The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-05-29

hoc' oHiy IL Is natural That girl should
one way desire u home OF her very
"Why should shc?"
30, my dear, how absurd YOU are!
Why. If had not ,lcsitct sDme other
homo than eun.'s, / should never have
matsioa you!"
Raymond put up shaving materials
thoughtfully, while Catherine gazcd
into the fire with placid smile of
serene content.
She adored her husband and chit.
dren. and envicd no woman.
Twill You driyc with HE this after.
noon, dear?" asked Raymond on his
way out IF the room.
w. certainly" she responded with
recay alacrity.
AT the foot of the stairs Raymond
met Jessica. "1s it true-this abont
Your marriageM he demanded.
sho laughingly freed her hands from
his firm clasp.
Catherine has been babbl,ng."
THAT is no answer. Tell me. are
you to marry soon?" he persisted.
She shivered.
20, Bro. Raymond, don't you sec /
mn cold? Let ME 60 up to Catliis's
room. She always has good fire."
''ieA me- he insisted, placing ono
hand under her chin and raising her
face to his.
II shall never marry!" Then she
sped ny stairs while ka, mond went
out of the house with cleared face.
"Jessica! You arc shaking like a
leaf! Have you Il chillp" Catherine
demanded a, JessitA sank down on tho
rug, Spreading but her hands to the
fire, slisering audibly,
w, don't know-Catherine. I am
going awaym Jessica exclaimed with
chatterirg teeth.
''What nonsense!"
at is true! I think 1 shall visit
auntie awhile"
And just now Raymond was plan.
ming trip for tbs all-and was think
ing Of Cuba" grumblcd Catherine.
20, / should be 10 end of trouble to
Raymond, so please leave me out of
your plans"
The next day Raymond said:
'.Wcll, ladies, how would you like
to leave home for awhile?"
~. splcndidly, and | intend going
straight to auntic's this very after.
noon. l telegraphed her this morn-
ing" said Jessica ponchalantly: heel.
ing an orange deity for little Ray.
Raymond looked at her and said in q
1tict Toice:
Why do YOU wish to pain us so,
Jessie, dear?''
Now, Bro. Raymond" she said
deprccatingly but giving hi a defiant
glance, 'for you to impulc evil motives
to me is too much"
An llouf afterwards he followed Jes-
sica into the library where he knew
she had gone.
"Jessica," he commenced abruptly.
II am going away tomorrow to be-
gone an indefinite time. Will YOU not
revoke your decision and remain with
Cathie and the children till NV re-.
turn?"
But 1have telegraphed Aunt Ruth, :"
shs answered in u low voice, uncasily
lingering her book.
"You can send her second telc-
gram"
II will!'
He went out. A spasm Of pain con-
torted her fnce, while he went on TO
GATHERINGS room.
Every we'll, Raymond, we will put
off our trip to Cuba till YOU re-
turn" she promised her husband
after he explained that important
business called him away for several
weeks.
The next day. after tic had said
goodbye to them all. grouped together
in the lower hall, kissing Jessicl in a
brotherly way, last of ali, he returned
to the sitting room for a forgotten
paper half an hour after he should
have been OH the way. Jessica was
alone in the room, arms flung out on
the table, head buried between.
She looked up ut the opening of the
door, and slowly rose when she saw
who it was.
All her bright beauty seemed gone
her lips were tightly drawn and ashy
pale. her cheeks were like marble, her
brown eyes dull and dead.
why do you return, Brother Ray
II remembered n paper left here
after | had gone half way to the sta
toni came back for it," he hur-
riedly explained.
Your will. Hero il is" and she ex-
tended a shaking hand 10 him. He
clasped both hands and paper aud
drew her to his breast
30, my God! Jcssica, it is terrible!
Do you not know that love you--do
you not see that it is my mad love for
you that is driving mo from my
homer"
She had leaned like dead weight
against his heart. Now she lifted her
self, put both arms about his neck, and
kissed him.
1t was u kiss of Renunciation-but
he did not know that.
''Go, now, Brother Raymond; YOU
may return to Catherine soon," and
with a soft smile playing ON her face,
she pushed him away.
He went out and away.
"Come, Ray, let Aunt Jessie row
you over to that island where we went
last summer so often"
'tAnd can't mamma and Katie como
to-" cried the little boy, clasping his
hands.
Eyes, dear.
1t was three days after Raymond's
departure, and Jessica rowed the lit.
tic party safely to the island situate in
the river which ran by their Florida
home.
The little ones soon tired and Jcs-
sica was ready to take them home.
"Jcssio, you do not seem we'll, dear.
am afraid il WAS not nrnIont fnr ouv
of US to come out today. The east
wind is so raw and chilly, and you
don't seem strong enough to row the
boat" Catherine objected.
Jessica. with smile, took her place,
but Catherine said she would wait till
Jessica took the children to the shore,
then she would call Sam or Jim to
come back for her. Jessica took the
children safely over, and Catherine
saw her kneel and kiss them, then Civ
ing them to their nurse who was wait
ing, Jessica once more propelled the
hnaf foNvor ri tho ,c1o