The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1881-09-09

although the thought of the promise to
John sometimes troubled them.
About this time some busybody
contrived to let John know how
matters were going on at home. Al
though he knew he was to blame for not
writing, it did not hinder him from be-
ing angry with JEANNE. Knowing no
time was to be lost, he wrote at once to
her, urging her to come to him soon !;
that he had home for her at last. He
sent her at the same time the address
Of young lady who was also coming
out to be married They would be
company for each other, and the captain
of the ship Tasmania" that would sail
about the end ofJanuary, had promised
to take charge of them.
1t was the last day of the year when
this unwelcome letter arrived. JEANNE
had just gone to see Peters parents and
spend the holidays with them /; for the
country folk in Scotland have always
great merrymakings about that time
Her mothers first impulse was to burn
it; but better thoughts prevailed, and
she resolved to send it to JEANNE and
let her decide for herself.
"What can the postman be
bringing us on New Years nightY
said Mrs. Harper, as she rose from
the supper table, around which were
seated a party of their friends. ga let
ter for you, my DEAR" said she, as, Civ
ing Jeannie the epistle, she handed the
expected New Years gift to the post
man.
Tearing off the envelope, JEANNE saw
Johns well-known caligraphy inside.
The color left her very lips.
"What is the matter, my dear? Is
any one i'll at home?' were the anxious
questions which met her on all sides.
Trying by a great effurt to master her
emotion, she answered as calmly as she
could that it was letter from friend
which her mother had enclosed.
"Mother is SO exact" she added, as
she hastily thrust the letter unopened
into her dress pocket.
After that, although she tried to en-
joy herself like the others, their mirth
Jared upon her, and it was relief when
the patty broke up.
Once in the neat little room which
was hers for the time being she bolted
the door, and then sat down, woman
like, to have good cry before she could
muster courage to open the letter. After
passing a sleepless night she arose the
next morning with the firm resolve to
do what she thought her duty; she had
promised, and, hard as the task was,
she would keep her word. The first
duty was the hardest of all that was
to break the news to Peter. He rea-
soned and pleaded with her, but all to
no purpose. She was firm, and at last
he had to submit.
Jeannie," he said II will live single
for your sake, since cannot get you,
| shall never love another"
Having said goodbye to Mr., and Mrs,
Harper, who wondered much at her sud.
den departure, Peter took her home in
his gig, On the way there was little
said by either; both knew it would be the
last ride they would ever have together
We can scarcely describe the parting,
but it was much more bitter than the
parting with John had been Peter
wanted to visit JEANNE until she sailed
but this she would not allow.
"Let it be over at once" she said
"for both our sakes."
And he had to own that she was right
One kiss and q warm hand clasp, and
he was gone:
JEANNE went to the address John had
sent, and found the young lady men
toned. Being mutually pleased witt
each other, they became friends. In the
meantime her tr01tSSem had to be got
ready, and her father spared no expense
to send her off decently.
AT last the eventful day arrived hel
parents and q few friends saw her safely
on board the ship, and Captain Adair
the bluff commander, promised to lool
out for both the young ladies entrusted
to his care.
Amid the waving Of handkerchiefs anC
the tears of friends the stately shil
slowly left the dock, and her parents re
turned home without their darling.
At night, when Mr.. Lamberton wen
to bed, he complained that he did no
feel we'll, but hoped to be all right afte,