Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1899-05-18
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"Jessie. my dear Gerard Ames has
been TO see me, and now he wishes to
speak with you.
The young girl addressed looked up
from the book she had been reading and
said
ayes, know what he came for, but
it can never be. What did You tell him.
papa p
"Why. my child. l thought you
loved him. so l gave himTmy consent
and told him he would have little trou-
BILE in obtaining yours. the father re-
piled. why are you not gay and hap
by, like other girlsa You have every
thing you wish for, yet you look sad
most of the time, he said after a few
moments silence
"Papa. don't question me, and please
don't urge me to marry. when tell you
it is impossible. .
"But. child" her father replied,
"he's handsome, talented and wealthy.
and you told me you loved him"
"Papa, were he perfect Apollo and
/ loved as woman never loved before
could not marry him.
Mental pain was depicted on her
every feature, but the hard lines about
the mouth told her father she was reso-
lutte.
"Well, well, deary," he said. "don't
feel badly about it. Papa isn't in any
hurry to get rid of his darling, but go
down and see Mr.. Ames. and guess it
will come out right
"Jessie. have you thought about
this2'
Eyes, Gerard, / have; still the mat
ter needed no thought. | can never
marry any one, was Jessie's reply to
the above question.
They were walking on the beach the
night after Jessies conversation with
her father Gerard had asked her to
think over it and give her answer the
next night, and she complied with his
request, although she knew her decision
must be the same, They walked on in
silence for some moments. then Jessie
said
Gerard, you asked me last night
the reason of my refusal, and | objected
to giving it. but now think you have
right to know We will sit down here,
and i will tell you the secret of my past
life. | was wild. thoughtless girl and
caused papa so much trouble that he
decided TO send me away to school. He
thought it would improve me. but
when | returned home for vacation
papa found he was doomed to disap-
pointment for was still a romp. After
/ graduated | remained some time at
school, waiting for papa and Minnie to
stop for me. on their way TO Saratoga.
A number of the girls remained also,
and some of us made up our minds to
have mock wedding; so we invited
some young men with whom we were
acquainted from military school near
by to come over on night when the
The girls decided on me for bride
One of them had friend who. she said
had before officiated as clergyman in a
wedding ceremony. and she was to ask
him to come.
1.-The evening came, and the teachers
| departed. | was arrayed in as elaborate
trousseau az could be got up in such
short time We went down in the
parlor. and the bridal party took their
places. When we did so. a strange fear
of something, | knew not what, took
possession Of me. but / feared the ridi-
cule of the girls if | should refuse to
go on.
when the ceremony was finished.
turned to receive the mock congratula-
tions that were to have been offered
but heard instead the whisper:
=" He is an ordained minister
For some moments L could hardly
comprehend my situation; then some
! body explained to me that Edith Morse
thinking it would be very romantic to
have a real wedding. had hired a
clergyman To perform the ceremony.
| giving him to,believe it was a real we'd
ding For the sake of his feelings it
WASH I told till after he was gone
"At last the truth flashed upon me,
and when / thought of the consequences
of my folly fell fainting to the floor
| | was taken home and nursed through
lingering illness, and none but my
companions knew the cause of il. Papa
thought it was brought on from too
much study. lose from my bed an al
tered girl. and my sorrow and repent
ence have been deep Gerard. | am
somebody's wife. -
He had been listening more like one
reviewing past scenes than hearing a
new and strange story. and now he
sprang up. exclaiming
Jessie, you are my-my wife, |,
too was the dupe of that mischief max
ing Edith Morse, who. when she found
felt so badly about it. told us that
you were dead Jessie. will You be my
bride second time T.
For a few moments they stood there
silently; then Jessie placed her hand in
Gerard s and said
Eyes "
There is to be wedding in few
weeks Her father says he knew Jessie
would get over her foolishness and that
/ Gerard Ames would bring ii all right ;"