Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-04-27
Jesste's Love %.

ooh, dear mel" thought pretty little
Jessie Howard, holding her head to one
side like @ meditative sparrow as she
stood beside the sitting room window.
'1'm sure poor Seth is q splendid fell
low, but Harry is 80 handsome, with
his blue eyes and tawny mustache, that
am at a loss how to decide. Aunt
Lydia declares that il is the easiest
thing in the world to accomplish, but,
Cor my part / think it is the most diff
cult task I ever encountered. How on
earth am to find out whether my two
suitors love me or the fortune which
dear Aunt Lydia is going to leave meP
Why it sounds just like chapter out of
of novel. always did yearn to get
into romantic scrape. Iwonder if I'll
ever be able to solve my conundrum as
agreeably as the heroines of fiction al
ways manage to doP 1t would be per-
fectly spendid If could"
And clasping her little hands before
her she gazed dreamily out upon the
gloomy scene where the snow was fall
ing silently and oeaselessly, covering all
with its feathery flakes.
The twilight was deepening, a cold,
death-Iike stiffness reigned in the frosy
air and the scene looked gray and spec
tral in the gathering gloom.
"It is almost five o'clock. she said to
herself, turning slowly away from the
window. Il must get supper ready
now. OF course I'll tell auntie just
what I intend to DO, although I know
she'll say right away that ought to
have poor Seth. We'll, at any rate I'll
test my two lovers and then I'll be able
to decide"
She went into the large, ole fashioned
kitchen where Aunt Lydia sat knitting
before the great, blazing fire.
She sang softly as she prepared the
supper, while the old lady, with smile
leaned back in her chintz-cushioned
rocking chair, and watched her pretty,
little brown eyed niece.
Jessie, my dear GIRL" she said at
last, taking off her silver trimmed spec
tacles and rubbing them carefully with
the corner of her handkerchief. "I
want to have a little talk with you upon
q very important subject"
"Well, auntie, what is it? she asked.
"You are going to lecture me about
Seth. aren't your"
"Jessie," the old lady began, slowly,
"this is a very serious affair. Do not
ridicule it, because I'll not tolerate that
1t is for your own good that I have ven-
tured to broach this subject. Since you
have become acquainted with Mr.. FL
bridge | have noticed how heartlessly you
have set aside poor Seth Morris. Mr..
Eldrcd's handsome face and blue eyes
have fascinated you; but oh, my dear
girl, you are not doing right If you do
not love Seth, be frank at least, and
admit that fact. because that poor, good
hearted fellow fairly worships you. And
you must recollect that O woman knows
very little about the habits and charac-
ter of man until she is married to him
and past all escape"
Jessie opened her lovely brown eyes
wider than ever.
"But, auntie. Har--Mr. Eldridge is
so handsome and pleasant. Why, you
have no idea what q splendid young
man he"
ga model of amisbilty and good tenn
psr. suppose" the old lady interrupt
ed, ''That is all you know about this
ideal of yours, isn't it?'
Jessie's cheeks flushed prettiIy, and
her eyes filled with merry mischief.
"Now don't be too severe with me-
auntie," she responded, 'until I have
told you what intend to do. OF course
as you know yourself. when a girl has
two lovers, it is quite difficult task for
her to decide at once which one she pre-
fers. Well, at any rate, I have made
up my mind to test Seth and Harry, and
the one who is fortunate enough to come
out all right in the ordeal can claim Jes.
sic Howard as his own for life."
"How on earth are you going to sc
cunplish that? 1t is all very well tt
read about such things in q novel
and"
But the sudden opening of the doo1
interrupted Aunt Lydia, and old John
Howard entered the warm kitchen
while Jessie, with sigh of relief, knew
that 'very important subject" was end
ed for that evening.
On the following afternoon our ittI,
heroine felt somewhat lonely, and wrap
ping herself up warmly she ran over t,