The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-11-30


she arose and left the room 70 return
no more that evening. After perusing
Hugh Manneriugs tenderly set words
and smoothly flowing phrases she
could not patiently endure the clash
ing disoordance of her sometime low
er's rougher speech. Rodney waited
patiently awhile for her return, aud at
last took his leave in as much of a
fret as his sunny nature allowed him
to indulge in.
Autumn came, and the mellow days
and golden evenings were imbued for
Jessie Crofton with the glory and
splendor of loves young dream.
Never had the hand of the Great Ar
tist tinted the woods and hills with
such gorgeous dyes; rever did such
vail of beauty overhang the dells;
never did lakelets lie in such dream
of peace. Earth was new Eden, and
reversing the ancient order of things,
new Eve awaited the coming of her
Adam; aud it limmed not the bright
ness of her glory that the one friend of
lifetime, disheartened by her frequent
rebuffs, troubled her no longer with
his presence. Rodney Lesre, grown
trihe silent and sad, striving TO con.
quer love which his better Judge
ment assured him would never bring
him contentment or peace, went his
own way; and if sometimes his. strong
hand warded the heavier burdens of
life from her weaker shoulders, she
was still unrecognizing and unthank-
full.
In the late fall the little household
of the Croftons was surprised by the
receipt of letter from an almost for
gotten cousin of the family, whom
the tide of fortune had driven into the
little harbor of Glen Haven. The let
| ter contained an earnest request that
Cousin Joe or some of his family
should pay the writer a visit. Only
by the strongest force of will could
Jessie retain her caluness until in
family conclave it was decided that
she should be the fortunate one to ac-
cept the invitation. Her father could
not spare the time, and Aunt Ruth
was only too glad of a little respite
from the niece's fault-fnding and gen
eral discomfort; and so the succeeding
week found her safely ensconsed on
the stage coach, her face bright with
anticipation, en- route for Glen Haven
and Hu n Mannering.
There is something inexpressibly
sad in the utter ruin of young life's
first romance. However unstable the
foundation, it was reared in touching
the faith and purity of purpose
Happy the soul that
| 'Rising on its wreck at last,
To something nobler may attain"
Anxious to surprise her correspon-
dent, in the letter mailed the day be-
fore her departure Jessie had given no
hint of her intended visit to Glen
Haven, and the earlier part of her
Journey was whiled in the happy
dreams of their meeting.
Toward noon the sky became over
cast, the wind rose in fury, and few
flakes, the vanguard OF the forces the
Frost King held in reserve, came fly
ing through the air. As the wind be-
came colder and keener, Jessie was
aroused from her happy dreams by a
sudden neuralgia in her face, which
continued to grow worse and worse,
until by the time she arrived at her
journeys end she was almost frantic
with pain. Giving the driver her cou-
sims address, with directions concern
lug her baggage, she stopped at the
first apothecary's shop to obtain an
opiate.
The low building which bore on its
front in huge gilt letters the sign
DRUGS & MEDICINES, boasted also a
smaller one, Posr OFFICE; and as Jes-
sic reached the door, a man carrying a
bundle of letters brushed past her.
She drew back with an indistinctive
feeling of disgust. To her sensitive
soul there were something ineXpress-
IDLY oathsome in his presence. His
shabby black suit was soiled and torn,
his face was coarse and sensual, and
the bold blue eyes seemed to stab her
with their insulting stare.
Striving to conquer her repugnance,
Jessie lowered her veil, and, following
him into the store, gave her order to
the clerk in subdued voice, and
while he was preparing the medicine
cast hasty glance to the farther end
of the room where q number of men,
talking and smoking, were gathered
around the stove. As the sleepy-look-
ing individual approached the group he
was greeted with shout of laughter.
Cried one voice, louder than the rest:
"What's the news to-day, Sir Hughf''
The reply came fearfully clear and
distinct:
"I've got another letter from my
charmer, boys. Shall l read it'" And
withon. waiting for an answer, he tore
open the envelope and began reading
aloud.
As the first words fell upon her ears,
Jessie grew faint and grasped the rail
ing for support. Then sudden rush
of indignation gave her strength tc
stand upright and listen, with burning
cheeks and flashing eyes, the words
her own words written in all tenderness
of heart and purity of purpose-fell or
| uCi CARS ihlSi iepoiocu oy ouc ioduci
with coarse jests and frequent oaths.
| 1t seemed an age to her before the
awkward clerk succeeded in making
change; then taking her package sht
quilted the store, followed by thu
laughter, loud and long, of the listen
ing crowd around the stove.
Almost forgetting her pain in thil
bitter shock, she hurried GA her way
This, then, was the end of all he
hopes and bright dreams! To this low
, level had she descended-to becom
the jest and by-word of party of will
|, age loafersl Then she remembered tn
, readers coarse allusion to the sol,
. woman and the young uns at home
! the tears came thick and fast, and il
sudden contrast rose before her fac
the figure of a man so innately pure an
noble that TO him all womankind wa
sacred-he, the trusted knight-erran
I of the poor and defenseless.
D,,t tbara moo littla ;n,a 60. II a.