The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-01-15
JessIca LeIand's Decision.

"Must it be, then, that our happy,
happy summer is to end thus
Jessica Leland looked up into the
glowing, handsome face bending eagerly
above her; but her lover saw no salts
factory answer In the sad but resoIute
face. He turned away with an impa-
tient gesture, but the gentle touch OF her
hand on his arm restrained him.
"IL would not b. right. Geordie, to tie
you down in your young manhood to
burden which it is best that | should
bear alone. My affection for my mother
will make my o,ntinement by her sick
bed less irksome; but you have not
crown 10 love her all your life as | have
done, and you would be almost totally
deprived of my society. The doctor
says it may be case requiring constant
nursing for years, while another attack
may take her from ME at any moment"
"rhen who could be so fitting u CON-
tor ter in this great atfl ctiOn as one who
loves yuu with his wnole heart? You
need not fear That l should grow weary
One look at your face would pay me for
hours OF waiting! Try me-the Gordons
are q loyal race. II is matter of pride
10 us all that from the founding Of the
family we have not the record OF one
member VINO was recreant TO a trust or
| false TO a lady-love."
Jessira looked at him again, thinking
what a noble lace it was. Tue eyes 80
dark i'll their blue as to be taken for
lblack-the broad forehead-the straight,
evenly penciled br0ws-the clear cut
lips, Just Swallowed by silken mus
tacne-tor Geordie was barely twenty,
although six foot tall, and massive in
proportion to his height. But though
her heart pleaded strongly for him sue
persisted in her refusal.
~ shall never marry, Geordie. You
must forget me. You are too young TO
grieve long"
"Say that it, wait-ten-twenty years
no matter how long; and come TO you
you will reward me for my patient
tdelity."
| "No! that would be binding you to me, i,
perhaps lor your whole lie. 1t would be
too selfish. GOod-by." She turned to
60.
"Jessica! Love! do not part from me
80 coldly! Let me take with me the
memory of one kiss, that L may feel in
my heart that you are not indifferent to
me, though so crueiW
| Jessica hesitated, then she put up her
pure lips, murmuring, 80, no! not cruel
You will see it in Its true light some
Llme," as Geordie caught her TO mis-
breast IN y lingering, passionate en-
brace.
The girl could feel that every fibre in
his strong frame quiYered with emotion,
and il was with great difficulty that she
could restrain herself from crying out:
| "Stay, Geordie, L love you'll love
tyouw But in her intense abnegation OF
self she still Kept silent, and in another
| moment she was alone, her lips thrilling
| to the ever-to-be-remembered pressure
| OF her lovers first, and alasl his fare
| well Kiss.
! When the cause for self-control ex-
listed no longer, the girl gave way. With
| a long, low cry she threw herself prone
upon tne floor, and moaned 80, my dar-
| llug! my darlingl If you only knew how
every tnrob OF my heart made answ er
| to your appeal; but could not let you
be sacrifcd"
Time wore on UNDECIDED. Then the
repeater on the mantei struck the hour,
and Jessica remembered that she had
duties to attend to. She fastened to her
room and washed the traces of tears
| from her face. Then sue went o'her
| mother, whose incurable illness, caused
| by "a sudden stroke of paralysis, had
caused her to refuse the young lover,
| mhose devotion to her through the sum.
mer had made her life like beautiful
| idyl. Her darling widowed parent
should never be neglected for compar-
atiye stranger, though her heart should
| break i'll the parting.
But she was made of more enduring
material than that. In the calm face
which bent over her invalid, ant
smoolhed the hair from her forehead will
| such d tender touch, there was look o
| peace. She had fought a battle with
| herself, ana won.
| "Go, Lydia, for walk" she said t.
the nurse. II will take your place.
| Then she stopped aud kissed her moth
| er's forehead, and murmured some ten
der word, which were answered by th'
wistiul eyes, although the lips Were
| speechless.
/ Thus her life wore on for severa
| wears, during which there WAS LITTLE
| change in the patient. Never an lmpa
tIenL look or word was there to SNOW
that Jessica Wearied OF the charge. Al
: Ter time speech was regaiIed, althougt
lmperfeclly. Svill il WAS a great com
fort, for she could understand her mean
ing; and once again mother and cAil(
nelu sweet communion together.
| Alb ut a year alter Geordle's depart
ure, an English paper came containing
the marriage notice OF q. Duncan Cor
| uOU, WIN dSSOuhb VI phO AVoIlflVlS
attending The wedding.
JesslcA's lips parted in a sad smile, a
she read, II was rglt after all, notWIth
standing he is d Gordon. l knew
. could not be in mans nature to wait 70
weary years. Dear Geordle! may b
be happy !" thus ran her thoughts in he
Imind. she did not blame him, and coul
mot put the sweet memory of his low
away from her. Though when she sui
Tered her mind to dwell upon him, it wa
to her as though OF some dear one at res
beneath the dalslos.
1t was nearly five years after he
mothers first seizure that another oc
CURED; and after u few days OF uncon
scIousness the gentle sufferer was re
leased, and Jessie was alone.
Every day during the summer he
slight figure might have been found, a
the sunsets gloriiying hour, kneeling b.
her mothers grave, over which her lav0l
tie flowers had been planted.
Ii was late in OcloOer. One evening
as she returned TO her home from he
loving pilgrimage, she saw a form com
ing to meet ner, which seemed to hay
been conJured from the past. She coult
not mistake the free, swinging step, tn
frank, still boylsh smile, with which b
greeted her.
For q moment her heart throbbe,
wildly, then sank IN her bosom like lea d