Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-02-07
HOW JESS PROPOSED.

l could never quite forgive certain
somebody whom Jess lovingly called Ned
for stealing my little Jess heart, and one
day told her so.
We were sitting together in the ham
mock that swung gently to and fro be-
tween stately elms in the midst of the
beautiful flower garden of Jess Sheldon's
summer homo at Rye. 1 had been spend
ing week with my friend, awhole sweet
delightful week so like the old college
days again-wthout any Ned to spoil (for
me) its happy hours
1t was Saturday afternoon, and Ned
was expected up from New York on the
O'Clock train. / was sorry Jess was in
the seventh heaven of sweet anticipation.
She was looking her best, which means
that she was looking bewitchingly lovely.
There was the lovelight in her eyes, those
great soft, brown eyes, and loves emblem
One deep red rose-in her hand, and as
she sat at my side, with her face partly
turned from me- l knew that she was
thinking of Ned.
My diro threat of being unforgiving
seemed to affect her but little, for she
laughed merrly at me. Perhaps she knew
me too well to believe me, or perhaps she
trusted confidently to Ned's irresistible
charms and powers to melt my heart.
"At any rate" added, you're such a
dear little creature, jess, that If this
knight of yours is not all and far more
chan your love pictures him l don't see
how he ever had the assurance to make
love to you"
"But suppose he didnt:" suggested
Jess, turning toward me with "a merry
twinkle in her eyes.
Didn't WHAT" l asked.
"Why, make love- to me Suppose
did it-thnt is, first, you know" she said,
with a blush.
Jess" l exclaimed, what do you
xnean?"
She nestled close to me, linked her pretty
arm within mine and said: "I'l tell you
how it happened.
You know that about year ago in
herited a snug little fortune from my
grandfather. and that, besides this, my
parents are rich. Not bad state to be
In, you'll allow. Quite cnviable, in fact,
and yet I'd scatter my riches to the four
winds if thought that they would ever
again come between me and the truest,
noblest - And here l was compelled to
curb my curiosity and listen to IA spirited
eulogy on the virtues of Ned.
from the first day that l saw Ned and his
companions l felt peculiar interest in
them. Not n matter of love at first sight
ut all, hut just as l said, AN interest -
such as one feels in group one meets in
a railrOaH car or in an afternoons walk.
There were three of them-two boys,
lads of about II and l4-the jolliest heart
lest boys have ever met. Handsome fell
lows, too-perhaps bit too fair, but with
such glorious compleXions and such clear,
frank, blue eyes, and forms that were
sturdy and strong. There was every in
dicatiOn of wealth in their dress. 1t was
of fine material, the latest cut, and with
out stint. They were brothers, knew at
n glance.
The other one of the group was a
young man, their senior by 10 or ~ years.
lie, too, was hanGrome, but of quite an
other type. His hair and eyes were dark
and his complexion inclined to be swarthy.
He certainly was not brother to the boys
Besides his clothes told story very Off
ferent from theirs. His linen was i'm
lnaculate his clothes well pressed, but it
WAS evidently many moons since they had
left the hands of the tailor, and hard serv
ice had made them too familiar with the
severity of the whisk.
cone day | learned that he was tutor to
the boys, and was struggling to pay his
way through college, and-well, it was
Just like me to feel deeper interest than
ever. | wanted to do something for him.
Don't imagine that was romantic enough
10 fall in love with the poor tutor then
and there. Nothing of the sort. We merely
exchanged commonplaces when we met
and although once or twice | caught him
looking at me across the dinner table
Thpra DOthintr in fba nvD of hic
grave, dark eyes that caused any unusual
hutterings in my heart.
"A decided friendship, however, had
sprung up between the younger of the two
boys and me. One day, while we were
talking together, our conversation fell
upon his studies. He spoke French fluent
ly, and regretfully confessed that was
not 50 thorough in it as should like to be.
"'Oh, why don't you come Co our class
esp he said. Il know that Mr.. Morris
would be pleased to have you And
don't know just how it came about, but
one morning the boys tutor invited mo to
the class in French. / went. | went
again the next morning / became "A reg
ular attendant at French and Latin and
literature. became thoroughly fasci-
mated with NY studies. l loved to read and
10 write with new love and "a new zeal.
All went gIoriuus!y for awhile; then sud
denly it became evident to me that some
thing was wrong, something was the mat
ter. | didn't hear half that was said,
blundered in my answers, felt i'll at case,
ana the 'Amo, Amas, AInat' seemed to
send great pain through my heart, and
we'll l decided to give up the classes,
Mr. Morris said that he was sorry and
that was the end of it all. "
jess paused moment, and l thought
shat she had finished her story. "Bul
Ned We were speaking of Ned, yor
know" suggested.
Yes" she continued, Il know. 1 hat
not forgotten. But up to that time ha(