The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1885-05-10
with that pleasant voice of his .

Jessie thought so too; out she did not
give vent to her opinion in words. She
was looking unusually well; a color become
her, but it was not the rose-hush upon her
cheeks thaG made her look so lovely.
There was a change in her tonight. and
her sister was vaguely conscious of it, as
the girl stood looking down into the glow
ing fire in the kitchen CRATE.
s'Our Jessie Is growing regular beauty"
observed Caroline to her father, when her
sister had gone up to bed.
Handsome is as handsome does" re-
turned Mr.. Maybrick, putting away at his
pipe. Jessies education had cost him no
end of money, while the more hornely
Caroline had put pounds in his pocker
But Mr.. Maybrick had no eye for beau
ty. He was not like his lodger, who could
get very little sleep for thinking of pair
of bright eyes, and slim glrlish figure.
Next morning, as Mr. Leith sat at the
breakfast table, he caught sight of Jessie
talking to a stoutly built, curly-haired
young fellow; and his heart gave jealous
throb.
Who was that rustic she seemed SO inter
ested in? He could rot be her sweet
heart-surely girl like Jessie would not
throw herself away on such an awkward
cub.
Mr.. Leith tried to read his newspaper,
and forget the happy-looking couple in the
garden; but it was no use.
There they were, parading up and down
in full view of his window, and now and
then their voices were waited to him on the
breeze.
He felt he could stand it no longer, and
slammed down the window in a rage.
What was the use of coming to the country
for quiet, if people would persist in max
ing such a racket?
He took his hat, and went out for q
walk, and when he returned home, had the
pleasure of seeing that rustic, through the
kitchen window, dining with the family.
Mr.. Leith closed the door of hisSroom, to
shut out all sounds; but he could not shut
out the sound of that fellows noisy laugh
ter.
eff he is frequent visitor. my stay will
will not be Of very long DURATION" he
thought.
Presently, to his intense annoyance, he
saw Jessie and the stranger out in the gar
den again, and after his own dinndr had
been served, he heard Miss Caroline call
ing them into tea, and found that the
young mans name was Bob--detestable
name Mr.. Leith had never felt more
miserable than he did that evening, and
his life had not been devoid of trouble.
Mr.. Leith was sitting il the dark, and
presently he heard voices outside the
door.
81 am sure he is out, child, said Caroline.
ssThe lamp is not lit; you can go in and
play for little while, and Mr.. Leith will
never know.
He did not hear Jessie answer-her
voice was not so loud; but the door open
! IL 49, L.
straight over to the piano.
Mr. Leith held his breath, lying back in
the armchair, while Jessie played softly in
the darkness.
He could see the dim outline of her
form, as she sat at the piano; for what lit
tie light there was fell upon her. He was
angry with her-most unreasonably angry,
but he could not lose the chance of speak
ing to her alone.
ssMiss Jessie, he said, quietly.
Jessie gave faint scream. He had
frightened her SO much, that she trembled
like leaf. She was going to run out of
the room, when his voice arrested her
movement.
ST shall be sorry that revealed myself
if you are going to run away" he went on.
sit is not often that have the pleasure of
hearing you play, Miss jessie"
Jessie sat down at the piano, but not to
play. Her little brown hands were tremb-
ling too much. Mr.. Leith arose, and stood
by her side.
81 shall be going back to London, soon,
he said, 'sand it will be pleasant to think
of these few moments spent with you at
the piano
s'You are going away socn, she faltered,
and something in her voice made George
Leith's heart beat more quickly.
81 saw you with that young fellow to-
day. he said abruptly. "You seemed very
happy
'sBob and I are always like that" OBJ
served Jessie, her eyes beginning to sparkle
and a little smile quivering on her sweet
lips. But George Leith could not see these
signs of merriment.
Il hope you always will be-" he said.
sMay wish you every happiness
'sYou may if you like, said Jessie, with
and odd little break in her voice, for she
was trying hard to smother her laughter.
'sWhen is it to be?" he asked, trying to
speak lightly, but not succeeding very
well.
ssWhen is what to be?" asked Jessie with
little gasp.
ssYour marriage, of course" returned
Mr.. Leith, rather coldly, for he knew now
that she was laughing at him.
81 think you are putting the cart before
the horse, observed jessie demurely.
''What do you mean?" he asked impa-
tiently.
.sImean, +" said Jessie, suddenly growing
dignifed, s'that have no lover, so it is
rather premature to talk of my marriage"
"Then that young man 2'- began Mr..
Leith.
els the afianced husband of my dearest
friend" AS she uttered these words Jessie
rose from the piano to find herself clasped
in the arms of her fathers lodger.
''And to think" said Miss Maybrick
afterwards, s'that you should make such a
fuss about Mr.. Leith coming, and then
marry him after all was never SO sur
prised in my life.
sit Is the best thing that could have
happened to her." observed her father.
s'She never would have been worth any
thing as farmers wife," And indeed this
was true, but Jessie never wanted to be
farmers wife, and is quite content with the
destiny that has made her the wife of
George Leith.
VITAL QUESTIONS !g!l