The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-01-19
His eyes grew startled as he perused |
the strange missive from papa Roland. |

the strange missive from papa Roland.
Dear friend" it read, "as the school
mate of your esteemed father, [ can
claim YOU as such. | shall be pleased
to have you call at my residence in
Sheffield Row tomorrow evening, and
will take pleasure in introducing you to
my daughter, Miss Jessie Roland.
"Truly yours,
"MERToN ROLAND"
"My r-Roland-what does it
mean ?" and the perplexed broker read
and re-read the letter of old Roland,
with no additional clue to its signifi-
canoe.
ITS mystery to me- he decided
finally. "But maybe it is some old
friend of my father, who has searched
me out. But the introduction-well,
I'll settle the matter by acknowledging
the invitation and forthwith he in
dited and dispatched brief, but
courteous acceptance of Mr.. Roland's
invitation.
Mr.. Roland's precipitate haste pre-
vented an explanation upon the very
threshold of his plan to please his old
friend. Shown into the drawing-room
of the Roland mansion the next morn
ing, Charles Albion Smith found him
self confronted by a clustering, good
natured old gentleman, who shook his
hand warmly, enthusiastically referring
to his friendship for his father, and in
the same breath whispering in the
young mans amazed ear, that Jessie
was bashful, but the marriage would
delight two old, fondly-foolish hearts"
and bolted from the apartment, leaving
the broker mentally discussing the
sanity of his strange host.
Hes here" broke out the old man,
as he met Jessie coming down stairs.
Her pale face and tear-haunted eyes
did not dampen the old mans enthusi-
asm.
"Must I see him, papa" She fall
tered.
"Must you see him?" clustered the
old man. "Ain't it all arranged
Doesn't the young man know all about
the match? Won't old Jabez Smith
just jump out of his boots to have SC
pretty and good a daughter-in-law
No sentiment, Jessie. If l had the
pick of the city l couldn't find as hand
some and acceptable a sor-in-law as
the young man in the parlor there"
"NIy daughter jessie" he said a mo-
ment later, MIR. Smith," and with {
= genuine chuckle of satisfaction waved
his hand benefcently and departed
as the two young people bowed to eacl
other.
: Jessie had not ventured to lift he
face to her visitor. But he, coming
close to her side, startled her by tn,
words
, is it possble?"
a little cry of joy, suppressed will
better success than the blush which re
1 called her to a sense Of propriety, brol
, from her lips
"My friend of the accident sh
murmured vaguely.
= MY reckless lady of the street cross
: ing" and Jessie forgot the hateful
marriage contract, and was secretl
r happy over the strange combination
4 of circumstances which had revealc
!. to her that her hero, the lover of he
dreams, was the son of her fathers oil
a friend.
!. What delightful evening! HOY
}, swiftly the hours flew by, how Shy an
n happy Jessie, how flushed and ioyou
Il the broker under the roseMe iniuenc
f of 4 first love
Old Roland never interrupted til
t interview of the lovers. 1t was enoug
|, for him to know, from sly peep int
e the parlor, that affairs were pre-
l crossing famously, and he rubbe
o his hands gleefully as he mental
n pronounced: "Jabez and me are oil
d schemers."
AS for Mr.. Smith, life seemed {
If change from the monotonous shadow
r, of dry routine business to flowers an
1t sunshine. Half dozen visits with
d a fortnight had led to the exact resu
sc old Roland had anticipated, and IL
% happy lovers were engaged-engag6
both in heart as well as in name.
4, But one night in the incident
he course of conversation Jessie Rola1
e. made a discovery which seemed
es drive the blood to her heart like ice.