Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1897-05-13

MS ,ueth swung lO ulduuOlll. IOhi
! his shoulder fell no cloak Of ruby vel
vet. Not stalwart statured was he, nor
raven haired. nor flashing eyed. Not
the grand creation of her girlhOOd's s
sweet foolish dreams, in truth, his riv-
ais would have said, Il very ordinary
young man. But he had come! Jessica's S
heart gave a great throb. \ true wonl-
an, though, ego, an arch-hypocrite, she
put her hand in his with an air of cool
surprise, touch of wellbred reproof
in her greeting
And you are-Mr. Sutherland"
Neither had in any way suggested the
odd relation in which they tacitly stood
to each other. Both felt the chain that
bound them, for all its massive golden
links very frail and brittle one in the
passionate strength of youthful i'm
pulse. Neither would be slow to fling
it off if the bandage proved oppressive,
However, it did not. The childish, ig-
nOrant, romantic affection which had
been smoldering in their hearts since
the sOrrowful parting Of the playmates,
at word, touch, a look, blaZed up
into pure and strong and steady
flame. OF his courtship Jack Suther-
land made short work Putting aside
the understanding between their faith
ers like the man he was he wooed her
for her own sweet sake.
Just two nights ago he had told her
in hiS nyrr 1irnnt fashion hn1,- Jno,I,,
he loved her. And Jessica-well, last
evening had come the sapphire ring
that-only last evening and to-day this.
If Miss Murphys neat little shell
had not brought death it had caused
pain akin to it.
It's the money" moaned Jessica.
Its the horrid detestable money he
wants. 1t isn't mew And then n face
with clear brown eyes and kind.
grave smile arose before her and she
broke down crying afresh.
But after awhile she sprang up. rub
bing two very small resolute fists in
two very pink eyes. Il won't sec him
tonight. And I'll be in the library at
10. And I'll hear what else he has to
no. ! won't! l won't eavesdrop. But
I'll look my very loveliest-I WILL
willw
And she did.
AS she came up the parlors at Mrs.
Bryant's small and early" Miss Muir
phy-always first on the field--looked
mt her in amaZement. Quite beWitch-
ing vision little Miss Ray tonight. rose
Tipped, star-eyed, smiling. her slim,
dusk draperies of lace trailing softly
behind her, a huge cluster of violets at
her bosom. 1t was after 10 before she
could escape from her companion and
make her way to the library. Her
hand ON the portiere dividing that
apartment from the morning room. she
paused.
Voices. She didn't intend to caves
drop. OF course, it was unintentional-
all was said and over so quickly.
Equally of course it was dishonorabl
but | think as a rule we are not ant TO
consider questions of honor with ex-
treme nicely when our hearts are very
sore.
I've decided to take her." Jacks
quiet voice was saying. wearily. Its
the only thing can do now"
Ned spoke.
shes skittish, | know, but (by way
of consolation) she may outgrow that"
Jessica groaned involuntarily. Jack
glanced toward the curtain.
well, drop the subject" In lower
voice: keep it dark, like a good boy.
don't want people to know am such
n young fool as to be taken in by a
bag of bones. all paint and drugs"
Jessica was plump as partridge,
and her complexion was "bloom" pat
ented by natures self The morning
room was unlit save from the hall.
Thank goodness for that! She felt her.
self growing faint and dizzy. Was that
Jack who talked so-could it be-her
Jack?
30. come now! laughed Ned. "you
know You are eXaggerating. She's not
quite as bad as that.
Pretty nearlyw ruefully. 81 don't
so much mind her skittishness-I could
break her Of that, fiatter myself-but
she has n terrible temper.'
She must not faint, Jessica told her
self frantically. o. she must not. Was
that dark thing beside her in the shad-
ow of the portiere fauteuil. She sank
down on it heavily, weakly. exhausted
ly. Horror of horrors! 1t at first sue
cumbed II second to her weight, then
moved, protested with vigorous ener-
gy, shrieked
All faintness banlshed. Jessica leaped
to her feet, her soft. quick cry of alarm
mingling with that muffied roar Of
rheumatic agony.