The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1879-10-31
Select Story.
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POOR JESSIE.

Deioie sct out lOT lne 1OTksulre COAST, i
had been assured by my friend, Lord Ain
sleigh, that in the person of Mr.. Egood
Garth, serge INT Of he coast guard, l would
meet remarkable character, who would
give me the particulars of what had long
been known as the Glensmere tragedy. s>
Upon arriving at the. little fishing village
OF RUE where anticipated stay of some
days, was informed by the inn keeper that
the object of my search was some miles down
the coast making his weekly round of the
guard under his charge. auian o,I.. ~
1t was still early morning, and the wealth
er was clear and bracing, though cold. ,iI l
had difficulty in procuring horse and set
ting out at once in search of the scar
geant. sl .an,. I" ra Hh.' 'I' '.'t
found him near another little fishing
village, engaged in testing the qualities of a
new telescope which had recently been set
up in small observatory on the cliffs.
He appeared by no means a creature of
romance. A wet mist had gathered in from
the sea, and he was clad to meet it-that is
in clumsy waterproof overlooking, with an
immense hat, like Thames waterman's.
From under the ample brim appeared a
round, red, Yorkshire face, made still broad
er by sandy leg-of-mutton whiskers, but ami
mated and intellectualized by small, pierc-
ing gray eyes, like illuminated beads.
He met my preliminary advances with
caution and reserve, but soon frightened up,
and invited me to accompany him to the
neighboring tavern. '-.'s.. '.... ..I...
AS we rode along the cliff he pointed be-
low to wild and desolate cove, wherein the
tumultuous waters of the sea appeared to
have but little rest, and the rocky head of
which was reached by a tortuous iootpath
from above.
That said he, lis Glensmere. You can
not see from this point the mouth of the
great cavern which was formerly used by the
smugglers, because it is overbrowed by the
crag and the tide will not admit of our
approaching it by way of the sands
| We were soon seated in the sanded parloi
of the cosy little tavern, with bowl o
/
generous influence, Sergeant Elgood Garth
speedily dropped what remained of bis off.
cial reserve, and even became loquacious
He was SO fall of present business in hand
and of confidential revelations respecting hi
private opinion of his superiors, and the
chances of his own promotion to lieuten
ancy of the guard, that it was some time be
fore could fasten him down to the Glens
mere affair, but at last he sweled up with
its recollection, and told me the story a
follows: ...
1T is now nigh on thirteen years ago
Although / had been a coast guardsman 70
a number of years, and was even then hop
ing to get my appointment as sergeant ever.
day in the week, still continued to live il
the large town Of F-where l was bori
and bred, though its distance from the coas
NEARLY nine miles sometimes caused m
serious Inconvenience in the performance Q
my duties. .-..,i...... ....... ....r
Il had known and loved jesse Holt, tn
parsons only daughter, ever since was
youngster ; but, though she would alway
treat me as an old and near friend, sh
would always laugh, or in some other wa
stave me of, whenever grew spooney, an
threatened to declare my passion. Howeve
after her father and mother died, and sh
was thrown upon the needlework for he
only support, and l, at the same time, ha
just received my appointment on the guar
which almost any young man in the tow
would have sold his soul for-I thought thi
i would have it pretty much my own way
seeing that little Jesse had hard time of
while was we'll able to support wife, b.
sides being not bad looking, and haying
reputation for sobrety and industry.
| But little Jessie, to my surprise and mo
tification, after listening to my story vel
attentively, candidly told me that she cou
never be my wife. tI.u.'.
'Oh, do not look so sad about it, Elgood
said she, beginning to blubber to herself
makes me so unhappy to see you take
so hard. lndeed-indeed can't marry yo'
| can't marry you / have known you
loDg-I like you SO well-I would if coul
bnt | can't cantp And she broke rig
down, and cried 80 bitterly that l f
ashamed of myself.
However, ! plucked up grit enough
say:
81 see how it is, Jessie there's some OF
er lad in your eye-thst's it,
s. And then her words smote me like
u blow of fist, as she replied ,..
Il Yes, Elgood, that's it,
Mt Jessie, says I'm not the man to wan
ms girl who can't love me nor to hate the luc
fellow who has proved more attractive th