Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1897-05-13
A TERRIBLE TEMPER.


smile charmingly confidential. lit IS
something the same way with gossip
don't you:"
1t was Miss Murphy's turn to gasp.
Such girl. But then one never could
understand Jessica Ray. Miss Murphy
thought it was time 70 go. With the
cessation Of conversation concerning
personal affairs her interest died nat
ural death. She was averse TO wadMg
in foreign waters. The inodorouS pool
scummed over with village scandal suf-
feed her. She feared aught else.
"Good-by. my dear" with q bewil-
dered shake of the tinseled bonnet. Il
am SO sorry had to tell you. Life il
full of unpleasant duties. l never like
to Interfere in other peoples affairs.
Charity | always say: charity and
silence If there is anything partic-
ularly detest it is talebearing. Well.
as l said. l must be going. Good-by.
my dear. I'm so glad you don't mind. e
"Good-by," cordially
I'VE all thought" pausing at the door
/ for parting thrust, that ii was to be
not only a marriage de CONVEYANCE.
but genuine love affair on both sides. =
Indeed" said Jess.ca, brightly arch
Ing her pretty brows.
And then at last the door closed on
her visitors broad. black silk back. The
blitheness born of bravado died out of
little Miss Rays face. She went slow
ly back to the roSe-beribboned rocker
and Sot down fbaraip FOR a ,v>,,J hoo ,.
sick. disconnected, mortified. miserabl
cry. When she had been very. very
young and charming and Jack Suther-
land an awkward lad Of 10. their faith
ers had planned a marriage in the fll-
ture. The planning stood. by the way.
upon an agreeably substantial basis.
looking at the affair from financial
point of view.
Soon after Jacks father had died and
Jack had gone to live with his mothers
relatives In England. He carried with
him the memory Of pair of sweet
eyes. for all the world like big. blue.
dewwet forget-me-nots, for wee Jes-
sica had parted from her playmate with
a particularly tender and protesting
farewell. Twelve years passed. Meth
er chafed-as in novelistic traditions
bound-aganst the paternal decision of
their childhood. No fair English maid
! EN- displaced his first love In Jack )
loyal heart. AS for Jessica. she had
grown to think of Jack as a hero who
was coming across the sea to claim her.
( When she anticipated that coming be-
fore her minds eye forth pranced a
/ snowy charger bearing a plumed
knight
/ One day. Just two weeks ago It was.
/ she went down to the drawing room in
response to the servants announce
ment. A gentleman standing in the
window turned at her entrance. He
came swiftly forward. both hands ex.
tended, his face Frightening with gay
admiration.
1T is-it is little Jessica.'
She knew him then. Without cur
veted no splendid steed BY his side
! swung no jeweled scabbard. Around
! his neck swung no mandolin. From
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
sweet foolish dreams. in truth. his riv-
ais would have said. a very ordinary
young man. But he had come. Jessica'
heart gave a great throb. A 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
1t off If the bandage proved oppressive
However, it did not. The childish. *.
norant. romantic affection which had
been smoldering in their hearts since
the sorrowful parting Of the playmates
at word. a touch, 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 hel
for her own sweet sake.
Just two nights ago he had told hel
in his own direct fashion how dearly
he loved her. And Jessica-well. last
evening had come the sapphire ring
that-only last evening and to-day this
If Miss Murphy's neat little shell
had not brought death it had caused
pain akin to it.
IT'S the money" moaned Jessica
It's the horrid detestable money he
wants. 1t isn't me.'' And then \ 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
bling two very small resolute fists In
two very pink eyes. Il won't sec him
tonight. And I'll be in the library a,
10. And I'll hear what else he has to-
no, l 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
Bryants small and early" Miss Muir
phy-always first on the field--looket
at her in amazement. Quite bewitch
ing vision little Miss Ray tonight. rse