The Portland daily press., 1900-01-05

that she would tell her sweetheart every
thing. She could not let him go away
thinking better Of her than she deserved.
She could not see those honest blue eyes
look so truly into hers and know that she
was hiding secrets deep down In her
heart.
II was long walk from Ilford to
Hainault forest, but far too short for low
srs who would meet no more for months.
The clouds had parted little at sight OF
Fred's bright face. and Jessie was able to
look happy and to chatter almost as mer-
rily as usual. When they reached the
forest, they sat down, and Fred brought
out some dainties which he had bought
Tor his little sweetheart. But 1t was late
In the summer, and the rays Of the set
ting sun glinting red and gold through
the leaves warned them that they must
not linger. Fred looked at his watch.
and Jessie's heart stood still. She had
suddenly decided to tell him now, before
they left the shelter Of the dear forest.
where he and she had spent 30 many
happy hours.
Fred"
"well, Jess. dear
81 have something to tell you. Hold
my hand and promise you won't be an
CRY. 1t IL hard TO tell you, but l must.
because II IL right and because you are
going away. You have never asked me
who am and where was brought up"
why, of course not. You are Clara's
friend, and l know who she 10 and that
her aunt wouldn't let her associate with
any one who liz not respectable"
Jessie gasped.
but don't you know that I live all
alone In London and work very hard at
umbrella msndingr'
"Oh, yes, know you do. poor little wo-
man. My heart has often ached for you.
and I long for the time when can take
you away from all that. When we're mar
ried you shall live In pretty cottage
near my mother. perhaps after this voy-
age
"Oh, Fred, stopl When you know all.
you will not want to marry me. 10 you
know my mother is deadT'
"Yes. Clara told me you were an or
phan and have been cared for by some
kind lady who set you up in your present
work. and all that"
as that what Clara said? She did not
tell you the truth. am not an orphan.
Ny mother died OF consumption when l
was a baby, and was brought up In
home in London, because
well, whyf" said Fred In a hard
voice.
because my father Is convict. Hs
is at Dartmoor."
Jessie spoke steadily. but her face was
CHASTITY and her breath labored. Fred
Harding rose slowly from beside her. he
droppsd her hand and clinched his own.
He set his teeth, and his face was as
CHASTITY as hers.
"Jessie," he said sternly, "from this
moment all is over between us. don't
| care what has passed before. You have
deceived me, and I'm not going to marry
| a conviet's daughter"
He turned in passionate haste and left
Jessie alone In the forest. When she saw
him go, she stretched out her arms I'M
ploringly.
Erred, Fred, come back. II you knew
how love you, you would come back!
| He only hurried on the faster Then
| Jessie knew all was oyer-her dreams,
her love, her hope, everything She sat
long as he had left her till the darkness,
becoming more and more dense, warned
her to hurry from the forest, and the
lonely girl returned to her now doubly
lonely drudgery.
Fred's ship sailed the next day. That
was all she knew. She saw nothing OF
u,
Barkingside herself. The weary months
dragged on. Her cough grew worse.
| She could not eat, and she could hardly
do her work.
One day about four months after Jes-
sizes parting from Fred some one knock
| ed at the door of her room. Clara opened
| the door TO see her friend lying on the
| bed near the window, colorless, dying.
| Her white hand loosely held a bunch OF
yiolets, and her dark eyes, bright with
| fever, were fixed on the window, from
where she could see peep Of the sky.
"Oh, Jessie, what's the matterT
Jessie tried to answer, but coughed In
| stead.
I'm dying" she gasped.
Clara impulsively threw herself on her
knees by the bed and burst into tears.
Jessie laid her hand gently on her head.
Don't cry. Clara. I'm glad now.
Fred gave me up, and ! couldn't live
without him."
"Oh, I'm sorry, but you shall come to
| our house now and get better"
II shall be better, Clara. l can't live
| long / only want to live till Fred's ship
comes back. l want to hear him say he
| forgiyes me-"
Its not for him to forgive" said
| Clara angriy.
at is, Clara. knew him. knew his
| honesty, his passionate temper, and yet
deceived him all that time"
| Jessie, Jessie, don't die. He'll soon be
here. and III make him forgive you and
come to you. and then you'll be better"
| "No. dear, he won't forgive me. But
want you to tell him l love him just the
same. And, Clara, will you do something
for me? Will you take this money to
your misunderstanding out little packet
from underneath her pillow-"and ask
him IL there is enough to bury me at
Barkingside. l want to lie there near
Fred's home. And when he comes from
sea and hears I am dead, perhaps he will
| forgive me and think OF me as being very
near. He will perhaps sometimes put
flower on my grave. Mrs. Merrall gave
me this to buy things to eat. She has
often been to see me since she heard
was i'll, and we talk over the old days at
| the home.