Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-10-08

A Devil OF A gBMPKR.


went down to the drawing ro0m in re-
Spouse to the servants announcement.
gentleman standing in the window turned
a. her entrance He came swiftly forward,
both hands extended, his face brighsening
with gay admiration.
1T is-it is-little Jessica ~
She knew him then. Without curveted
no splendid steed. By his side swung no
ieweled scabbard Around his neck was
swung NO mandolin. Frsm his shoulder
fell NO cloak Of ruby velvet. Not stalw2rt
statured xas he. nor raven haired. nor
flashing eyed. Not the grand creation of
her girlhood's sweet foolish dreams IN
truth, rather. his rivals would have saba
very ordinary Young man. But he had
come Jessica's heart gave great throb.
A true woman though, ergo. an arch
hypocrite. she put her hand in his with m
air Of cecil surprise. . tosch Of we'll bred
rsproof in her greeting r.
.And Yen are - Mr.. Sutherland !"
Neither had in any way suggested the odd
relation in which they tacitly stood to each
other. Both felt the chain that bound
them, fer all ito massive golden links q
very frail and brittle one in the passionate
strength OF youthful impulse. Neither
would be show to fling it OF if the basdage
proved oppressive. However. it did not.
The childish, ignorant. romantic affection
which had been smouldsring in their hearts
since thS sorr6whii- parting Of the play
mates. at a word. touch, look blaze up
into;a pure, and strong, and steady hsne
OF this coaftship Jack Sutherland made
short work. Putting aside the understand
! ing between their fathers like the man he
was. he. wooedher: for her Swn sweeet sake,
Just two nights ago he had tod Aef .in his
quiet direct fashion how dearly he loved
hers; And Jessica=well. last evening had
come the sapphire ring that-only last
evening, and to-dsy this
II Miss Murphy's neat little she'll had
not brought death il bed caused pals akin
TO it.
"It's the money! moaned Jessics. Its
the hsrrid, detestable money he wants. 1t
isn't me |" Aad then Q face with clear
brown eyes and kind, grave snile arose
before her and she broke down crying
afresh.
But after awhile she sprang up rubbing
two very resolute fists into two very pink
eyes. II won't see him to night. And
I'll 60 to Bryant's tomorrow night. And
I'll be in the library at ten. And III hear
what else he has to---No, won't, l
won't evesdrop. But I'll meet him there
and give him back his ring. When I
break it he can get the money without
taking me. He's welcome to it. l hate
it, But I'll look my very lovliest-I will
i will !"
| And she did. ,
AS she came up the. parlors of Mrs.
Bryant's 'small and early" Miss Murphy
always first on the field-looked at her
amazement Quite bewtching vision
little Miss Ray tonight, rose Tipped, star
eyed. smiling. her slim, dusk draperies
of lace trailing softly behind her, huge
cluster Of violcfs at the halt barred bosom.
/ 1t was after ten before she could escape
from her companion and make her way TO
! the library. Ter hand on the pnrtierc di-
yidine tAat apartment from, The morning
room she paused
Voices She did not intend to cavesdrop.
OF course. i4.was. uBInteqtiQnal-all WAS
said aud over So quickly. Equally or
course il was di~houorab'c, Blu; thiI.k Is
rn'e we are not aptte consider questions
/ 1T honor with necy whsn our hearts are
/ very sore
I've decided 10 take her." Jacks quiet
voice was saving YEARLY. Its the only
thing can do now
Ned spoke. "a ..; .ys. =;
"She's skittish, I know, but (bv way Of
consolation) she may outgrow. that"
JesSjca groaned involuutarily. Jack
/ glanced towards the curtain
well. we'll drop the subject" in n
lower voice; keep dark like good boy.
| don't want people to know I'm such a
Young fool as to be taken by a bag of
bones all paint and drugs" ,.
"Jessica was plump as partridge, and
and her bloom was paint patented by
natures self The morning room was
unlit save from the hall, Thank goodness
for that She felt herself growing faint
and dizzy. Was that Jack that could talk
so--could 1t be-7her Jack
80. come nowin laughed Ned ''you
know you're exaggerating! She's mot
quite as bad as that
Pretty nearly" ruetullv. Il don't so
much mind her skittishness-I could
break her of that, flatter myself, but
she has devil of temper!"
She must;n not faint, Jessica told herself
frantically-O. she must not Was that
dark thing beside her in the shadow of
tuC ppititIt a idttull! ot1b SdIik uOW0 on
it heavily. weakly, exhaustedly Horror
OF horrors 1t at first succumbed second
TO her weight, then moved, protested with
vigorous energy, then shrieked.
All faintness vanished. Jessica leaped
to her feet, her soft. quick cry of alarm
mingled with that muffied roar of rheu.
matte agony.
That's aunt" gasped Ned.
"Jessica w cried Jack. He strobe for.
ward and flung aside the porhere. The
light from the library poured into the
shadowy morningroom. 1t fell on Jessi-
ca standing just within very white and
trembling, and it showed on the floor q
large and ungraceful heap of drab silk
and bugles, disordered 'front.'" and grue-
some groans.
For moment they stared-speechless
But Miss Murphy kept ON grooming.
what in thunder is it all about ?"
queried Ned, bewilderedly, helping his
aunt to rise.
IL" faltered Jessica, "sat down on
Miss Murphyr'
"WhatP" cried Ned.
I'VE were eavesdropping, confessed
Miss Murphy with venomous candor, land
Jessica took me for tootstool and"
my darlingr whispered Jack (no,
not to Miss Murphy ~ thought when
heard your voice you were hurt Or"