The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-12-02
MARRIED FOR LOVE.

IoNlICSU uOIACSUtluo Ill ChO Nouh
Of. Its owner was wealthy,
influential, and considered man
of honor and a gentle, generous,
charitable gentleman. He was
about thirty years of age and un-
married, q fact well-known to all
the anxious mothers with surplus
of marriageable daughters on hand.
But Gilbert Pierson gave mothers
and daughters a wide berth, for he
had no desire to marry. When he
found his ideal, Locust Heights
would have mistress-not before,
he said, never thinking that the
woman that would open the gates
of Paradise for him was even then
within sound of his voice.
"No, jack" Gilbert Pierson was
saying in dreamy sort of way,
81 have never yet seen the woman
l could make my WIFE
Jack Delaney laughed merrily,
as he mounted his horse to ride
away. He had been making a
morning call at the Heights, and.
as usual, brought up the question
of his friends marriage, for Jack
was happy Benedict and anxious
to see his friend settled.
"Well, l hope you'll meet your
fate some day, and when you do
meet her let nothing stand in your
way
mo fear of that, jack" replied
Pierson, who knew what his friend
limited at; riches or poverty-it will
be all the same to me-"
Jack rode on, and Gilbert Pier
son turned to retrace his steps to
the house. A handsome drive,
cool and shaded, led up to the man
sion, whose vine-wreathed porticos
long windows, around which roses
were trained with artistic taste,
were flooded with the bright Au-
gust sunshine; and broad patches Of
gold lay on the velvety lawn, where
few tame deer were lying. In
one of those same golden patches.
and not ten rods from where Pier
son was longing, stood woman,
her dark, beautiful Gypsy face up
turned to the summer sky, and q
mantle of black, satin-like hair fall
ing about her shoulders. Her
dress was some bright, cheap ma
terial, but fitted her to perfection,
and the hand that clasped the rim
OF jaunty hat was as brown as a
berry. She seemed to be lost in
deep thought, for her dark eyes
seemed to be drinking in the beau
ty of the scene around her. Gil
bert Pierson was struck with
amazement. He had never met her
in the ncighborhood, and walked
up to her with a puzzled expression
on his countenance.
"Can l do anything for you,
Miss -? he said, as she turned
to him with a startled look on her
bright face The voice that an
swered him was as sweet and clear
as silver bells.
II have lost my way, sir. wish
| to get homc-to Mrs. Patterson's if
you please"
"To Mrs. Pate son's?" echoed
Mr., Pierson, as the blushing face
crimsoned still deeper beneath his
ardent gaze. "Why, you are good
two miles from there
"Oh, dear" exclaimed the girl,
with a weary sigh, "then / won't
have the berries home in time for
dinner" She glanced down at the
tin pale, standing at her feet, and
Pierson saw that 1T was not half
full of blackberries.
'Bcrry seeking, eh!" smiled Pier
son. Il never knew that Mrs. Pat
terson owned such a charming
daughter"
"Daughter?' she echoed with Q
merry laugh; 81 am the bound gir
free in one month. Mrs. Patter
sons dainty daughters do not wade
though wet grass and brambles aftel
berries. But please tell me th'
shortest route; Mrs. Patterson vii
be angry at my delay"
Mr.. Picrson stepped aside ant
spoke to a servant who was passing
s.Come, now," he says, laughing
lly, ':as you are ncighbor mus
. use you neighborly. While Seth il
filing your pail with fruit from m,
garden I will order lunch and Sc
that you get home in time TO
dinner"
.Oh, Mr.. Pierson, you are to
kind; no one is ever kind to Mara
lGray," she said with a bright smil,
although her dark eyes are full {
tears. And they walk side by sid
! mn the cool avenue, the youn
t bound girl talking with the grac
: and ease of thorough woman {
y the world, and Gilbert Pierso
g stammering bewildered answers
:: a manner totally unlike his usu'
! genial frankness. But his momel
= tary diffidence soon vanished
q they become better acquainted ovt
,e the delicate lunch the servants pr
q q vided. He found, by a few cat
j. tious questions, that Marah Grs
T was an orphan. and very unhapI
I'm the home Of Mrs. Patterson, wi