The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-12

| Inc day passed, AS l again sought
my bed it was still tomorrow that filled
my thoughts She had leaned upon my
arm at the hill; she had given me her
hand, tiny, warm hand. as we clam
bered along the rocky terraces that
shelved down to the waters edge: her
breath had famed my cheek when she
looked over my shoulder at a sketch to
which had drawn her attention. Yet
from the morrow l hoped still more.
wanted her confidence.
Four weeks had passed. Nay, four
years it seemed, crowded with incident
and remembrances: and yet. as looked
back. 1t seemed after all more like four
minutes. We were leaving. Austin and
I. on the morrow. 1t was my last even
ing with Jesse--I mean Miss Farren.
We had sought the snug retreat that
was so dear to me by then. The part
ing loomed close--a black spectre over
sbadowng the happiness of our last
few hours. For all | knew, | might
never see her again. and I could not
bear to think that she was dropping
out of my life, and that tomorrow l
| should listen for her voice in vain. OH
how passionately ] loved her! AS we
sat there in the twilight, with the part
| ing so near, my heart cried out for
more time. more of the precious hours
of my holiday.
She was quiet; I thought more than
usually so. AS / bent nearer to her I
| saw that in her eyes which made nv
heart glad. 1t was love.
| jessie l said, forgetting in my
! bind haste that I had no right to use
mat name, Jessie, tell me what is in
. your heart. ] love you. Do let me help
YOU. 1t pains me to see you bearing
a burden that you will not let me share
am burning to do something to help
| you, ana this inaction maddens me-
| DO tell me-you can trust me-"
| TOOK one of her hands i'm silence
Her full, well-deep eyes, brimming with
| tears. met mine. The drops trickled
down her cheek till, taking her hand
from mine, she covered her face, and
| sobbed.
1t was more than / could bear; my
own eyes Were wet. What can u man
do? L did all | could. l drew her to
me. l comforted her, and kissed her
tears away.
Scof ye whose hearts are cold;
what cared | SO that my darling was
| comforted?
| Presently her sobbing died away. She
sought my hand with hers. Then in
a voice, broken, but yet sweet. tender
and touching, she said:
Listen, Hugh, / love you. God
knows how truly. can no longer tell
you all-then. goodby forever. No.
no. as | entreated, there can be no
more between us. l tell you my story
because | love you, because trust you.
! Oh! Hugh, if you only knew what the
| last year has brought me, you would
pity me. But l will tell you ALL
| My father, Presbyterian minister,
and my mother died ten years ago.
| We were in Kent then. My brother
Jack and / were left, and we knew of
no friends but an aunt in London, and
| this distant relative. Mrs. Tremornc.
Poor Jack! He was dear old boy. and
| were more brother and sister to each
| other than ia often the case: he was
my playmate, my protector and, by
virtue of his two years seniority. my
| counsellor and guide. We went to
| London. and Jack obtained a good
| berth with large firm of contractors.
| ! kept home for him, and We lived
| happily and comfortably together.
| Then came the blow that shattered
| ''' i'ilO anu SNdNltltil thul comfort To
the four winds Jack was dishonored.
My Jack. whose honesty and straight
| forwardness | could have answered for
with my life was turned ANONYMOUSLY
| away, his name blemished before all
| men.
| His firm had done no business of
| late. No matter what contract they
| estimated for. a certain other firm was
! hA
| hands We're crying out, and the heads
of the firm sent in a contract at n Ioss
/ simply To keep their name forward and
| give the hands something to do. Even
then the rival firm was below them,
and secured the contract Foul play
was suspected. A fellow clerk report
I'd that he had seen Jack enter the Of
fic" of the rival firm, and had watched
! him leaving an hour later. Jack was
| in confidential position, and as no
! other than he and the partners had
| access to the private book in which the
| contract prices were entered, the blame
| fell ON him. He protested his innO-
| cence, telling them that he had never
| been at the house in question. He was
| dishelieved and dismissed Poor Jackl
| He has gone to the Cape now; nor will
| he return To England until the stain is
| removed Meanwhile, the clerk who
dld the injury has stepped To Jacks
| position, and Messrs. Martel x Mar
tell are going ON ahead"
| 'MeSsrs. Who?'' ! cried interrupting,
whole host of recollections crowding
| through my brain.
"Messrs. Martell q Marten: but
what is the matter with you? You
are i'll, Oh, Hugh, what is it,"
do you know the name of their
! rivals?" ] answered.
"Sprightly. Son * Howard, Limited"
| she answered.
And the clerks ?"
well, it happens, by a curious coin
cidence, to be the same as that of your
friend, Austin Goodwin"
\ curious coincidence.
I'VE will return to Mrs. Tremorne's
Jessie" ! said, holding her face be-
| tween my hands. Look me i'm the
face first, my darling. Now, if I can
clear your brothers name, will Won
promise to put away that sadness from
your eyes: will you promise to say no
more about leaving me?"
"All that and more would l promise.
but, oh! Hugh, it cannot be done now.
1t is too late"
Where there Is a will there is a
way" ! said cheerfully. Have Won
the will?"
Yes she returned bravely.
Then, l have the way" and [ bent
down and kissed her upraised lips.
You! How" she cried in astonish-