The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1878-02-05
JESSICA LELAND'S DE-
CISION.

happy Summer is TO end thus
Jessica Leland looked up into tn
glowing. handsome face bending eagerl.
over her; but her lover slw no satisiac
tory answer in her sad but resolute face
Tie turned away with an impatient ges
ture. but the gentle touch of her hant
on lis arm, restrained him.
at would not be right, Geordic, t.
tic you down in your manhood to
burden which it is bes, that l shoul'
bear alone. My affection for my mo
lher will make my confinement by he
in her sick bed less irks"me; A.; but vo'
have not grown to love her all ycur Iii'
as have done, and You would be 81
most totally deprived Of my society
The doctor says it may be case re
! ouiriDg constant nursing FOR years, whil'
another attack may take her from MT
1t any moment"
Then who could he SO fitting com
! for;er in this great affiiction as Que whC
loves YOU with bis whole heart 1oi
need not fear that l should grow weary
One look at your face would pay 70
hours Of waiting. Try me-thc Cor
d,ns are loyal race. 1t was matte'
Of pride with us all that from the found
ing Of the family we have not the recorl
Of Que men Der who was recrcant to
trust or false to lady love"
.Jcssica looked at him again. thinkin!
what a noble face it was. The eyes 81
lark in their blue as to be taken TO
black-tlcb broa ioleht ad--tl.e straight
evenly pcncilel brows-,he cl"ar Gu
lips, Just shadow,d b. Il silkcn mu'
,ache-fur G,ordie was barely twenty
although feet six tail. an! u.as'ive IL
proportion 10 his height. but lhoue!
ocr heart pleaded s'Io"gly Tor him sh
persistented 10 her refusal.
Il shall never marry, Grord;e. Yo'
must forget me. You ore too young Il
srieve long"
Say that if | wait-tcn-twcnt..
ycars-no matter how long. and con-
to ,ou-you will reward me for my pa
tieut idc,ity"
NO. That would BE- binding you t
ne, perhaps for your w"ole lie
would be too selfish. Good bye Sh
turnrd to 90.
"Jessica. Love. do not part from III
so colby. LIT me takc with NE tn
memory of one kiss, that | may feel i
nv heart that YOU are not indifferent
me, though SO cruel y.
.Jes>ica hcsi,at,j then size put up he
pure lips, murmuiing, 80, no! nc
cruel, You will see it il its true ligh
sometime" as Gcordie caught her to hi
brcas, in lingering, passionate Gu
brace.
The girl could feel that every fbr
in his strong frame qnivercd with en-
ton and it was with great difficult
that she could refrain herself frou cry
inc out:
"Sray. Geordie, love you! low
YOU" But in her intense abncga'ion
sell she sept silent and in another me
ment sic was alone, her lips ,hrillln
10 tho evcr.to.te-rs memicrcd pressui
Of her lovers first, and alas his fare
well kiss. :.
When the cause for self control cxl;
ted no longer, the siri gave way. WIZ
!, lons, low cry, she threw herself prom
uuon tho floor, and mVaned ~ n.
darling. my dalling. if You only kne'
how every throb Of my l., art made AT
swer to yonr appeal; but | could ne
let YOU tc sacrificed
Time wore on uuhccdcl. Then II
rcneater on the mantel struck the hou
and ,Je,sica remembered that she ha
du,ies to attend to. She fastened
her room and wa,hc] the traces oi teal
from h,r face, then she went TO b,
mother. whose ircu able Illness. cause
! by sudden stroke Of paralysis, ha
caused her to refuse the young love
whose devotion to her through the sun
mer had made her life beautiful lido
Her darling widowed parent shouI
never be neglected for comp'ratl'
! stranger, though her hcait should brea
in the parting.
But she was made of more cndulr
material than that. In ,he calm tax
, which ben, oycr her Invalid, aud smooti
ed the hair from her forehead with sue
tender touch, there was a look
peace. She had fought battle VII
herself. aud won.
"Go, Lydia for walk " s'ld she
The nurse. II will take your place
: Then she stopped down aud kissed h
i mathcr's foI,h,ad. and murn'ur"d son
tender word., which wee answered
!, the wi.ttul eyes, though the lips We
spcochlcss.
a Thus her life wore on for svc'
> wears, during whicL there was ht'
shance in the patient. Never an II
. patisnt look or word to show that JJ
s;o, rearied uf the charge. Aiier