The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-02-09
HOW JESS PROPOSED

somebody whom Jess lovingly called Ned
for stealing my little Jess heart, and ono
day told her SO.
We were sitting together in tho 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. I had been spend
ing q week with my friend, n whole sweet
delightful week, SO like the old college
days again-without any Ned to spoil (for
me) its happy hours.
1t was Saturday afternoon, and Ned
was expected up from New York on tho 9
O'Clock train. was sorry. jess was in
the seventh heaven Of sweet anticipation.
She was looking her best, which means
that sho was looking bewitchingly lovely.
There was the lovelight in her Dyes, those
great, soft, brown eyes, and loves emblem
ono deep red rosc-in her hand, and us
She sat at my side, with hor fnco partly
turned from inc, knew that she was
thinking Of Ned.
My diro threat OF being unforgiving
seemed to affect her but little, for sho
laughed merrily ut mo. Perhaps she knew
me too we'll to believe mo, or perhaps sho
trusted confidently to Ned's Irresistible
charms and powers to melt my heart.
"At any rato," added, "you're such O
dear little creature, Jess that If this
knight of yours Is not all and far moro
than your love pictures him I don't see
how he ever had tho assurance to make
love to you"
"But suppose he didn't?" suggested
Jess, turning toward mo with merry
twinkle in her eyes.
Didn't WHAT" asked
why, mako love- to mo Suppose
did it--that is, first, you know" she said,
with n blush.
"Jcss,'N I exclaimed, "what do you
meant"
She nestled close to me, linked her pretty
arm within mine and said: "I'll tell you
how it happened
You know that about year ago In
herited snug little fortune from my
grandfather. and that, besides this, my
parents arc rich. Not u bad state to be
In, you'll allow. Quite enviable in fact,
and yet I'd scatter my riches to the four
winds IL thought that they would ovor
again come between mo and tho truest,
noblest"- And hore was compelled to
curb my curiosity and listen to q spirited
eulogy on tho virtues of Ned.
We met last winter Mt Lakewood, and
from the first day that I saw Ned and his
companions 1 felt peculiar interest in
them. Not n matter of love at first sight
Mt all, but just as said, IAN interest,"
such as ono feels in group ono meets in
railroad car or in an afternoons walk
There were three of them-two BOYS,
lads OF about IL and 14-tho jolliest, heart
lest boys 1 have over met. Handsome fell
lows, too-porhaps bit too fair, but with
such glorious compilations, and such clear,
frank, blue eyes, and forms that wore
sturdy and strong. There was every in.
dication of wealth in their dress. 1t was
n fir,ny ,ntn tnI h. Ia
out stint. They wero brothers, know at
glance.
"The other ono Of tho group was q
young man, their senior by 10 or 10 years.
lie, too, was handsome, but of quito an.
other type. His hair and eyes were dark
and hiscomplexion inclined to be swarthy.
He certainly was not brother to the bows.
BESIDES, his clothes told u story very diff
ferent from theirs. His linen was i'm
maculate, his clothes we'll pressed, but IL
was evidently many moons since they had
loft the hands of tho tailor, and hard serv.
Ice had made them too familiar with the
severity of tho whisk.
One day learned that he was tutor to
the boys, and was struggling to pay his
way through college, and--well, it was
JUST ike me to feel u deeper interest than
ever. wanted to do something for him.
Don't imagine that WIS romantic enough,
to fall ia love with the poor tutor then
and there Nothing Of the sort We merely
exchanged oommonplaces when we met
and although onco or twice caught him
looking at mo across tho dinner tabls
there was nothing in the expression of his
grave, dark eyes that caused any unusual
nutterings In my heart.
"a decided friendship, however. had
sprung up be&a.eon the youngerof the two
boys and ina. One day, while we were
Nalklng together, our conversation fell
upon his studies He spoke French fluent
AZ, and regrotfully confessed that I was
Not SO thorough in 1t as should like to be.
- Oh, why DON'T you come to our class
esp he said. L know that Dir. Morris
would be pleased to have YOU And
DON'T know just how 1t came abont, but
one morning tho boys tutor invited mo to
the class in French. went. I went
! again The noxt morning. became reg.
ular attendant at French and Latin and
hterature. became thoroughly fasci-
mated with my studies. loved to read and
10 Write With u new love and a new zeal.
All Went Gloriously for awhile then sud.
denly 1t became evident to mo that soma
thlng was wrong, something was the mat
Ter didn't hear half that was said, |
0lundered In my answers, felt Ill ut case,
aud the 'Amo Amas, Ainat' seemed to
send great pain through my heart, and
well, 1 decided to give up the classes
MIR. Norris said that he was sorry, and
that vas the end OF it all. -
jess paused moment, and thought |
that she had finished her story. "But |
Ned. We wero speaking Of Ned, you |
KNOW" l suggested.
Yes, f" sho continued, Il know. had !
not forgotten But up to that time had