Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1893-07-14

listening.
"Ccrtainly," was the answer. "Hc re,
NAMED scarcely moment after you lcl'
him. You-you are not sorry you as
missed him?"
"No. mamma. And now to take up
the burden of our lives on new basis:
Let's complete our preparations ana
start for Egg Island"
"That's now my one thought, jessie
"Tbcre are a dozen reasons why we
should not lose moment" continued
the rcsolute girl, gaining her feet with
feverish impatience, while flash OF ex'
element crept into her cheeks. "ln the
first place, we may expect Vance to be
here early in the morning, and 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 70
start violently and change color HAD
Vance come back?
"No, it's merely a young man from
Potter e. Carpenters, said Mrs. Moro
land, in response to Jessie's mute appeal
"His arms arc full of signs which he has
come to put up. I'll take a 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:
II 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"
| 10 net hot hn HQcQrVnC
mamma" returned Jessie, land the TACT
that The Elms is in the market Will also
be timely admonition to Vance. lie
will realize that l am irrevocaDly 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,
md passed brush deftly over her wayy
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 rLaces at table with an excellent
repast before them, and with blinds
closed and curtains drawn, while mel
low radiance was diffuSed around them
through the shades Of couple of large
kerosene lamps suspended from th(
ceiling.
For a few minutes the meal progressed
in silence, both eating as an encourage
ment to the other rather than because
they had any appetite.
any thoughts keep coming back to the
necessity of at least brief ABSENCE" al
length remarked Jessie. "If l cannot
really expect Vance to remain away, i
is certainly too much for me to struggl'
with his pleadings and with my OWL
feelings. We must 60"
"And not merely on his account" re
turned Mrs. Moreland, "but also an(
particularly because of the threatened
intrusion of your Uncle Radd. Now tina
he has found out where we 1--we, ]
would be useless for us to remain her
and receive him. No kindness of our
rould prevent him from getting DRUM
and making an exhibition OF himself II
this neighborhood. There is no question
of our remaining here to await his ad
| vent. We must fly"
The more Mrs. Moreland though
, about the proposed advent of her broth
/ er-in-law, the more uneasy she became
, and it was not long before she resumed
Y "There is singular history involve
5 In nv marriage, Jessie, and think yo
= now ought to know it. / met your Uncl
. Radd nearly year before | made you
s fathers acquaintance. Radd professe
r to be greatly smitten with mo, and i'm
: proved every opportunity of intrudin
o npon me. Jntruding, l say, for | quick
" made him know that did not desir
his company. He nevertheless kept CON
= ing with such persistency as to proyok
a great deal of comment, besides inspil
: ing me with the keenest terror and ar
= prehension, and at last he presente
o himself to me in such state of intOXica
ton that he could hardly keep his fee
e He not only fell into a furious passio
: at nv remonstrances but became violer
: and threatening. Heaven only know
{ what would have happened if you
g father had not been near me at that mC
ment and hastened to give me his pre-
lection"
It was the first time Jessie had eve
n heard these facts, and they natural
:, ,,oSsosood q. strange fascination for hel