Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-05-11
Her Atonemept

Her AtOnemeut
Jessie Adams was not q bad girl at
heart, but she was too fond of admira-
ton and therefore frequently led into
difficulties. She was betrothed to
Horace Randall, a man of sterling
qualities but many years her senior.
She respected him highly, but she
could not exactly decide whether she
loved him or not, and In the meantime
she hirted with Edward Swinton, a
young engineer. To his honor. be it
said, he did not know of her engage
ment.
Jessie and her betrothed were one of
a merry party who visited the mines
one day where Swinton was employed.
As they made their way through the
galleries in the rock Jessie and SwintOn
found an opportunity to lag behind
For moment they stood facing each
other, then he clasped her impulsively
IN his arms. Horace Randall was at
the head of the party.
y essie, you know that 1 Love"
She shivered at his words, thinking
of her lover, but his lips were against
hers and she did not resist. Only for a
moment, then frightened look came
]
! linger here" she murmured. eve
must go at once"
But there was only one of that gay
| party who had noticed their absence
! and that was Horace Randall, and he
/ gave no sign of pain. No one would
have guessed the anguish that filed his
/ heart
When they were ready to ascend the
shaft he said he would go alone
Jessie, when she was up in the sun
shine again, heard the bell ring for
! Horace RandalIs ascent and a shudder
ran through her.
"He is killed." cried Jessie. falling
| into Edward Swinton's arms. The
engineer appeared in the midst of the
confusion with blanched face.
Zone of the links must have been
worn and given way" he said. "The
machinery was in perfect working
order, and there has never been an ac-
cident before"
Soon two of the men were descending
the shaft by means of the ladder.
In a few minutes Jessie recovered
consciousness. She threw off the re
straining hands Of her companions and
walked the floor in a mortal agony of
spirit. All the remembrance Of Horace
RandalIs goodness toward her rushed
over her with overwhelming fOrce-all
his love, all his tenderness, all his
quiet thOughtfulness which had made
up so large a part of her happiness
these things came back to her with all
the keenness of remOrse.
Edward SwintOn approached her as
she was pacing the small platform, OBJ
hviOus to all around her. He compelled
her by sheer force of viii to stand still
and face him.
Jessie, tell me, what was that man
to yOu?"
His voice chOked; he looked the
words he could not utter
He would have been my husband -
Her dark eyes looked into his with
mOurnful gravity.
And yOu-yOu allow me to love you
you accepted my love and my kisses %
He flung her hand away from him /
almost with with a gesture of contempt /
and left her side.
Jessie bowed her head In silence. /
Her treachery had deprived her Of both /
loves, the dead and the living.
After the funeral Jessie was called |
by the lawyers into the family council, /
her interest in the viii being intimated |
She appeared among them as pale as
a lily in her heavy mourning, the deep
Grape veil almost hiding her transcend
ent beauty.
When the viii was read it was found
that Horace had left her half of his for
tune.
The deeds of his real estate and min
ing property were handed over to her.
She received them, but only to de-
tear the paper into fragments,
scattering them to the four winds.
1 viii not have his fortune" she
said gravely. "NOt one penny of his
money VIII 1 ever use-rather would I
starve y and no entreaties could move
her from her purpose.
As she left the house Edward SwintOn
confronted her. His words were quick
and passionate.
Jessie, let me love you. I can not
live without you. Let the past be dead
only say that you love me, and let me
live to make you happy"
And his love was in his eyes. She
-rembled beneath his chances; her very
soul thrilled with the intensity of his
passion.
But she put aside her veil, showing
Ter face as pale as marble.
In one year, she said, eff L live, / {
-Ou may come to me, but not before.
f you love me then as you do now
viii give you my answer.
Not all his pleading could move her.
She remained resOlute.
At the expiration of a year he ap-
,eared before her, again a humble sup !
liant and passionate lover. q
" j essie, am I WelcOme?'
From her eyes and the bushes which
Uttered her cheeks he read her answer
-hichwas more eloquent than words and Il
-as by no means uncertain Upon this
ssurance he clasped her In his arms a