The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-07-21
In HAlNAULT
x FOREST.
A Pathetic Story Of a Girl Who
Loved a Sailor.
oAosoAoSo1o Aoaoaoss

well, Jess WHAT'S II 10 De, Will you
come or not?"
Jessie looked up from the umbrella she
was diligently mending and thought for a
moment.
Eyes, dear, will; I'll come. It's many
| long day since I've had holiday or
been near the country. Yes, I'll come"
| Jessie stitched on and on till the UNI
| brella was finished. Then she put on her
hat and. taking her work with her, locked
l the door and went out into the noisy
4 street. She lived alone In small room
| in Mile End road, London, with the peo-
1 pie who owned the house and worked
hard for a small umbrella shop which
was near at hand. A delicate girl, she
| often had trouble to keep herself from
| starvation and illness, but she was scru-
pulously neat and economical, and her lit
| tie room had an air of homelike bright
ness, very rare in such neighborhood.
Her friend, Clara Ridley, was at the
station to meet her and gave her cor
| dial welcome. They walked three miles
to the rustic home, Jessie drinking in
every sight and sound, and as she laugh
ed and talked in girlish freedom lovely
color stole into her pale cheeks.
''Now, this Is Barkingside, where we
live. Do you see that pretty inclosed
place? 1t is home for girls. 1t Is very
pretty inside. You see, mother WIS
my own mothers only sister, and when
she found out after long time that I'd
been brought up in a home she was very
upset and would have me live with her
and help about the farm. There's lots
to do"
Next morning at the little village
church her heart beat rapidly as the
sight of exquisite flowers and the SOUND
Of the organ burst upon her. CHANGING
across the church to look at the people,
her eyes were arrested by two candid
blue ones shaded by long fair lashes. 1t
was an open, manly, yet boyish face, sun
burned and freckled, with large, smil-
ing mouth and broad forehead. He was
sailor. She colored when his eyes again
met hers. The face he saw was an inter-
esting one, not pretty, but pure in color
and outline, and the veil of sadness and
WEAKNESS which hung over 1t compelled
second glance.
When the service was over, the girls
stood at the gate waiting for friends OF
Clara's. Suddenly she touched Jessiea
arm.
"Jess, Jess, dc you see that sailor COM
ing to speak to us? He is Fred Harding.
Shall | tell him who you are? He lives
in that nice house over there"
Before Jessie had time to reply the
sailor had shaken hands with Clara and
was looking at her friend.
"Jess, this is Mr., Harding and this is
Miss Carter, Fred, friend of mine"
They walked on togeth toward
before thew parted at the gate had mr..
ranged to walk to Hainault forest to.
eether TINT afternoon. Jessie was nj
most brilliantly happy. She chatted and
smiled and sang and looked yery pretty
in her rladness.
II was very warm weather for April.
and the Young people were glad TO reach
the shelter and coolness of the trees and
wander slowly down the grassy forest
path till thew were lost in its depths.
Jessie wandered on and on. and the
sailor followed. They were free and
happy, for the LIGHT of love was dawninp
at last on Jessie's lonely life,
The sailor had tea with them, They
went to church together and strolled
home in the clear moonlight. Jessie's hol-
iday was over, but the next morning, as
she stepped into the train for Bow road,
laden with flowers aud some homemade
cakes, she was the manifest girl in east
London. She had learned from Clara
that Fred Harding was waiting for n
shin bound for Australia and that his
father was well to do farmer,
Before long Clara asked her to 20 to
Rarkipgside again. and she stinted hor-
self. in food to nav her train fare. She
and Fred Harding met sometimes in
London too. She looked n different girl
md in spite of occasional fosts grew
stronger and better and her eyes and
checks became bright with heo,th
But by and by the serpent crept into
Paradise in the shane of an uneasy con.
science. Fred Harding, like the other
members of his family. was very nroud
of his respectability. He was honorable
and straiphtforward. but uncomnromis.
inelv hard on ANYTHING or onv one be
Thought underbnnd or moan When los.
sic considered tbis she thouybt of ba,
own life and how LITTLE he knew of If
and she tremblpd for the love which now
ueld her 90 closely She consulted Clara
ooh what nonsense. less Don't tal,
him ANYTHING iii vor'ra morr;ed n you
toka INV advice vou wont ue,d forc;vo