Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-06-30

time telegram arrives, telllAS nionui
of the dangerous illnesss of his mother,
and asking him to return at once.
II cam bear to have you go, Arthur;
feel as if something would happen to Keep
you from me- And tears dim the bright
ness of her eyes as Jessie says this.
"What fanciful little girl it ISL ne an
swers as he kisses them away. DonG
you know my darling little girl that moth
ing could do that3"
Finally the good-byes are said, and he is
gone. Arriving at Newport. he goes oil
rectly to the house at which his mother
staying, to find her indeed very i'll. The
doctors say trip to Europe is all that can
save ner, SO he goes without seeing his lit
tie farcee. To be sure he writes her low
ing goodbye, still she is sorely disappolnt
ed
At the time of Arthur Thorne's first
coming to the farmhouse. tsn.re were sew
eralo of the neighboring farmers sons who
paid Jessie great deal Of attention Of
course she received them graciously
enough, still she had never cared particu-
larly for any. There was one, an exceed
ingly welI-to-do farmer, who had loved
Jessie all his life. He owned very fine
farm, and Farmer Gray and his wife want
ed JESSIE to marry him; still when he pro-
posed and was refused, they thought to"
much of their daughter g happiness to urge
the matter. He felt very bitter about it.
nd Arth Tbnrro3c oopoinn univ o6dpd
fuel to the flame, especially when he saw
how much the latter and Jessie were to-
getber.
He always brings the mail from the post
Office to Farmer Gray's, so when letters
come from Arthur Thorne it is very easy
matter to keep them. At first Jessie
thinks Mrs Thorne's Illness prevents Ar
thurs writing. But as the weeks wear on
she begins to grow heart-sick. Once or
twice the farmer and his wife say it is
strange they never hear from Arthur, but
finally they cease thinking Of him. Not
80 with poor little jessie; each week finds
her longing more and more for some word
that will tell her she is remembered and
loved
But time passes on; fall. winter and
spring come and go, and it is once more
beautiful June. Jessie is again sitting in
the hammock, but now there is no song
upon her lips, and there is a sadness in her
beautiful eyes that never used to be there.
Finally the door of the farmhouse opens,
and kind. motherly Mrs. Gray comes out.
There is an anxious look on her face as
she sees her daughter. A few weeks be-
fore on being questioned, Jessie told her
mother about her engagement to Arthur
Thorne, and Of his strange silence during
the months of his absence. The kind
mother said nothing to reproach her, as
she pitied her too much for that.
"Jessie, DEAR she says, as she reaches
her why don't you 20 for row, or
walk, or something? hate to see you
sitting quietly thinking all the time. Go,
darling, find some amusement; see some
of the young people, and forget about Ar
thur Thorne, for he is not worth one of
your pure thoughts
Don't, mother dear! I can't bear to
hear you speak bitterly of Arthur. Re-
member I love him. and cannot. and will
not believe anything against him.
Jessie's impetuosity brings the color to
her face, but as it recedes, leaving it so
white, its delicacy is very perceptible.-
She is very fragile these days. so different
from the rosy checked little beauty Of last
summer.
II don't understand how you can be-
lieve in his love after a years silence,'
says Mrs. Gray, but regrets it instantly
as she notices the panied expression of her
daughters face.
II will not try to explain, but have
perfect faith in him if wait for years OF
forever"
Saying this, Jessie leaves the hammock
and walked towards the lake. Arriving
there, and feeling tired after the exertion
of walking, she lies down under the tree.
where she soon falls asleep. An hour has
passed away, when the perfect stiffness is
disturbed by a step, and Arthur Thorne
comes in view. He is sunburned, and the
careless look hitherto seen on his hand
some face is gone. AS he looks down at
Jessie lying so pure and sweet before him,
something shakes his strong frame
Whose treachery is it that has made the
changes in that bright, sweet face. He
has just come from the house, where every
thing has been explained on both sides;
how he has written continually without
receiving word in reply, and that his
mothers sickness had kept him at her side
until death released him, after nearly
year elapsing. He had then hurried to Jes-
sic. to have everything explained.
As he looks at her great longing to
take her in his arms almost oyermasters
him, when Jessie, moving in her sleep,
murmurS:
"Iknew you would come, Arthur in spite
of yournever writing
In an instant she is in his arms, and
awakening, looks once more on his belov-
ed face.
Arthur !'' is all she says. and then
quietly faints away.
He carries her to the house and she is
laid in her bed, from which she does not
arise for six weeks. Brain fever confines
her, and from wild rawlings they learn of
the fearful suffering she endured so pa
tiently. Finally consciousness and strength
returns, and she is carried down stairs for
the first time just year from the day she
met Arthur Thorne.
During their conversation it dawns up
on Jessie that VIM. Black must be respon-
sible for all her suffering but she Is 50
happy now thai she insists that nothing