The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-02-06
JESSICA LELAND'S DECISION.

=
summer is to end thus?"
Jessica Leland looked up into the glowing
handsome face bending eagerly above her;
but her lover saw no satisfactory answer in
the sad but resolute face. He turned away
with an impatient gesture, but the gentle
touch of her hand on his arm restrained him.
1t would not be right, Geordie, to tie you
down iE your young manhood to burden
which it is best that | should bear alone.
My affection for my mother will make my
confinement less irksome; but you have not
grown to love her all as l 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 al, any
moment"
''Then who could be so fitting comforter
in this great affilction as one who loves you
with his whole heart? You need not fear
that / should grow weary. One look at your
face would pay me for hours of waiting! Try
me-the GOrdons are a loyal race. 1t is
matter of pride to us all that from the found.
ing of the family we have not the record of
one member who was recreant to trust or
false to lady love-
JessIca looked at him again, thinking
what a noble face 1t was. The eyes so dark
in their blue as to be taken for black-the
broad forehead-the straight evenly pencil
ed brows-the clear cut lips, just snadowcd
by a silken moustache-for Geordie was
barely twenty, although six feet tall and
massive in proportion 10 his height. But
though her heart pleaded strongly for him
she persisted in her refusal.
Il shall never marry, Geordie. You must
never forget. me. You are too young to
grieve long"
"Say that If l wait-ten-twenty years
no matter how long, and come to you
you will reward me for my patient fidelity"
mo; that would be binding you to me,
perhaps for your whole life. 1t would be
too selfish. Good BY" She turned to go.
''Jessica, love, do not part from me so
coldly. Let me take with me the momory
of one kiss. that may feel in my heart that
you are not Indifferent to me, though so
cruel"
Jessica hesitated; then she put up her pure
lips, murmuring, 20, mol not crueli You
will see it in its true light sometime" as
Geordie caught her to his breast in linger-
| ing, passionate embrace.
The girl could feel that every fibre in his
strong frame quivered with emotion, and it
| was with great difficulty that she could re-
| strain herself from crying out:
''Stay, Geordie | love you! L love your
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,
alas, his farewell kiss.
When the cause for self-control existed no
| longer the girl gave way. With long, low
cry she threw herself prone upon the floor
| and moaned, 20, my darlingl my darlingl ii
| you only knew how every throb of my heart
made answer to your appeal; but L could not
/ let you be sacrificed"
Time wore on unheeded. Then the re.
peater on the mantel 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 she went to her mother, whose incura
| BILE Illness caused by a stroke of paral ysis
had caused her to refuse her young lover
whose devotion to her through the summer
had made her life like beautiful idyl. Her
| darling widowed parent should never be
neglected for comparative stranger, though
her heart should break in the parting.
But she was made of more enduring ma.
| terial than that. In the calm face which
bent over her invilid and smoothed the hair
from her forehead with such a tender touch,
| there was a look of peace. Sue had fought
| a battle with herself and won.
"Go. Lydia. for walk, she said to the
nurse, 81 will take your place." Then she
| stopped and kissed her mothers foreheai
and murmured some tender words which
were answered by the wistful eyes although
! the lips were speechless.
Thus her life wore on for several years
during which t0ere was little change in the
patient. Never an impatient look or word
was there to show that JesSica wearied of the
| charge. After time speech was rvgaiued
although imperfectly. Still 1t was a great
| comfort, for she could understand her mean
ing; end once again mother and child held
sweet communion TO either.
About year aftsr Geordir's departure an
English paper came containing the marriage
notice of G.. Duncan Gordon, with an ac
count of the festivities attending the wed
| ding
Jsssica's lips parted in a sad smile as she
read, II was right after all, notwithstanding
he Is Gordon. / knew it could be in mans
nature to wait for weary years Dear Geor
die, may he be hsppyl'' Thus ran hel
thoughts in her mind. She did not blame
him, and could not put the sweet memory
of his love away from her. Though when
she suffered her mind TO dwell upon him
il was 70 her as though of some dear one :
| rest among the daisies.