The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-10-18

the color flashed all over her face, and the
tears were ready tt sparkle on the tips OF
her long laShes as she finished the sentence
in her mind-and love.
care you going to stay here all day ~ she
asked presently, without looking up.
9TH have an answer to"
Your demand. Don't you think 1t Is
rather an autocratic beginningP
Low suing
Into its undoing,"
said Despard.
did | understand" said she demurely,
then, ''that you demand | should become
your wife to-day? Wont tomorrow dO?"
Il was not bold enough to dream of such
n rapturous possibility" he said. 'But |
was unwise Tomorrow will not do. You
remember the little brown chapel, Rock
Church. out here mile or two? You shall
give me your answer there"
''Do you really think it will be best?" she
said. Are you willing to take wife who,
ii Prince Vinca had positively asked her
first might have been his wife instead Of
yours?'
morning, from the delicious resting spot to
the little brown chapel. where the minister
happened to be at the door, with throng or
pickaninnies at his heels, it may be best for
us to remember that there are times and
places where two are company and three
are none"
So, you see, after all it was not Miss Jes-
sic that returned to the Brancepeth man
sion that evening, where guests were assem-
bled, dinner waiting her arrival, and her
mother as vainly endeayOring TO conceal her
anxiety as bird that twitters on the stem
when her nestlings are threatened. Mrs.
Brancepeth felt, and by no means vaguely,
that something was on hand, but what she
knew not although her keen woman's wit
gave her suspicion and hopes. Jessie not
vet returned, but gone all day: Paul Des-
pard not yet arrived, but invited to dinner:
Mr.. Brancepeth still detained in his private
room downstairs by cIller-Prlnce inca,
as Durkee whispered to her; dinner spoil
ing and Mrs. Brancepeth hot with rage in
the background, and possibly the Prince
persuadng her husband to his wishes rs ex-
pressed in that mornings note. 1t was
while she was in the worst of her worrying.
smiling now at the Secretary's Jests and
irving not TO smile at foreign Minister'S
English. that the daughter of the house was
letting herself in, and, with Paul Despard
beside her was tapping at her fathers door.
He opened it himself, looking flushed and
angry. ~. oo,s ST oon,, mo..o .nr
time, You know, because I'm afraid din
ner's waiting, and you ought to be upstairs,
too. you neglected. man. Now, papa dear,
| knew you never would give your consent,
and so l have taken it without asking and
you must forgive me and welcome me back,
and him, too" said the breathless young
love me just as much as ever, just because
he loves me too
Jessie! What in the world are you talk
Ing about? Why should 1 forgive you?
What have you done Y' cried her bewlldered
father.
"Oh, have married Paul Despard this
morning"
Her father surveyed her one wild moment
as she stood there with her white muslin
and aces and apple blossoms and bushes
and coming tears, while he rubbed his
hands through his hair till it stood on end.
We'll" he said. Then, suddenly, with
total change of expression: You have
saved me great deal Of trouble. Here are
dinner and dozen guests waiting, and
have been writing my way like book
worm through the history and genealOgy of
the Vinca family since the days of the
Pelasgi, and afraid Of an Aretine dagger II
| refused their alliance. Prince" he said,
turning on his guest behind tue screen,
"whatever my own wishes might have
been liz the matter of which we have been
speaking, circumstances have given YOU
your answer. Permit me to present Mr..
4 Paul Despard, my sOn-in-law. l trust this
turn of affairs may not deprive US Of the
pleasure of your friendship. Good even
| ing-2Ood evening"
He has ordered the man to drive to G
street." cried Jessie in moment after the
door slammed. Il knew he would. That
Palmer girPS-Well, she's welcome, and l
dare say he VIII be when he arrives
Mrs. Despard," said her father, You
must 60 up to dinner as you are. l don't
know what your mother will say. AS we'll
as | could make out this morning she was
so bent on your marrying this princeling
that for my part l am glad to be let off with
Des ard. It's all highly improper, though,
jessie" he said trying to subdue too broad
a smile-"improper and untiial and-expen-
| sve; for if l only had another daughter L
| should"
Cut me off with shilling? You know
! better, papa. l am your only darling, and
all oil mine is thine she sang And be-
| sides if You did l shouldn't mind, provided
! You love me just the same, for my husband
| is a rising lawyer. who has Just won his sec
| ond case. And now you must come up and
| hide me from the day OF mammals wrath.
| | guess you had better tell her before ali the
| people and then she cant scOld."
! But | fancy that when Mrs. Despard
| caught the glance of intelligence that flashed
between her mothers eyes and her hus-
| bands. little anger intruded on her joy to
think that she had fulfilled without intend
| ing it the command, Children. obey your
| parents