The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-10-12

low voice.
80! excuse my carelessness,"
Charley said, hastily.
An awkward silence ensued. He felt
extremely uncomfortable Jessie's last
speech was in such changed tone as
to have made him start.
:" L was but two years old when she
ded, so L remember very little of her,
only that once | was taken into her
room-she was lying in bed, and papa
stood beside her, crying; she kissed me
great many times, and said: Take
care of my child, Ben and then l
thought she went to sleep; | did not
know what death was.''
Charley said nothing. He did not
Know what to say. There was some
thing in his throat which he could not
cough up.
6 often wish had mother" she
went on; 81 might be better girl; but
papa is very kind. He thinks | look
like mamma, and until he came here,
we have never been separated more
than one day. He has been my only
school teacher" She paused again,
and then returned again to her old gay
style. "How | am boring you," She
said.
"No, indeed please go on. l am
very much interested" said Charley.
HushI'' said she. Listenr'
In the next room to them the shrill
voice of child was relating what had
happened at the quarry Not detail
WIS omitted, not syllable was lost to
tie couple on the porch.
N When the story was told, she turned
to him, half crying, half laughing, and
held out her hand. He took it.
:" Is it true, Charley" she asked.
She had never called him Charley be-
fore.
"Yts, II
"Yn need not make any excuses. l
know low bravely you did it, | don't
know how to thank you"
She stopped He was holding her
hand very tightly, and the hand, she
knew, was thrObbing as if there was a
steam engine in it, She tried to release
it, but he held it tighter still
You have my hand, Mr.. Berton,"
she said, looking him in the face What
| ohO saw ulClC Hlttuc HcI HUN IOGC
quickly to The floor.
"YOu have my heart, JESSIE" he
said, with an earnestness that made her
heart throb till she was well nigh
choked. The forward girl was
modest now. She was trembling all
over. But she did not try to take her
hand away. All! that little hand; it
was his hand now, and her heart was
with it. They were happy, indescrib-
ably and supremely happy.
All human joys are fleeing. They
were reminded of the fact by hearing
the latch of the gate lifted. Messrs.
Norton and Corson entered, accom-
panied by a very pretty young lady
Charley's hair stood on end. 1t was
Nellie Montague.
When Jessie was about to introduce
them, Nellie remarked that she thought
Charley and l do not need an intro
duction, and Charley was Just suf-
ticiently recovered to stammer out
something about having ''met the lady
before"
During the rest of the evening he sat
in a corner and confined his converse
ton to monosyllables He was think
ing. At night he told Norton all.
$50 to sleep, Charley" said that in
dividual. put your trust in Norton,
and he will fetch you through"
Comforted by this assurance, he
resigned himself to the denizens of
dreamland without further remark.
When he arose at noon the following
day he found that Norton and Nellie
had taken a walk together, as had also
Mr.. Corson and his daughter. Charley
succeeded after some time in finding
the latter couple. Jessie had Just told
her father of what had happened, and
the latter had finally consented to her
marriage. Consequently, few min
utes afterward, when they met the 9TH
er party in the wood, she said:
"Allow me to introduce Mr.. Charles
Berton in a new character, as my
future lord and master"
"And allow me to introduce the
future Mrs. Norton" said the gentle
man of that name, presenting Miss
Nellie Montague.
AS soon as he recovered his amaze
ment, Charley advanced, and held out
his hand to Nellie. eve were both
untrue" he said, "as lovers, but as
friends we will be the opposite"
"And the trip to Europe?" said the
artist.
"We'll put that off a year.
care you not anxious to admire the
works of art there?''
Il prefer nature" he said, signiti-
cantly, taking Jessie's hand again.