The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-05-28
The LASS OF RICHMOND HILL.
CHAPTFR I.

CHAPTER I.
BE friends, sweetheart, and I prom
lse never TO disappOint you again"
Il could forgive you more easily, Bob,
If L did not know that you spent the
evening at the Fishers. You know L
am jealous of Audrey, yet you viii go
there to make me miserable. | suppose.
Then you come and coax me into for
glyeness and repeat the Offense directly
you are tempted to do So
Don't be cross, Jessie; it spOils the
effect of that pretty pearl bonnet
Inc pretty brunette put her little
gloved hand to her head, and patted her
dark, curly fringe as she said:
Just look at the rain, L wonder the
bonnet IS not spOIt, and auntie gave
two guineas for it at Elise's."
Bob looked with interest at the sort
of beaded cap that was made entirely of
pearls, with just a knot of deep Grim
son velvet to fasten it under the dim
pied chin.
Jessie NennimOre was as pretty girl
as one could find III days march, tall
and erect as a young larch. with fun
/ bust, slim waist. and all the graceful
curves OF IhOrWaldScn'S Venus. Just
now her dUSky eyes ''LlCOmed' upon
/ her lover. vet the sensitive lips with
/ their pomegranate bloom broke into a
+ tender smile, and one shapely hand was
held out to show she could be friendly
IN a second, sOft-hearted little spit-fire
/ as she was.
Bob RaynOT saw her relenting, and
eagerly clasped the little hand in his,
. while he leant forward and sealed his
I peace upon her vivid lips in a lingering
/ kiss.
oh, Bob. suppose someone saw you"
Not likely, love; but if anyone did
envy would be their pOUtion."
Splash, splash, beat, beat. came the
: rain, as they stood beneath the aTchWay
OF the old palace for shelter, till the
I courtyard was full of ghtteTing pools,
4 and JesSIe's tight Newmarket coat was
damp with the drifting Tain-drOpS.
1t seems natural to fall into silence
While Watching the tears Of the sky
fall to freshen the earth. which it
sOothes more when it weepS than when
it smiles.
BOb's proud. loving eyes were eager
ly drinking in the pensive beauty of his
sWeetheavt's looks and feeling his fond
regard she looked up, flushing into
fresh lOyeliuess beneath his ardent
gaze.
REX has come home. Bob dear"
."iIas he, pet? ! am sorry for that. [
do hope he VIII not perseCUte yOu with
his unWelcOme attentions as he did last
vac Tt is UuWelcOue still, is 1t not,
1aI Jclia,,
'.You know it is. l would give ten
years of my life to be rid of his mad
lOye-making, it makes me wretched.
DO you know. Bob, sometimes, though
/ I6kuoW how silly it is, l feel afraid of
hmm; he is so fierce, so relentless and
untiring.'
III wish I could take you away from
them, darling. and keep you to myself
1t maddenS me to know that you are
exposed to your cousins cruelty cOvet-
Gus love. When the year IS out | hope
to be able to ask you to throw in your
lot with mine, darling, to be my precious
little wife. DO you think you VIII care
to Gomez"
Need YOU ask me that BOb?"
mo, don't think | need. yet it is so
sweet to hear you confess your love
that l can't resist the temptation to
make you own it. Say you love me,
Jessie"
Il love you dearly, Bob" answered
the girl simply. with her radiant dark
eyes earnestly answering the love light
in his.
"When viii you meet me again, lady
bird? Let it be soon, and try to stay
longer with me-"
u will meet You by the river close tC
the railway bridge, to-morr0ow evening
at nine. if / can get rid of Rex"
Hang Rex! say you VIII come
. Where there's a viii there way, you
know and q woman Is always full Oi
resources: you can be cunning little
rogue when you like, little woman"
"Wel, then, I viii come, even If
have to run away from Rex and rouse
his evil temper. He has got temper
it makes auntie quake as though ShC
were the earth and he slumberlns
volcano. See, the rain Is over now. anC
/ declare there's a splendid rainbow
What glorious cOlOTSi One end dip
right over the hOuSe-tOpS yOnder."
Jessie drew Bob out of the archway
and they stood a second looking at tn
broad eXpanse of sky with the vivid ar
of promise crOwding it with jewel tints
Let me see you to the foot OF tn
hill, pet, for | suppose you must be on
It's nearly six o clock and know yo
dine at seven
yes, must go, dear, but wish yo
would not come any further with me
we might meet Rex, and 1t would OnI
!, cause a useless quarrel and upset aunt
who is not at all well now" .
''GOOd-bye. then, my own darling;
shall count the hours till we meC
z again.
! Goodbye. Bob dear. Mind, 20
must not 1irt with Miss Fisher, for N
sake"
Il never did firt with her, my queer
; ONLY in your jealous imagination.
q respect her too much to make sport {
q her with love which should be Won
s ans religion, good git from her pul
4 heart that should be rewarded by &
q equal return. and even if you did NJ
exist L could not love Audrey tlShe
though she is a dear, good, Jolly lit
q soul.
& 'Ah, and a beauty"
3 Not when you are by, Jessie; "
= know that
81 Nonsense. you only tell me that
s. make me believe You don't admI
Il blonde beauties. But now really
q must 90; let go my hands. l won IA
81 tomorrow night at nine. Goodbye
9 "Good-bye, sweetheart"
81 Bob lifted his hat, and stood a secO
s. looking after the graceful, glrllSh tigU
= that fitted so soon out of sight.
q Then he sighed and set his face IN
81 oppOsitc direction. and walked swift
& tilf he came to q quiet street, where I
81 houses had arespectanle Old-WOrld loo
81 In the centre Of the wide street, stan
81 ing back. as though in dignihCd
Al serve. from it's lesser ueighbOrS, stO
= a handsome red-bTick mansion call
81 The POplars.
y The hall door was wide open, a
ss guarded by a noble bloodhound.
- Dr. RaynOr smiled as the hOu
- spranC out TO welcome his master.
p A momentarv pride of birth and
old home SWtlled BOD,S heart rs
looked up at the glinting windows a
- tall trees.
y Bob entered the shadowy hall whu
stained windows made patches of bril
color.
81 A pretty pale girl came ont 10 "
= come him-a girl with his own op
It honest look. and the same candid. ac
set. dark-fringed grey eyes.
II expected you home TO four o 'clC