The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-11-23
NEARLY a MISTAKE.

had been a man of twenty five when
Jessie's violet eyes first had opened upon
the world.
She was nineteen now, and he q man
Of forty. four.
An5oId mans darling indeed
His darling, yes but in the light of
IN old man. II hundred times no!
The wonder lay that he should have
stopped from his grand height to her.
But he smiled sadly when he listened
to her repetition Of these things.
~ don't think you quite realize the
gulf of years between us" he would m
swer her. "Think, Jesse-in six years
shall be fifty, and you will scarce be
twenty-five. Are you sure, darling
sure you will never regret?"
Once when he had said 10 her some
thing like this she .irst into tears.
"Hush, hush !" she entrcated. "You
speak as though the heart might grow
old AS long, James, as | do not seen,
too frivolous child to be honored by
your love, never again wound me by
doubt"
The words sank deep into his heart.
In future years ne mad sore need to
find comfort in their memory.
The wedding day at last dawned clear
and bright
pledges at the altar, that at any sacrifice
he would make her happiness.
1t was silent VOW, but none the less
sucIed.
Two years passed on.
lie wuui,i ilnvr held time unck i'll the
new JOY Of his experience.
Their boy was not fortnight old when
he entered his wifes room with an open
letter in his hand.
She was resting in q large arEi chair,
the violet eyes bent downward with new
beauty in their depth to scan the little
fnce pillowed on her breast.
"See, little mother" he cried, II have
just heard frem Carl. He is coming
home He ~i!! be will, ~ sln,os. any
day, yn,. :, , :,
replied "but jealous, James-a little
''As we'll II though he were my son."
he answered fondly. "No-no! I used
to say that, but know now differently
1t will be for him to feel jealous, my
darling, not for you. He will find two
usurpers in the place he used 20 FILL"
Aud he stopped to kiss the two faces,
between which he liked to trace the
strange likeness.
Car! Howard had grown to Jessie
almost to be household word.
He was her husbands ward-the aon
Of friend who had been to him dearer
than brother. and who, dying, had con-
stituted him sole guardian OF his only
child.
The young man had just commenced
his college career when his father died.
After finishing it he had gone abroad,
and it had now been six years since his
Iepvinp his native land
To Jessie he seemed still q boy, for as
such James spoke Of him.
Unconsciously, now that he was com
ing home, sho found her self devising
schemes for his amusement
He might fnd their country home dull
beautiful as il was in its June dress, she
unused.
Perhaps, now that she had grown
strong and we'll again, she might invite II
gay party of young people to fill it.
But before she had time to put any of
her plans into execution. Carl arrived.
She and james were sitting together
on the piazza, when carriage drove
hastily up, and out from it sprang u
young man, tall, .shouldered, and
even in the dim twilight unmistakably
handsome.
James started up to meet him, taking
both outstretched hands In his in a way
which showed how genuine was his well
come.
Then he led him proudly to his wife.
"Jessie, this is Carl"
"Wiiy, uncle, ,"-tbis was the title he
had always given him since his child
hood-"I thought this was some little
girl visiting you?
And truly, In her white wrapper,
buried in great arm. chair, Jessie looked
but child.
All three laughed merriiy.
The ice was broken-Carl was one of
them.
Looking back at that hour, rs the
weeks sped on, how strange it seemed to
look beyond.
Before Carl came seemed almost
blank, 80 did his young life fill the place.
Jessie never had brother; but she
felt this gap in her life was filed now.
She and Carl were sworn friends.
1t was he who rode with her when
James cared not to go-who walked with
her when James was busy-who stood
ready at all times to be her humble aud
devoted cavalier.
found travelled man of the world, full
ten years her senior.
When she told him her plan to fill the
house, he would not listen to it.
''Let us bo alone" he pleaded and
sue was but too willing to give assent.
1t was n joyous summer.
They allowed no sovereignty cave
baby.
Over all three, he held undisputed
sway.
"You have made my uncle young
again." Carl said to her ono day.
"Hush |" sho replied. "That is trea-
gon. We cannot make him what he al
ready is, Or return to him what he has
never lost"
"You are happy 2" James would some
times aay to her, yearningly-"quite
happy" as though he dared not believe
in the sunny brightness Of Ills life.
"Jessie," Carl began once, as they aat
alone together, II am going to contide to
you o secret no one knows as yet, not
even my uncle. am Ia love. have
been lighting against it myself for long.
In my wandering life have grown acep.
ticel az to married happiness. What /
have seen here has renewed my conf.
dence, and intend to put my fate to The
test, anu Is am fortunate, next summer
shalt bring my bride here. Will you
open your heart to her too7'
"Indeed-indeed WILL" che answered
earnestly.
And from that hour new tie bound