Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-07-13
NEARl.YA MISTAK Il.

Better be Nh old mans darling than a
young mans slave.
This had been Jessie Vernon's con-
stalIt laughing answer to the many ques-
tons heaped upon her as to her strange
choice-strange only because James
Usllton had been a man of twenty-five
when Jessie's violet eyes first h ad opened
upon the world.
She was nineteen now, and he man
of forty-four.
An old mans darling indeed,
Ills darling, yes; but in the light OF
an old man, hundred times mol
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.
II don't think you quite realize the
gulf of years between us. he would ans
wer her. Think, Jessie-in six more
years L shall be fifty, and you Will
scarce be twenty-five. Are You sure,
darling-sure you will never regretT
Once, when he had said to her some
thing like this she burst into tears.
"Hush, hush" she entreated. 'You
speak as though the heart might grow
old. AS long. James, as I do not seem
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 he had sore need to
find comfort in their memory.
The wedding-day at last dawned clear
and bright.
He vowed, as he uttered the solemn
pledges at the altar, that at any sacrifice
he would make her happiness.
1t was silent VOW, but none the less
sacred.
Two years passed on.
He would have held time back in the
new Joy of his experience.
Their boy was not fortnight old
when he entered his wife's room with an
open letter in his hand.
She was resting in large armchair,
the violet eyes bent downward with
new beauty in their depth to scan the
little face pillowed on her breast.
''see, little mother" he cried, 81
have Just heard from Carl. He is COM
ing home. He will be with us Almost
any day."
"Oh. I shall be glad to know him, y
she replied; "but jealous, James-a
little jealous, I fear-you love him so
we'll"
"As well as though he were my son,
he answered fondly. ''No-nO! l used
to say that. but I know now differently.
1t will be for him 20 feel jealous, my
darling, not for you. He will find two
usurpers in the plac he usei to fill
And he stopped t. kiss the two faces,
between which he liked to trace the
strange likeness.
Carl Howard had grown to Jessie al
most to be household word.
He was her husbands ward-the SOL
of friend who had been to him deareI
than brother, and who, dying, had
constituted 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 hi
leaving his native land.
To Jessie he seemed still boy, for az
such James spoke of him.
| Unconsclously, now that he was com
ing home, she found herself devisins
schemes for his amusement
| He might find their country hom'
dull, beautiful as it was in its June dress
she unused.
Perhaps, now that she; had grown
strong and well again, she might invit
a gay party of young people to fill it.
But before she had time to put any o
her plans into execution. Carl arrived.
She and James were sitting togethe
on the piazza, when carriage drov
hastily up, and out from it sprang
young man, tall, broad -shouIdered, AM
even in the dim twilight, unmistakabl
handsome.
James started up TO meet hsm, takin
both outstretcheG hands in his in wa
which showed how genuine was his vel
come.
Then he led him proudly to his wife
"Jessie, this is Gail.
} "Why, uncle. this was the title h
had always gwen him since his child