Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1882-07-29


will not needlessly alarm them"
Thus he turned aside the evident
wish to know who he was, and, al
though he talked but little, Jessie no.
ticed that he seldom removed his gaze
from her, and his handsome gray eyes
told a story of admiration and interest.
He was man of probably forty years,
large, fine looking and possessed of ex-,
ceeding grace of manner. aaf,s ~
The day or two's illness lasted over a
week. Jessie called few times, but
noting his increasing admiration, pru-:
IDENTIFY forebore to go longer, and he
went away one day without more ado
than q good-by and good wishes left
with Mary for her.
Jessie wondered why she felt SO lone
ly, and tried to believe it was all owing
to Hattie's absence. Long, bright let
ters came from Hattie, full of love and
admin, tion for her husband and her
beautiful home.
"Papa Singleton is just splendid, he
kissed me tenderly when we came home
from the lakes, and called me little
daughter, and hade me glad welcome
home. cannot tell you how happy I
am, dear Jessie. But papa Singleton
said something so queer this morning,
he asked Charlie if he would not prefer
a handsome new house all to himself
Charlie told him this was qrite good
enough for him, and the old gentleman
only smiled and said no more. I hope
he isn't tired OF us SO soon he is very
kind and can not believe it. We are
coming down soon, and the old gentle
man is coming with us /; you need not
feel bitter against him now, and l know
father will enjoy his wise, pleasant
talk"
$50 we are to have visit from the
old bear himself, are we?" laughed
Jessie. "Well, mamma, we will enter
tain him the best we know how for
Hattie's sake, and try and forget how he
clouded our wedding day."
With little cry of rapture, Hattie
flung herself from the carriage and
rushed to Jessie at the gate, and thence
to her mother in the doorway.
With warm clasp Charlie took Jes-
sie's hand, and in his boyish, friendly
voice exclaimed:
Delighted to meet you, sister Jessie.
This is father !" and he too passed on
to her mother.
Jessie started back with little cry of
surprise, for the tall, handsome gentle
man who was regarding her with such
merry, admiring eyes, she recognized
instantly as the sick gentleman whom
Mary had cared for.
"Will it make my welcome any the
less kind because ! am Charles father
l would have acknowledged at once who
l was, only knew you were prejudiced,
l had behaved so badly toward Charlie
and his bride-but I could not bear the
thought of my idolized child drifting
away from me. Remorse overlook me,
and / was just going to the wedding
when the accident occurred. That is
all" %,
But. Jessie knew that was not all, and
blushed furiously when, before they
parted for the night, Charles father
found her alone moment and asked /:
"Won't you like me little for Char
lies sake9" I -4
Certainly" she replied, trying to ap-
pear nonchalant. 9aa
"And a good deal more for my
own?" 9segsl s
And somehow, before she knew it,
almost, he had drawn her into his arms
and kissed her with exasperating assu-
rance.
With hot cheeks she fed up stairs
but with happy, beating heart.
"Going to get married and to our
Jessie. Hurrah for the governor | :" and,
Charlie tossed his cap to the ceiling,
and gave Jessie rough embrace as he
kissed her and called her little
mother" "You can build the new
house now, father, / object no longer"
Sand you're to marry the 'old cur
mudgeon after ALL lauged Hattie.
sand You don't hate him mite, either.
Anti. .MaIarfal Plant.