The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1885-07-16
AN OLD. OLD STORY.

AN VLU. VID OlUhl.
'"The course of true love ne'er did run
smooth"
"Just ten years ago, on this very
spot, at this sef-same hour, we part
ed" exclaimed Mrs. Trevellyn to her
self, as she sat on moss-covered seat,
beneath the shade of an old oak.
Gust ten years, yet so long, long ago!
| Why do men say that life is short, and
time flies? For me nothing has flown
but my dreams!"
As she spoke, she shaded her still
youthful and lovely face from the
bright sunlight, and fell into a reverie
so deep as to be unconscious of ap-
preaching footsteps.
The intruder was a tall, handsome
man, as yet scarce in his prime, who,
catching glimpse ofthe lady, stepped
quickly forward, but ere he could speak,
Mrs. Trevellyn became aware Of the
presence OF some one, and glancing at
/ the stranger, she rose as if to move
away.
F! With a half-audible apology, the
! gentlemen raised his hat, and in a mo-
ment was lost in the thick shrubbery,
while she sank back again upon the
) seat as she said. ''Tis he! my God: and
he does not know me! Only ten years
and I-forgottcn.
! Yes it was only ten years since these
two had parted, he a youth of 2l, she
a beautiful girl of II summers.
Give Lee was just out OF college, and
before settling down to the study ofhis
profession he was to spend two years
| III Europe.
Jessie Trevellyn was still school
girl. But the two had met years be-
fore, and a child's love had deepened
into something tender and enduring
enough for them to exchange lovers
VOWS.
"You will write me often," he said,
as they stood together beneath the old
oak. "You will write me often, and on
your coming birthday you will let me
tell your father how deeply love
your"
eyes, when am 1 8, papa shall know
where have given my heart; mean
time he knows you are my warm
friend, and I wilt will write you a
few words every day"
"Not so fast, little one, every day
for a fortnight, and in six weeks forget
fulness OF my very existence.
A look of mingled love and reproach
from her beautiful dark eyes, a mo-
ment of silence, and he spoke again;
"You have your own way, usually,
have you not Jessie?'
II have rarely been crossed in my
life," she replied with smile, "and
since mamma died, poor papa seems
only to live for me"
"Well, cara MIC, listen! When the
fall comes, persuade your father to
bring you abroad for six months.
You can study music and the languages:
we can all be together. TO learn a
language thoroughly, make love in it, ,
says an old scholar. Think of win
ter in Italy! Yes, dear Jessie, if your
wishes are commands, your father will
surely bring you to ME, ere long"
So they parted.
Give Lee went over the ocean, and
during the summer that followed, Jes-
sic proved faithful correspondent.
Early in the fall Mr.. Trevellyn was
taken very i'll, so that for many weeks
he lay between life and death. Letter
after letter came from young Lee, which
Jessie scarce found time to read, much
less to answer.
"Cousin john" she said one morn
ing to Mr.. Trevcllyn' sncphcw, who had
been a constant. attendant at her faith
er's bedside, "Cousin John, you know
I correspond with Give Lee, but poor
papa s illness has left no time for my
pen. Please write Give, explain the
! case of my silence, and tell him." she
added, with tell-tale blush, ''that we
do not forget him.
AS soon as Mr.. Trevellyn was able
to move his physicians ordered
; him south. It was not until they
reached Key West (their place of dcs-
tination) that Jessie had leisure for a
t careful perusal of Gives letters. She
noticed with pain how they had grown
less tender but moro reproachful in
tone, till, at last, they were cold and
unfrequent. II am sure he can't have
received Johns letter." she said to
, herself; "but I will write to-day and
explain all. Poor Give! Yes, l will
write this very day"
For an hour her pen moved over and
across the paper, filling sheet after
! sheet of paper with the details OF the
last three months. AS she was seal
ing her letter q knock was heard, and
to her cheerful "come in" a tall figure
appeared in the doorway.
"Good morning, fair cousin. have
just left your father very comfortable.
Have YOU any commands"
! "Thanks, John, just post this missive
, for European mail. What would papa
and do without you? You seem like
his son and my own brother.'
II am content to be his son, dear
Jessie, but not your brother"
"Cousin," said the girl, scarce heed
ing his reply, "did you write Give, as I
asked you to dor"
! "Did I ever break promise to you,
Jessie?'
81 remember no promise, John, but
simply a request. Poor Give evident
ly knows nothing Of papa's illness.
"Perhaps my letter did not reach
him. Shall write again?"
"Oh, no! this"- to packet
-"explains ALL"
Weeks passed;n letters from young
Lee came to cheer the heart of Jessie,
as day after day she sat in her fathers
sick room: shegrew panied; then hurt;
finally annoyed and indignant. Mean
while her father was growing weaker
and weaker with each day and
conscious OF his approaching end he
begged his daughter to reward the de-
yotion of his nephew by giving him her
hand.
| ~ used to fancy, darling" he said,
, "that young Lee loved you, but he is
far away and too young to marry,
John worships you. He has maturity
and wisdom, and I should die easier
| to see you his wife and under his pro-
! tection,"
With heart half broken at her
lovers neglect and her fathers ap-
preaching end, Jessie consented to his