Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1896-03-25


doubt if she ever did that, for Jessie was
her pet, her baby she called her,-but
spent her time trying to quiet her. And
| know who did itp Jessie had sobbed,
it was that cousin of his! Nonsense !.
said her mother; who put such foolish
notion as that iuto your head? Then
Jessie told her that we had quarrelled
the night before, because | had caught
him playing the spy; And, said my IN
formant, Mr.. Watson, don't you know |
shared that girls belief, and if you had
died, old man, I'd have elapped that
cousin of yours into Jail before he could
have turned around twice. You're per-
fectly sure it was negro, are you ? Per
fectly,' | answered, looking him squarely
in the eyes, Il saw him distinctly well,
I'm glad to hear you say that, but it did
look suspicious about Arthur | swear ii
did,-his leaving so early, and all that.
And he never bore you any liking as you
well know, and if | do say it myself, he
is not much too good for a job Ike that.
4 fear you are rather hard on Arthur, |
said. well, maybe l am,-anyhow,
when he comes back, III Try to treat him
a little more civily, just because did sus-
pect him of this thing.
"Well, Jessie had gone back to her
home near Washington about five days
later, some weeks before | was permitted
to see anyone. But her letters, as have
said, came nearly every day. | had got
ten many letters from girls before; in
fact was corresponding with fully doz.
en- girls at the time; but none of their let
ters were like those which were now
brought me from Jessie Marsion. OF
course | was in love with her, and this
made them seem sweet, and true and ten
der and all that.
"The first note | wrote her, scrawled
with a pencil, as lay on my back, prop
ped up with pillows, was to ask her if she
was in real dead earnest if she had real
lied what she was doing when she had
engaged herself to me, and if she meant
to stand by it for | must confess that |
could not help harboring doubts on this
score. Her answer reassured me. Yes,
she meant it all, she loved me, and in
tended to marry me some day too, pro-
vided l would permit her to do $3.50
she expressed it but that she was young
yet, only seventeen the coming March,
and so the engagement would be necessa-
rily long one. l was forced to Own that
this was best, since l still had year
ahead of me before taking my bachelor
degree, and then needed two more years
to get through the law had resolved to
study.
80 the time passed on, not so unpleas-
antly after all, And while l recovered
from my cuts and bruises, my ankle too
was having a good chance to heal.
But one day, about week after Ar
TIERS departure, all was changed. The
regular letter failed to arrive. Three
days passed without any letter, and Eben,
who went TO the mail, as regularly as
clockwork, and hurried home after it was
opened, was scarcely less distressed than
|. Then came letter. Such a letter
Something told me that it contained bad
news before | opened st. 1t was address
ed in Jesse's hand, but so different from
her accustomed smooth, pretty writing
| tore it open. Heavens, how ! suffered
in reading that letter She still loved me,
YES, loved me with her whole heart and
soul, she said, but must ask that | release
her from the engagement. She could
give no reason. | must not ask for one.
The engagement must be broken. 1t would
be impossible for her to act otherwise.
That I must forget all about her That
she was sure l would do so, and look on
all that had passed just as some little
summer Irritation. Doubtless had al
ready had a hundred Of them, and would
have as many more. She was glad tc
know that | was improving so rapidly
and hoped ever, so eagerly that | would
soon be out Of doors again. What car
have happened" " l cried, as threw The
letter down on the bed this Il some o
Arihur's work TOO No reflected, q
have gotten into the habit Of attributinl
, everything III that comes 70 me 20 him
He can have no hand IN this He val
up in Boston now, and, no matter wha
, ISLANDERS be might write Jessie, she woul,
not believe him. All was mystery.
read the letter through again and again
5 It was written evidently IN great agiia
= ton. It was crooked and tremulous.
called Eben and hurriediy dashed let
T. ter Of some six or more pages. implorini
- Ill 80 ,-f,t IL 4 L,r...rrr1 90 80 q.