Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1878-01-26

aMust it be, then. that Our happy sum-

"MuS6 IL De. t0cIls blldt VII udppy sum
mer is to eud thus 2" -
Jessica Leland looked up into the
glowing. handsome face bending eagerly
above her. but her lover saw no satisfac
tory answer i'm the sad but resolute face
ture, but the gentle touch of her hand OIL
his arm restrained him.
1T would not be right, Geordie, to tie
you down In your young manhood to
burden which it is best that L should
bear alone. My affection for my mother
will make my confinement by her sick
bed less irksome; but You have not
grown to love her all your life as have
done, and YOU would be almost totally
deprived of my society. The doctor says
it may be a case requiring constant nurs-
ing for wears. while another attack may
take her from me at any moment"
s.rhen who could be so fitting COM
fortcr i'm this great affection as one who
loves vou with his whole hearth? 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 4 matter of pride
to us ali that from the founding of the
family we have not the record Of one
member who was recreant TO a trust or
false to lady love-
Jessica looked at him again, thinking
what noble face it was. The eyes SO
dark i'm their blue as to be taken for
black-the broal forehead-the straight,
evenly penciled brows-the clear cut
lips, just shadowed by silke.r nous
t,che--for Geordie was barely twenty,
although six foot tall, and massive in
proportion to his height. BIT. though
her heart pleaded strongly for him she
persisted i'm her refusal.
II shall never marry, GeOrdie. You
must forget me. You are too young to
grieve long,"
.sSay that if wait-ten-tweniy years
no matter how long, and come to you,
you will reward me- for my patient fidel-
ity.'
NO! that would be binding you to
me, perhaps for your whole lite. Ii would
be too selfish. Goody-bye." She turn
ed to 90.
ssJessica Love! do not part from me
so cold. Let me take with me the MEM
DRY of one kiss, that may feel in my
heart that you are not Indifferent TO NE,
though SO cruel"
Jessica hesitatetl. then she put up her
pure lips, murmuring, %. no not cruel
You will See iG in its true light some
time," as Geordie caught her TO his
breast in lingering, passionate en-
brace.
The girl could see that every fibre in
his strong frame quivered with emotion,
and it Was. with great difficulty that she
could restrain herself from crying out:
"Stay. GeOid die, L love you love
you" 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 aforementioned pressure
of her lovers first, and alas /! his farewell
kiss.
When the couse for self-cOntrol existed
no longer, the girl gave way. With Il
long. low cry she threw herself prone
upon the floor, AMI m ,aned. 80. my dar-
ling my darling. il you only knew how
every throb OF my heart made answer to
your appeal but could mol let you be
sacrificed 70
Time wore on Undecided. Then the re-
peate- OH the Inantel struck the hour. and
Je>sici remembered that she had Guties
10 attend 10. She fastened 10 her room
and washed the traces ot tears from her
face. Thel She went tn her n,oi iier,
whose incllrable Illness, caused by Il sud
den stroke ut paralys sis, had caused her to
refuse the young lover, whose devotion
10 her TIN 'ough the summer had made
her life like Il beautiful idol. Her darling
Widowed parent should never be neg
lected Tor a comparative stranger. though
her heart should break in the parting.
But she was made of more enduring
material than that. In the calm face
which bent over her Invalid and smooth
ell the hair from her forehead with such
l..C ,f
She had fought battle with herself, and
won.
10, Lydia, for a walk" she said to
the nurse. Il will take your place"
Then she stopped and kiss. her moth
er's forehead, and murmured some ter
der words, which We're answered by the
wistful eyes, although the. lips were
speechless.
Thus her life wore on for several
years, during which time there was little
change In the patient. Never an impa-
tient look or word was there to show
that Jessica wearied of the charge. At
ter time speech was regained. although
imper,ectly. Still it was great com.
tort, for she could understand her mean
ing; and once again mother and child
held sweet communion together.
About a year after Geordie's depart
IRE, an English paper ctme containing
the marriage notice OF q. Duncan Cor
don, with an account OF the festivities at
tending the wedding.
Jessica's lips parted in sad smile, as
she read. Il was right after all, notwith-
standing he is Gordon l knew, it
could not be in mans nature to wait for
weary years. Dear Geortlie! may he
be happy!" thus ran her 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 suf-
fered her mind to dwell upon him, it was
TO her as though of some dear one Ut rest
beneath the DAISIES.
1t was nearly five years after her
mothers first seizure that another Oc-
Cured, and after few days of uncon-
seriousness the gentle sufferer was re-
leased, and Jessica was alone.
Every day during the summer her
slight figure might have been found, at
the sunsets clarifying hour, kneeling by
her mothers grave, over which her favor
ite flowers had been planted.
1t was late in October. One evening,
as she returned to her home from her
loving pilgrimage, she saw form coming
to meet her. which seemed to have been
conjured from the past. She could not
mistake the free, swinging step. the
frank, still boylsh smile, with which he
greeted her.
For Il moment her heart throbbed
wildly, then sunk i'm her bosom like lead.
Why had he come to disturb her placid
life?
he put out his hand. II heard of your
loss, Jessie. and, though far away at the
time, am here. Have you no word or
xvalonma for mac Won hava no iIoo