St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-10-26

from ieverish excitement. Aunt Susan
looked at her disapprovingly.
Child" she said, grimly, "it's pit!
you are so pretty :" And Jessie an
swered seriously, "Perhaps it woul,
he better for us all just now if wer,
not"
Aunt Jane folded her in tearfu
embrace. ''Oh, Jessie, my dear, do b,
Folite to him he is perfectly capabl,
OF carrying You off by main force, anC
in order to do it,"
do you want me to marry him ? ,
asked Jessie. gently disengaging her
self as she spoke, not without certain
hard ring in her voice.
'Heaven Forbid" calculated botl
ladies so fervently, that Jessie was
mOl'it.|d, while Uncle Tom, who stood
waiting, SAID sOHewhnt sharply
Come, don't frighten the child
Jessie, just treat him as you would
any gentleman whom you have no idea
of marrying, and don't want to offend.
1t amt worth while to make him angry
if you can help it, but it is a hard case.
by George, if the state of Missouri, and
the United States to boot, can't pro-
tect one poor little girl against an out
law and Jayhawker I'd rather shoot
yOu, myself, than let you marry the
fellow. Don't be afraid, | shall be here
in the next room all the time"
Then they went in.
"Ths is my niece, Miss Talbot, Mr..
Lawrence" He did not look at all like
a desperate, who slew men as Il pleas
ant pastime, as he came forward, walk
ing with the peculiar gait which cav
alrymen acquire, II species of swing,
graceful only on perfect figure.
Rather, he appeared Il modern Antin-
Gus, in his holiday garb.-the closely
fitting dark blue silk hunting shirt,
spotless bucksEin breeches, and high
cavalry boots. His horse pistols and
bowie knife had been left outside, and
the only weapons he carried were Il
pair of fsilver-mOunted Derringers stuck
in his sash, so small that they looked
like toys, yet deadlicst weapons of all
should fight come to close quarters.
He took the hand which she held out,
bending low over it with all the grace
of il hero of romance, while Mr.. Booker
discreetly seized the opportunity to
withdraw.
"Iour uncle has given you my mes
sage, | suppose" he said, going ut once
to business.
"Ycs," faltered Jessie, 81 am very
sorry
"Why You need not be afraid of
me. am rough fellow, know, but
was born Il gentleman, and know
how Il lady should he treated
An emperor, suing for the hand of II
countess, might have felt less certain
of his sut-have spoken less conde-
scendingly. Evidently the man be
licvcd himself to be doing her honor.
Womanlike, however, she liked him
none the less for that; the daughter
of her fathers was no coward, and the
situation liit'I, after all, piq""nt flavor
of romance about it.
81 know it," she answered eagerly :;
Il know too you are paying me il com
plimcnt of which any girl might he
proud, but you are too late. /, i"
and here the sweet voice trcmbled II
little, II have Il Sweethcat at home in
Virginia"
'.The Drv began Gentleman Jim.
and she saw, from under her dropping
laShes, how from mere force of habit.
his hand moved instantly toward the
Derringcrs in his belt; then checking
both word and motion, he asked quietly,
"Is that soPn
"Certainly,n she answered this time
steadily, "and surely you would not
care to have wife who could break
her word to another man, even for
your sake"
"NO, Miss" he replied, ~ don't
think much of anybody, man or wo-
man, that goes back on their word ;
they won't do to tie to. But if you
could love me, would he true to you
always, and never bring tears to those
bright eyes, except what | hope they
would shed when the boys brought me
back to you some day, dead with my
boots on" There was Il short pause,
and so yOu love this other fellow? Is
he true grit l-the right sort, mean ?"
Il would not love him if he were
mott she answered, simply.
"Well, | never whine when the cards
90 against me. Goodbye, and good
luck to you," and before she guessed
his intention, he had her in his arms
and had kissed her again and again,
and was gone.
As the street door changed to behind
him, her aunts rushed in all leXcitement.
as he gone ;"
'Is he very angry ?"
"What did you say to him ?"
'.Did you offend him very much ?"
''I suppose not" she answered de
murely, ''he kissed me goodbye"
Jessie TALBOT!" shreiked both
ladies, in an Indignant astonishment
that could utter no more.
"Well, what could | do? he kissed
me. had no part in the matter. You
begged me not to make him angry
you said he would burn the town if
did,
"But has he gone for good?n
"How did you get rid of him ! what
did you say ?"
"Told him | had sweetheart at
home, that was all"
"Jessie Talbot! you knew that
wasn't so
"Aunt Susan Byrd haven't | half IL
dozen sweethearts at home? and
wouldn't any one of them gladly sacri-
flee himself on the marriage altar to
save me from this Jayhawker, who
after all, it seems, has too high IL sense
of honor to try to cut another man
out? What would Carol and Ran,
and Harry and John, and the rest of
them say if YOU went home and told
them | was married to Gentleman
| Jim? | think You are real mean to
me, there now and the yOung lady
found relief for her Overstrung nerves
in an outbnrst of tears.
Even Aunt Susan's strict Calvinisni
could not cavil long ut the clever rus,
| which she was obliged to admit was
probably the only plan by which the
unwelcOme wOOer could have been sat
isfactorily dismissed. Mr.. Booker in
sisted that, for reasons of prudence, NJ
one must know that there was any rust
/ in the casp Iessie having announced