The Forrest City times., 1894-06-29

| Yes. said she. but our Leonidas
 has never been there until this season. and Mr. Jefferson has never been so particular m his attentions to you be- | fore
 Esther crimsoned to the roots of her hair
 What ridiculous nonsense!r said she.
 Oh, IS 1t. thougn?- retorted Jessa-
 mine. When all the world knows that Jack Jefferson IS as jealous as ] Otheilo.7
 Esther walked on. with silent dig 1 nity. Tn her secret heart she was be- ginning to regret that she had put her. 1 self out to accompany these silly girls.
 Don't mind Jess. dear. said good humored Alice Striker. slipping her hand through Esther arm. she will giggie at everything her nature. Isn't this charming morning? I heard 0luebird in the swamp down by the river. and there's lot of yellow ! jonquils iu bloom in Anne Rebecca window box. The snow Is thawing in the sunshine. but the walking is good yet. and Leon says the maple trees have never given a better yield" Up at the sugar camp. all was life and animation Blue threads of smoke wound upward to the sky from the ehimneys of the two or three board shanties. matched with strips of bark and trusses of straw. where the hands" kept house in a gypsy fash l ion. The great kettles where the sirup was boiling down to the requisite solid l ity, were watched by select deputa- tions. lest the fires should slacken or the saceharIne masses scorch. while others were attending to the im- promptu stone chimney in the open air. while the carcass of q wild turkey was whirling around and around in front of the blaze, impeIled by most ingenious rotary spit. and a nest of potatoes was baking in the hot ashes below. The girls were joyfully well comed. Uncle Peter chuckled aloud at the sight of the eruIlers made after his mothers time-honored recipe. The two young Strikers extended hospita- ble invitation to their meal. even now in process of preparation.
 Leon shot the turkey yesterday by Lone Lake, said Tom. And it's prime one, you bet. Rather nicer than the salt codfsh we had reckoned on."
 But Esther declined to stay.
 'I'll just take a look at the sugar kettles," said she. and then hurry back to mother. We're going to have the parsons folks to tea. and there's deal to do."
 Leonidas Striker escorted her to the largest kettle of all. ordinarily called Big Ben." and gave her the monster stick to stir the bubbling waves of sweetness,
 There" said he. you can say you've helped to sugar off this year. Isn't it splendid yield? And maple sugars going to be high this season! Oh. you better stay, Esther. there's lot of young folks coming up this afternoon. and Darky Jones is to be here with his tiddle.'
 ''Oh. l couldn t. possibly!' said Esther. In truth and in fact she had not been quite at her ease since Jessamine's un- lucky alluslon to Othello in conjunc- ton with Mr Jefferson; and she did not breathe freely again until she had reached home. where her mother was just clearing away the dinner dishes.
 Has anyone been here?" said she.
 Who should be here?" counter questioned Mrs. Elmford. Il don't ex- pect Elder Morris folks until four o'clock.
 As Esther took off her things in the little chamber upstairs. where the shin- gled roof sloped down to the caves she glanced down at the engagement fin ger Terror of terrors. the sparkling little ring was goDe
 It was past four o'clock. Mrs Nor ris was droning away in the sitting room about the last missionary box which had been sent ont to the Hougara Indian reservations; Miss Adelgitha Morris was admiring her hostess most recent crazy patchwork; the two little Morrises were playing checkers. and the good elder himself was laying down tonnes of theological law to Farmer Elmford; while Esther, with tear-swollen eyes. was mixing a batch of biscuits for tea in the kitchen. All of sudden she caught sight of John Jefferson riding past on his gray pony, with ayerted face. In an in- stant she caught down the shawl that hung on the peg back of the buttery door. and muffiing it around her head and shoulders, darted across the snowy backward where she could intercept her lover at the curve of the road.
 Jack Jack.' she cried piteously. i've lost it! Your ring! Oh. Jack. do i