, 1880-07-04
JESSAM1NE; AN EDITORS R0-
NANCE,


ming hand, and scented heavily with roses. 4
photograph Of girls face, pure and proud. with
Il sweet mouth aud large, dark eyes that were
unutterAbly sud.
Thnt was all,-just a handful Of letters and
picture, but it was quite enough to fill me with
strong interest, M interest entirely foreign to
my equab1e temperament and 80 years.
1t had come about in this wise.
was the literary editor of the Daily argus;
two years before one or two fragments Of poetry
had como to me with the signature ''Jcssauline
attached to rhem,-strong womanly poems that,
beyond the undeniable genius evinccd In them,
had dreamy fascination, an Intangible vagary
about them that made them very different from
the usual run Of poems We were in the habit Of
receiving. By-and-by essays. and sketches, and
stories came to me from tho same hand,-brill-
iant, dashtng. and 80 perfect in their style that
they attracted immediate and general attention.
I at once xrote to "Jessamine offering her Il
position rs regular contributor at a stated SAL
arr, which che accepted in Il letter of graceful
thanks, signing her own nanc,-Jessamtne Heath.
After TINT had often occasion to write to her,
and we insensibly drifted into weekly corre-
spondents, each letter growing more friendly
and less bus1ness-llke.
She at Inst, ut my oft-rcpcatcd and urgent re-
quest, sent me her picture. and, to my great sur
prise, saw the face OF a girl IN her teens 1
had thought she was ut 1east IS.
am not romantic. Editors seldom are. At
80 years I was comparatively heurt-whole- l
had had dreams and disappointments and nll the
rest of it in my college days, but had outlived
them all, and felt in no particular hurry to take
up again the burden and turmoil Of love.
But the shadowy, wistfu! face Of the picture,
the dainty little letters, guy and sud, defiant and
appealing, witty and dreamy, wise aud cynical
By turns, had awakened an unwonted thrill IN
my phlegmatic breast, and I looked forward
anxiously to the mails that brought me the rose
pcrfumed satin sheets from "Jessamine."
There were 100 miles Of railroad between us;
and one duy, Providence being undeseryedly
kind, some business turned up in X that
made 1t imperative should go there. Prov1-
dcnce, you see, can be kind sometimes, even to
an editor.
Iwrotc a note to "Jcssamtne" telling her Of
my business, and asking her If might call and
see my correspondent and contributor OF year
face to face. Eho wrote back TINT she would be
pleased to see me.
took my seat on the train with mingled feel
ings the only distinct one being the thought
that was sentimental idiot to allow few
letters and picture stir my tough heart in this
unwonted manner.
Jcssaminc had told me little Of her life,-tho
common one OF fallen fortunes and tender girl
obliged to work hard for footing in the world
that Is always hnrd to women. But it was a
pretty house that directed my steps to one fair
juno morning. a rambling, picturesque house,
III a large oll-fnshioncd garden, tangled with
fruit, and flower, and vine.
AsI went UP the walk noticed a. hammock
among the apple-trces, with pillow and red
shawl trailing from it. A little girl with long,
yellow hair was playing on the lawn turning to
look at me with large wondering eyes. 4 small
maid opened the door and ushcrcd me into
room opening of the hall, and took my card.
sat down aud looked around with undeninble
curiosity. I acknowledge it. Yes, the room
was like 'Jessamine,' there could be no doubt
about it. Although it WIS us simple rs possible,
there was the same undcflnnbtc elegance about
it, from the Indian mattfng on the floor to the
few rare pictures On the pale walls. Inc WIN
duws we're Opcn and the muslin curtitii1s nut
tered with tie soft summer wind that came, per
fl1tned from the garden. 4 vase OF slender
stcmmed, heavy-headed roses was on q slim
stand,-lnrgc, ycIyety roses. perfect rs If they
had been born in tho Vale OF cashmere, eo7 a
in one corner; a carved bookcase, Tiled with
books In another; and diyAn pilod with cusn-
law OF, it with q handkerchief and rosebud be-
tween its leaves. Jessamine' must have Just
stepped out took up , The hand5Greh'ef &
broidcrcd daintily in one corner. aud frasrant;
Of course, with roses. This girl was an Oriental
il Of thongh ana X + aass es
ycIeped editorial2-l deliberately pnt IT IN my X
And then, with the calmncss Of perfect recti,,
waited for the young lady to put IN an appear
Pcrbaps 4ngG snu tue small maid was unreliable. had
about made up my mind to go and Interview
tue ycllow-haired rcd-stnckinzed child on the
I19r..} .},r,a OF a woman's dress along the hail:
s.Shc is coming. my own: my sweet. re9lly
felt nervous Ny heart haa % m9s reazeu 4 So,nst ns