The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-06-11

'Tis a manly thing to do, Rex, to
force your way into sick WOman'S
room, when you know what dread
have of your unwelcome visits. You
have read my letter, l suppose, and
have come to gloat over my suffering,
nv shame. my bitter humiliation, and
cruel disappointment. The worst you
can do is easily borne now Tor nave
suffered the cruellest stab fortune could
afTlict me with, and still live to endure
the torture you can intiict.n
Cheer up, little woman, I'm not quite
the wretch you imagine me. l love you
too we'll poor darling, to exult over you
now Try to think little better Of me,
dear; indeed deserve it. Remember
'all's fair in love and war, and many
man has perilled his soul to win
weak woman. Get well, Jess; show
your pride is above succumbing to the
pain this man has brought you. lie
ought to have known you too we'll to
have allowed anything to lessen his
love and trust in you. Forget him and
make me happy; we will be married IN
Edinburgh directly you can bear the
iourney. Nv mother will meet you
there and see that the marriage is ortho-
dOX. Only cheer up and try to get well.
Your illness has been a bitter reprOach
to me. | long to carry you of to sun
nier lands, and see the change bring
back your old bOnny looks. | would be
= =
if YOU would let me; indeed | could, for
l love you, and love IS strong to con-
quer."
Rex, if you have a spark of love for
me, leave me. l am Wretched, resent
full, and despairing. Ii 1t please God to
restore me to health, l shall be able to
face my position and understand things
better; Just now | am worn out IN
mind and body. You have brought this
misery upon me. the least you can do IS
to let matters mend themselves, II they
are not beyond mendIng. For me, L
have only one desire, and that IS to hide
my poor head from the world, If | am
not allowed the blessed relief of dying:
Go, please: | promise one thing, that
Is. YOU shall take me to your mother;
she is all I have, the only friend IL all
the world now, and she has failed me
like all the rest when 1 had most need
of her"
Rex lifted the little hand to his lips
and left her, feeling anything but VIC
toriOus.
Before the week had gone the cousins
were on their way to Edinburgh. Jes-
sic was but a shadow Of her bright,
bOnny self; Rex. with a dissatisfied,
worried look in his bold. handsome eyes,
for sure as he pretended to be, the de-
lay bothered him; the game was not
PLAYED out vet, and who could tell what
turn tickle fortune might take to defeat
him? So far he had been successful,
but looking into Jessie's changed face
he felt his success had been bought at
cruel cost. and hard and relentless as he
was, he could not stifle feeling of
keen self-reprOach. for he spoke truly
when he said he loved his cousin.
He did love her to the best of his
black hearts ability, loved her and
sinned against all that should appeal to
a noble nature: Sinned against her
haIrI.--1aG- har ipnn44npn her hannI-
ness, and still dared to say he loved her.
No words Of repTOach escaped JeS-
sizes lips when she met her aunt S
frightened eyes; she knew how the son
had traded upon the timid, weak ma
ture of his mother. and while she de-
spised she pitied her.
One morning Jessie was reused out
Of the deceitful calm that had fallen up
on her by Rex, who said, with forced
I bravadO:
Jessie. l have made all arrangements
for our marriage, which must take
place next week. DO not make amy
fresh obstacles. please. dear; for, in
deed, marriage with me will be youI
best policy.
Mrs. Vennimore dropped her book
/ and looked anEiOusly up into Jessie s
blanched face. She had risen and faced
her cousin with two words upon hel
lips, spoken with hopeless bitterness:
so sOOn!'
NV dear girl. it is better so. y pret-
ty little scandal is atlOat about our IN
nOcent escapade, and to silence 1t pro
pose that we are publicly married al
soon as possible
With a rush the color flew back {,
Jessie's face, the light to her eyes, a
she answered with head erect swift,
painting breast, and vivid lips iron
which the breath came quickly:
You have indeed cOrncred me. FO
the sake Of the good Old name, yOl
I know | must consent to your terms
there is no reason now that / ShOul
not. since the only man I love can de
spise me. But hear and understand III
clGarly-if this marriage takes place, !
viii be a marriage OF outward form Oh
". there can be no dear tie Of love be
tween us. | shall be your wife III nam
only. and shall claim from you onl
freedom and absence. The maTrlag
viii make a good part of my forum
yours, the rest will suffice formy needs
| only want to be free from your crut
/ persecution for ever. our mOthe
must be witness to this agreement.
will not reprOach either of you fC
wrecking my happy young life, you
own consciences must be my best advC
Gates. l only say, take what you wan
! but leave me peace in its stead"
but suppose I do not agree to MARI
| on those terms, Jessie" said Rel
grasping her hand fiercely, and lOokin
into her proud. defiant eyes; suppose
refuse to marry you and let the wOTl
say it's worst, while l smile on its mi
taken judgment, and by silence tacitl
give consent to the worst it can believ
What then?"
Il have told you my decision, it
unalterable. If you cannot accept m
terms I shall return to the conven
school that sheltered and made N
childhood happy. There viii be a we
come for me there and the life wOu
rest me from the world that you hay
made weariSOme to me. do not ca
how you decide; / shall be free of yC
soon in any case. YOU know that"
Rex's ewes blaZed, the veins swellt
upon his forehead. and his mother, Sc
ing the storm that was raging with
him. shivered little and crossed to h
side with a feeble sigh of intense weaI
ness; laying her thin. white hand upC
his. she said in her tender, quiveri1
voice:
Accept your only chance, agree
; JeSSie'S terms: yOu can make your OV
when tho law makes y0V Hor m.Stt
. DO not drive her 10 desperation. o
I mother never advised you but for yo
own good, my son, so listen now, al
! curb your evil temper for al our sake
DO. Rex; I-yOur mOther-lmplCrcy yO
E pray let there be peace"
' Rex shook off his mothers hand il
patiently. and crossed to where jess
Z stood: she had gone to the window
be out of earshOt, and was looking
at the big eXpanse of blue sky, watc
5 ing a bird that seemed TO be trying
l outtly the wind cloud. She turn
> coldly at the sound Of her cOusiI
voice. which was hoaTse and strange
! Jessie, / accept your terms. Sh
] appoint Wednesday for our weddiT
!. dayrn
/ ''All days are alike to me, Wednesd
f