Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1885-01-08
"You are curious girl. Good
evening""

"You are q curious girl Good
evening"
Late one evening Jassamine and l
were strolling in the woods not far
from her fathers house. / had not
spoken to her of love since the time of
her refusal. / knew that she would
never alter her decision, for / could
read determination In every expression
of her face.
''Let us return. We have walked far
enough
''No, let US 60 TO the brow of the
hill and look down on the river"
had scarcely finished the remark
when four men sprang from behind an
enormous log. Each man wore mask.
Jassamine tremblingly grasped my
arm.
"What do you want?" l demanded,
drawing brace of pistols.
I'VE have come after that womanw
replied one of the men.
Raising both pistols fired In rapid
succession. The rascals fired ut me,
but luckily their shots took no effect.
Jassamine tainted, just as the ruffians
closed upon me in a hand-to-hand en-
counter. When she regained conscious
ness, the ruffians had gone. She looked
zip gratefully, and when l supported
her in my arms, she placed her head on
my breast. All, delightful moment OF
victory and love.
II have judged you hastily" she
said, as we drew near the house. "Your
bravery surpasses anything l had ever
hoped to Sec.
kissed her.
The entire country rang with my
praises. There were no sensational
daily papers in those days, or | would
have been indeed far-famed hero.
The Judge took me warmly by the hand
when told him how l loved Jassamine
and said:
You have made noble fight, my
boy. When you presented those letters
of recommendation, l knew that you
were generous and brave, even though
others thought differently. have for
sometime known that Jassamine loved
YOU, but | knew that with her foolish
ideas of chivalry, she would not marry
YOU after Your refusal of the challenge
unless YOU could do something TO re-
deem yourself.
.Iassamine and | were married with
great ceremony. All the ncighbors
were invited. Whole calves were
barbecued; and it seemed whole distil-
cries were turned loose. Shortly after
our marriage we moved to Little Rock.
then ilourishing town. My business
prospered, and within year | owned
a well-furnished house.
One day, about six years after our
removal to Little Rock, Jasper Patter-
son, with whom | had been intimate
during the days of my courtship, paid
me visit. Twas delighted to see him
and late at night he and l sat in the
library talking over old times, as we
termed the first days of our acquaint-
ance. The lamp was burning low. We
sat by the fireplace. My wife had gone
TO bed, thought, but l afterwards dis
covered that she was doing on the
sofa.
Il never saw anything work so well;"
said Jasper. You not only secured a
wife, but it made you hero. Your
wife has never suspected anything, has
she?"
mo, not thing. The boys played
their parts well. I was afraid that
Nick Jones would ruin everything, for
after Jassamine tainted, he snorted.
He was so full of laugh that he could
hardly run away. /"
Bip! Something struck me on the
head. The room swan. l saw Jasper
getting ont of the way; saw my
wife standing near me, and then / sank
to the floor When recovered was
lying on the sofa. Jassamine was
bending over me.
"Oh, don't die" she was saying.
Don't die, for / didn't mean it.
found the paper weight in my hand and
l threw before knew it. But it was
cruel to treat me that way"
Yes" l replied, "but it was be-
cause loved you.
''Yes, know, dear" slipping her
hands under my head There, now,
it's all right
As / lay there in n semi-dose,
thought ! heard Jasper lean against
the house and laugh-Arkdnsdw
Irdueicr.