
tea-rose, with big, sorrowful eyes Of
liquid gray-gray as one seldom sees,
with warm, bronze lights in their
grave, wistful depths; and soft, fiossy
hair like child's.
Jessamine herself was so like a child
that her eighteen years of delicate girl
hood seemed almost dream to look
back upon--to that time when she was
left, motherless baby, on the hands of
the landlord of the little inn, where a
gentle-voiced, sad-eyed woman, herself
scarce more than a girl, had laid down
her own life, and given to the mercies
of utter strangers this little waif, who,
from that hour when the dying mother
had whispered "Call it Jessamine," to
the midsummer day when she sat on
the farmhouse steps, locking up into
Maude Trevanien's face, had known no
home but Horton farm. no parents ex-
cept the big-souled, rough-voiced far
mer and his gentle, blue-eyed little
wife, whose heart was equally divided
between Jessie and her own child big,
stalwart, handsome John, who
was heir to all the wealth of the
estate, and who lorded it already over
everybody, after his ownjoyous, frank,
CHEEKY way, for which everybody, from
Jessamine clear up to Miss Treyanien,
adored him.
Jessamine was sitting very demurely
and quietly on the lower step of the
porch that lovely, sunshiny day, when
Maude Treyanien came to the edge of
the piazza, so beautiful, so strengthful,
so soft.voiced and smiling, as she first
looked down upon, and then spoke to
Jessamlne.
"a silver penny for your thoughts,
Jessie; although am sure can guess
about what they are. You are wonder
ing what 1t means-what Mr.. Horton
and his mother have gone to the city
to-day to buy, with that old wallet
stuffed full of bank-notes."
Her bright eyes did not betray the
eagerness she felt, nor did she allow her
low, even tones to manifest 1t.
Jessamine had flushed ever so slightly
when Maude's voice had startled her
from her dreamy little reyerie, and the
mention of JOHN Horizons name had
deepened 1t little; for it was Of hand
some John, who was always 80 good,
so thoughtful, so tender, that her girl
ish heart was dreaming.
The practical matter-of-factness of
Maude's question dissipated the slight
confusion she imagined, and wrongly,
that Maude had not seen.
Her voice was very sweet-soft as
Maude's own--and with u true melody
in It.
eyes, ] know, for auntie told me'--
she had been taught to call Mrs. Horton
auntie. "1hey are going TO refurnlsh
the parlor, and buy piano, and John
is to have a chamber-set Of walnut, mar
BILE tops"
Her frank blue eyes were looking In
nocently into the half-mocking dark