Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-01-01


listening. So
Certainly" was the answer. ~He re-
NAMED scarcely a moment after you left
him. You-you are not sorry you dis
missed him?" s-Fz4=-s=
"No, mamma. And now to take up
the burden Of our lives on new basis.
Let's complete our preparations and
start for Egg Island"
~That's now my one thought, Jessie. {"
There are a dozen reasons why we
should not lose q moment, continued
tho resolute girl, gaining her feet with
feverish impotence, while a flash Of ex-
element crept into her checks. @1n the
first place, we may expect Vance to be
here early in the morning, and I would
sooner die than go through another such
scene with him!"
There came ring at the front door at
this moment, and it caused Jessie to
start violently and change color. Had
Vance come back?
0No, it's merely a young man from
Potter & Carpenters, " said Mrs. More
land, in response to Jessie's mute appeal.
"His arms are full of signs which he has
come to put up. I'll take lantern and
show him where to put them, while you
close the house and light the lamps"
By the time Jessie had acted upon
these suggestions, her mother came back
to the sitting-roOm, remarking:
81 am glad the real estate people have
been so prompt. To see these signs
staring him in the face at the moment
Of his proposed arrival will hardly be the
sort Of welcome for which your Uncle
Radd is looking"
''But it will be just what he deserves,
mamma" returned Jessie, sand the fact
that The Films is in the market will also
be timely admonition to Vance. He
will realize that I am irrevOeably re-
solved not to marry him, and will turn
his thoughts into the only channel which
can bring him lasting peace"
Leading the way to an adjoining bed
room Jessie bathed her face and eyes,
and passed brush deftly over her waVy
hair.
''Let US now have bit to eat,
mamma" she proposed with mien that
was almost cheerful, as she drew her
mothers arm within her own, with fer
vent caress, and turned towards the din
ing-room. 81 really had no appetite at
our usual supper hour, and haven't a
great deal at present, but we must
think Of our health and strength"
The couple were soon in their accus-
toned places at table with an excellent
repast before them, and with blinds
closed and curtains drawn, while a mel
low radiance was diffused around them
through the shades of a couple of large
kerosene lamps suspended from the
ceiling.
For few minutes the meal progressed
in silence, both eating as an encourage
ment to the other rather than because
they had any appetite.
"My thoughts keep coming back to the
necessity of at least a brief absence" at
length remarked Jessie. aft I cannot
really expect Vance to remain away, 1t
is certainly too much for me to struggle
with his pleadings and with my own
feelings. We must CO."
HAnd not merely on his account, re-
turned Mrs. Moreland, "but also and
particularly because of the threatened
| intrusion Of your Uncle Radd. Now that
he has found out where we live, II
would be useless for US to remain here
and receive him. No kindness of ours
| could prevent him from getting drunk
! and making an exhibition of himself in
| this neighborhood. There is no question
| Of our remaining here to await his ad-
vent. We must fly"
The more Mrs. Moreland thought
| about the proposed advent Of her broth
er-in-law, the more uneasy she became
| and it was not long before she resumed
There is a singular history involved
! in my marriage, Jessie, and think you
| now ought TO know it. I met your Uncle
| Radd nearly year before made you
/ fathers acquaintance. Radd professeG
to be greatly smitten with me, and i'm
proved every opportunity of intrudine
upon me. Intruding, I say, for quick
" made him know that did not desire
his company. He nevertheless kept com
ing with such persistency as to provoke
a great deal of comment, besides inspir
ing me with the keenest terror and ap
prehension, and at last he presented
himself to me in such state of intoxica
ton that he could hardly keep his feet
He not only fell into a furious passion
at my remonstrances but became violen
and threatening. Heaven only know
what would have happened If you
father had not been near me at that mo
ment and FASTENED to give me his pro
lection"
It was the first time Jessie had eve
heard these facts, and they natural,
possessed strange fascination for her