The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1897-04-21

Such girl But then one never coul
rs understand Jessica Ray Miss Murph
thought it was time to go With tn
lc cessation of conversation concernin
personal affairs her interest died mai
ural death, She was averse to wadin
II in foreign waters. The inodorous poe
scummed over with village scandal sui
l. feed her, She feared aught else,
"Good-by, my dear" with a bewilder
n ed shake of the tinseled bonnet Il an
so sorry had to tell you Life is full
S of unpleasant duties. l never Ike t
interfere in other peoples affairs
Charity | always say; charity an,
silence If there is anything partic
ularly detest It is tale-hearing Well
as | said, I must be going. Good-by
my dear. I'm so glad you don't mind.
"Good-by," cordially.
We all thought pausing at the door
for a parting thrust, that it was to be
not only a marriage de CONVEYANCE
but genuine love affair on both sides.
Indeed! - said Jessica, brightly arch
ing her pretty brows
And then at last the door closed on
her visitors bread black-silk back
The blitheness born Of bravado died
out of lltue Miss Rays face. She went
slowly back to the rose-ribboned rock
er and sat down therein for a good,
heartsick, discontinued, mortified, mis-
cradle cry. When she had been very,
very young and charming, and Jack
/ sutherland an awkward lad of ten,
their fathers had planned a marriage
in the future. The planning stood, by
/ the way, upon an agreeably substantial
/ basis, looking at the affair from a fnan-
clal point Of view. Soon after Jack s
father had died and Jack had gone TO
] live with his mothers relatives in Eng
tand. He carried with him the memory
OF pair Of sweet eyes, for all the world
like big, blue dew-wet forget-me-nots,
for Wee Jessica had parted from her
playmate with particularly tender and
protesting farewell. Twelve years
passed Neither chafed-as in novel
istic traditions bound-against the
paternal decision of their childhood. Ne
fair English maiden displaced his first
love in Jacks loyal heart. As for jess
sica, she had grown to think of Jack
as a hero who was coming across the
sea to claim her. When she antici-
pated that coming before her minds
eye forth pranced a snowy charger
bearing plumed knight.
On day, just two weeks ago it was.
she went down to the drawing room in
response to the servants announcement |
A gentleman standing in the window
turned at her entrance. He came swift |
ly forward both hands extended, his |
face Frightening with gay admiration
1T is-it is-littie Jessica."
She knew him then. Without cur
yeted no splendid steed. BY his side
swung no jeweled scabbard Around
his neck was 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 girl
hoods sweet foolish dreams, in truth
his rivals would have said, very or
binary young man.. But he had come!
Jessicas heart gave a great throb. A
true woman, though, ego, an arch
she put her hand in his with
an air of cool surprise, touch of we'll
bred 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 a very trail and brittle
one in the passionate strength of
impulse. Neither would be
ilow to fling it off if the bandage proved
however, it did not. The
ignorant, romantic affection
which had been smoldeFing in their
hearts since the sorrowful parting of |
he playmates, at a word, a touch, y
ook blazed up into pure, and strong, /
md steady flame Of his courtship {
ack Sutherland made short work. /
PUTTING aside the understanding be- L
ween their fathers like the man he d
vas, he woed her for her own sweet
AXE. Just two.nights ago he hal iold q
er in his own direct fashion how dear
y he loved her. And Jessica-well, last
yening had come the sappulre ring
last evening and to-day S
his! I
If Miss Murphy's neat little shell had
ot brought death it had caused pain Il
kin to it, k
Its the money!" moaned Jessica. O.
It's the horrid detestable money he b
ANTS. 1t isn't me-" And then face o
18th clear brown eyes and a kind grave g
mile arose before her and she broke ST
own crying afresh. a
But after awhile she sprang up rub II
ing two small resolute fists in two al
cry pink eyes. 81 won't see him to- fc
ight And I'll be in the library at 10.
nd III hear what else he has to--No ST
won't, l won't eayesdrop. But I'll ia
ok my very loveliest--I will will" Ii
And she did. tn
As she came up the parlors at Mrs. OF
ryants small and early Miss Muir ca
ly-always first On the feld-looked 1t
her in amazement Quite a bewltch- IN
g vision little Miss Ray tonight, 81
se-lpped, star-eyed smiling, her slim, oV
lsk draperies Of lace trailing softly 10
hind her, a huge cluster of violet5 It's
the bosom. II was after 10 before ST.
e could escape from her companion II
ID make her way to the library. Her ell
and on the portiere dividing that hr
from the morning room, she WI
used FIR
yyoicog cbo didn'+ fr4o,1 a., ao.