The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-05-08

| YOU may trust me dS hCA AnS'1N--o
. Miss Newell. Her horse and buggy snail
be my security; but perhaps ! had bet
ter introduce myself before we start
/ am distant relative of Mrs. Sanders,
and therefore almost OF kin to YOU
Miss Newell-by name, William rs
borne, at your service, and, for TINS
time, quite in your service, you see.
Have you trunk
"Only this telescope; but it is al
most as big as trunk" said JESSIE
smiling-a smile which the young man
thought made her about the prettiest
girl he had ever seen in his life. III
Il think we can get it in behind
though" he said. LET me try" He
swung. the heavy telescope up lightly,
and placed it firmly in the back of the
| buggy.
"There we are!" he said, cheerily.
"Now, Miss Newell, if you are ready?'
lie offered his hand, and Jessie was
soon seated by his side and they were
On the road home.
'.Now 1 have told you who I am"
asid Mr.. Osborne, laughingly, land you
Rachels. l told you she was distant
cousin, and l am making her short
visit this summer-that is ALL"
II am very glad of it," answered Jes-
sic. ut is bit lonely out here. Itw,ll
be so nice to have some young person
around while l am here"
THANK you, Miss Newell. hope YOU
,+,,, nc lo7,r flC NJ Ian ct C,'
II don't know" said Jessie, absently.
Then, with swift impulse, she sudden
IL added: "Mr. Osborne, l don't know
what you may hear about me, so ] may
as well confess the truth at once-I have
run away"
Run away?" repeated Mr.. Osborne,
irving to look grave, and not succeed
ing very well.
"Yes, I have There was an idiot COM
ing out to my aunt's to see me and
marry me, if CHANGED to suit him, for
sootb."
You don't say sol" and the merry
brown eyes OF the young man were
fixed very intensely on her flushed face
as he spoke.
81 do say so. You will be likely to
hear of it when am at Cousin Rachc's,
and so don't care if do tell you first"
And in a few rapid words she put the
case before him. ut does seem silly
in me to be telling you, who are a per-
feet stranger to me- she said, when
she had told him, "but can't help it.
You know no right-minded girl would
be married off in any such fashion, and
! had rather run than fight. so caIn,..
Mr.. Osborne laughed heartily, and
said, with his eyes sparkling:
II glory in your spunk, Miss Newell.
You did just right. | am more than de-
lighted that you have come here.
shall do my very best to help give you
pleasant visit"
THANK you," said Jessie. "Oh, there
is Cousin Ray standing or the porch
to look for us!''
She sprang from the buggy without
waiting for Mr.. Osborne's help, and met
a warm welcome from Mrs. Sanders.
She was taken at once to the pretty nest
she visited Mortified. and in ten min
utes Cousin Rachel knew why she had
run away from Aunt Jim.
1t was rather odd, but Cousin Ray
said just what N6r. Osborne had said:
"You did just right, Jess, l glory in
your spunk. l am SO glad you came
here. Now, you had better fall in love
with my cousin viii, and let Mr.. Dame
keep clear out of the question"
"Oh, he'll keep out!" answered Jess.
"But as to Mr.. Osborne don't know.
Cousin Ray. He's awful handsome!
may be little touched already" and
she gave Rachel saucy glance, which
may have accounted for that comely
matrons fit of hearty laughter, though
Jess wondered what there was SO funny
in the whole business.
When she went downstairs in a
pretty white dress and blue ribbons,
Mr.. Osborne showed his admiration in
his eyes, and Jess decided that he was
better looking without his hat than
even with it on; and he was quite hand
some enough, anyway.
The days fairly few in his society;
its was not lonesome at Mortified that
summer. Jessie wrote often to Aunt
Jim, and received letters from her; but,
somewhat TO the girls surprise, the
name of Mr.. Dame was not mentioned
at all.
Maybe heidi not go to auntie's, after
ALL" she said, to herself; ''or else she
is too vexed to tell me- about il. Well.
1 don't care. anyhow. He's nothing to
me, nor ever will be. / never want to
set eyes en- him-thc great fortune
hunter. Rightly named, he isl"
But at last Jessie knew she must go