Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1884-11-06

l'll meet you ii ere.
"And that really Is all ?n queried
Jessica, quite her own possessed self u,
gain.
Miss Murphy stared. To once more
drop into SMILES her balloon which
had sailed up so straightly and securely
at first had suddenly collapsed and was
falling with startling rapidity.
81 should think" severely" "It would
be quite enough"
Enough ?" airily. "That's it It's
too much ! You know an overdose of
poison occasionally c0unteracts the eff
feet of a lesser quantity, and | think"
with a smile charmingly confidential, ],
SIT Is something the same way with
gossip. don't you ?n
It was Miss Murphy's turn to gasp.
Such girl But then one never
could understand Jessica Ray. Miss
Murphy thought it was time TO 60.
With the cessation of conversation
concerning personal affairs her inter
est died natural death. She was IL
verse to wading in foreign waters.
The inodorous pool scnmmed over with
village scandal sut1iced her. She feared
aught else.
"Good- by, my dear" with bewild-
cred shake of the tinseled bonnet. 81
am so sorry | had to tell you. Life is
full of unpleasant duties. never like
to interfere in other peoples affair.
Charity 1 always say Charity and
silence II there il any particularly
detest it is tale-bearing. Well, as I
said. must be goings Good-by, my
dear. Pm so glad you don't mind"
"Good-by," cordially.
"We all thought" pausing at the
door for parting thrust, ''that it was
to be not only a marriage de conven-
ance, but a genuine love affair on both
sides.''
Indeed 70 said Jessica, brightly
arching her pretty brows.
And then at last the door closed on
her VISITORS broad, black-silk back.
The blitheness born OF brayado died
out of little Miss Rays face. She
went slowly back TO the -ribboned
rocker aud sat down therein for a good
heartsick, contented, mortified, miser.
able cry. When she had been very,
very young and charming, and Jack
Sutherland an awkward lad of ten,
their fathers had planned marriage in
the future. The planning stood, by the
way, upon an agreeably substantial
basis, looking at the affair from a finah-
cial point of view. Soon after Jacks
father had died and Jack had gone to
live with his mothers relatives in
England. He carried with him the
memory of pair OF sweet eyes, for all
the worlc like big, blue, dew-wet for
get-me-nots, for wee Jessica had parted
from her playmate with a particularly
tender and protesting farewell. Twelve
years passed. Neither chafed-as in
novelistic traditions bound-against
the paternal decision Of their childhood.
No fair English maiden displaced his
first love In Jacks loyal heart. AS for
Jesslca, she had grown to think of Jack
as hero who was coming across the
sea to claim her. When she anticipa-
ted that coming before her minds eye
forth pranced a snowy charger bearing
a plumed knight.
One day just two weeks ago it was
she went down to the drawing room in
response to the servants announce
ment. A gentleman standing in the
window turned at her entrance. He
came swiftly forward, both hands ex-
tended, his face Frightening with gay
admiration.
cit is-it is-little Jesica %
She knew him then. Without cur.
yeted no splendid steed. BY his side
swung no jeweled scabbard. Around
his neck was slung no mandolin. From
his shoulder fell no cloak of roby vel
vet. Not stalwart statGred was he, nor
raven haired. nor flashing eyed. Not
fha rrovd oraatiop of hnr Uirlh0ndfs
sweet foolish dreams, in trnth, rather,
his rivals would have said, vely or
binary young man. But he had comet
Jessica's heart gave great throb. A
true woman though, ergo,an arch hyp-
ocrlte, she put her hand in his with
an air of cool surprise, a touch Of we'll
bred reproof in her greeting.
s'And you 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, for all its mas
sive golden links very frail and brit
tie one in the passionate strength of
youthful impulse. Neither would be
slow to fling 1t off il the bandage prov.
ed oppressive. However, it did not.
The childish, ignorant, romantic af-
fection which had been smoldering in
their hearts since the sorrowful parting
Of the playmates. at q word, touch. a