The Osceola times., 1883-09-29
ed, sobbing, from the room.

men are tne least COMPREHENSIVE.
"One would think she would have
been delighted with the prospect OF
some one to keep her company in the
house.
"But perhaps she prefers being alone.
jamie always was quiet little thing"
"But when she came to call him to tea
jamie Lee was quite calm and composed
again-a little pale, but otherwise en-
tirely herself.
"Mr Marden," said she. with down
cast eyes, Il am sorry behaved so fool
ishly this afternoon but was 50 taken
by surprise"
II am sure hope that you will be
happyp $780,,
"You are alway kind little darling,
JAMIE" said Mr. Marden with a smile
And | am sure YOU and Tilly will
get along nicely together.
jamie did not reply; but after the
housework was all done that evening,
and she was in her own room, she set
herself diligently to work, writing out
an advertisement
Wanted a Situation"
"For ] can never live in the same
house with that hauty beauty who has
stolen Jthn Marden's love from me-
she thought, with cruel pang at her
heart.
So the lovely September days went by
and the colored leaves began to fall, and
the nuts to drop softly in the woods at
night.
And when October reigned in royalty
over hill and mountain, the wedding
day drew near.
Tillie Kerr had been to visit the farm
house.
This hall is so ridiculously narrow"
said the bride-elect.
And the idea Of such funny little
winding stairs!
why, they make me think of cork
screw!'
John Marden looked at the staircase,
down which he had been carried a baby.
"And, of course" ratified on Miss Kerr,
you will have the partition between
these two rooms taken down, and an
archway put up?"
"Of course" echoed Squire Marden.
But he didn't know why he said it.
jamie was looking on. and there was a
panied look in her face.
She was thinking how poor Mary's
corpse had lain there so short time ago
how the dear old mother, whose mem.
ory John still SO tenderly revered, died
in the sunny Darkroom, just where the
March snowdrops were bursting through
the frozen ground.
Though | don't know" added the
bride, playing with the ivory top of her
carved parasol, "but that it would really
oe cheaper in the end to pull the whole
thing down, and build something to suit
ones self exactly"
"The house is three hundred years
old,' said Squire Marden gravely.
There is no house in the country so
DID,"
"Oh horridm cried Matilda recoiling
with little theatrical cry. "The idea
of living in a house that is three hun
dred years oldw
And she laughed and rustled away
with her jet chains sparkling, her pres
ence leaving faint perfume behind her
and jamie secretely felt that lf she saw
much more of Miss Kerr, she should
learn to hate her cordially.
The wedding evening came, and all
the country people, high and low were
invited to participate in the fest cs.
Mrs. Waller. from whose house the
bridal was to be celebrated had done her
best to give her friend what she called
"tip-top wedding"
walls were decked with autumn leaves,
scarlet berries and evergreens the bri-
dal-cake was mountain of snowy per-
fection, and the old clergyman, in his
robes, stood waiting at the door, when
Mrs. Waller came hurriedly in with
pale, frightened face, TO where the BRIDE
groom stood, stalwart and handsome
with his "bcst man" at his side
There's no use trying to hide matters
any longer" said she hysterically. It'll
lie has gone Gone with Captain Swe-
denborg! She went out riding with him
this afternoon and | made sure she'd
come back. But she hasn% and here's
the telegram from London.
"Read it some one. ! havn't the heart
to do it."
Lawyer roucey who stood next to her
put on his spectacles and leisurely perus-
ed the telegram
Goodbye, everybody it said saucily.
81 am married to Captain Swedenborg,
and start for Paris at noon tomorrow.
Every woman has a right to change her
mind, and have changed mine.
TILE SwEDENBoRG.
There was a brief silence of second
or tw,, and ten Squire Marden spoke
out.
Changed her mind, has she?" he said
in clear, ringing voice.
"Well, | havn't changed mine.
81 came here 20 be married, and mar
ricd intend to be-
"If it is not to one bride, it shall be to
another.
Little JAMIE" to the pale girl in the
do ve-colored silk dress, who stood at his
side, twill you take the place in my love
and my home, which this heartlcSs wo.
man has left vacant?
"Will you be my wife F'
To the day of her death jamie Lee
never knew exactly what she answered.
She only knew that she was gently
led to the brides place. That Squire
Johns strong hand held hers; that his
clear voice spoke the responses; that she
murmured her share, feeling all the
while as if she were in dream.
But when the ceremony was over, and
tho guests crowded around to offer their
congratulations, the mists all cleared
away from her heart and brain, the tran
qul light came back to her eye.
John Marden's wife
What higher happiness had life to
offer her.
And when they were driving home
in the soft autumnal moonlight, she
looked wistfully into his face.
"John." said she, "are You sure that