The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-12-08
JESSICA'S WOOER.

It was very foolish of MI. Peppers
to think he could keep Jessica from
falling in love, and other people from
falling in love with J~essica-she was
altogether too pretty for that. Just
IL. with round rosebud face, a wealth
Of dark brown hair, and the sweetest
temper in the world. 1t was a sight
to see her upon her weather-beaten
I choleric old fathers arm on the way
to church. 4
He looked like a thunder cloud
which had captured a sunbeam; or, as
the young men irreverently said, a
ponlpous old t~urkey-cock escorting \
dove.
He glared about to the right and
left. snorting defiance at admirers. so
that the sunbeam glowed and the dove
fiuttered under very difficult circum-
stances: But there she was, in spite
of the peculiar oppression, the bright
est, sweetest creature you can imagine;
~ ohN "ACh q AoCAf0 OlU VI COQucGIy
about her, too, that made even the
lifting Of those curling, dark lashes
extremely perilous to the masculine
hearts so plentiful about her. Calford
was full OF young men.
There were a college, and a naval
academy, and a pianoforte manufac-
tory there; then Calford was h%eadquar-
tiers for artists-the scenery was so
beautiful. And it CHANGED that there
were few young ladies in the town.
Peter Peppers was a widower. He
had brow-beaten his little wife to
death when she was very young. She
hadleft him two daughters-Rebecca,
who was made of the same harsh ma
terial as her father, and Jessica, who
was exceedingly like what the mother
had been. There was no danger of
any one falling in love with Rebecca-
or Becca, as she was called.
Her tart AMI puckery countenances
carried terror to the stoutest masculine
heart, and she was left whitening on
the stem, in her 32d summer. Her
father found in her a spirit equal to
his own, but they both agreed in keep
Ing a strict watch upon Jessica. Yet,
in spite Of continual scolding and
fault finding, Jessica continued to be
as happy al a bird. She had youth
and hope on her side, and she could
hardly fail to go abroad without get
ting a hint Of her power.
Jessica had been allowed the priyf-
lege of an intimate friend, a very
sweet girl, afflicted with lameness,
named Olive Allys; but Olives two
brothers came home from the sea, and
This intimacy was interdicted by MI.
Peppers.
Jessica wa no more to visit her
friend.
To do Mr.. Peppers justice, he was
veryfond Of Jessica and proud of her.
He knew she was charming and good,
and. without much forethought, de-
termined to keep her to himself.
But fate and Mr.. D'Albert were too
much for Mr.. Peppers's intentions.
Mr.. D'Albert was the principal of
1.-The naval academy. He saw Jessica,
and, upon meeting her again at a
church party, asked his landlady for
AN introduction to her.
Mrs. Japonica hesitated. DECLARING.
Actually I daren't. Mr.. Peppers
wouldn't like it."
but I should" laughed MI. DIAL
bert.
':Mr. Peppers never allows gentle.
men to pay attention to Jessica. If it
were Becca, now, the case would be
different"
tits not Becca- 1 wouldn't kiss
Becca for fifty pounds"
"Mercyl Well, when you get a
chance to kiss Jessica, let me know"
az will"
Mr.. D'A,bert went away and found
some more daring soul to introduce
him to Jessica.
He stood by her side some ten min
utes, saying the usual pleasant moth
sings Of society, admiring the smiling
red mouth and dimpled cheeks, and
guessing at the length Of the curling
dark lashes, when MI. Peppers, discov-
3ering the situation, with q %portentious