The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-02-22

macy IN such matter as this, ana lrrn.
ton and scorn strung his voice to an eyer
shriller pitch.
James" he said scornfully. "And
what's the good of James? You're like
all other girls. Go mad on a worthless
soldier man because he's tricked out in
scarlet and gold that's no more use to him
than It's to those dahlias by you"
"Jem's good man." said Jess.
A good man, and better lover. |
s'pose. Goes away for three mortal years
and never sends so much as a postcard
to say he's alive or dead. Pretty sort of
lover to my thinkingr'
He'll come back" the girl said wist.
fully.
And what'll he find? You gone, the
Lord knows where, me in the Union and
mother in the grave. Don't waste anoth-
er thought upon him. Take a man who
loves you and can afford to keep you. Do
it, Jess"
From sheer WEAKNESS Jess seemed to
give way.
Go indoors. granddad. and I'll think
about it. You'll get chilled sitting there
after shutdown. I'll think about it. |
%hiiu' SullSllCtl LOT llle [,
the old man shuffled indoors.
The sun went down, and still Jess stood
alone The rose tints faded from the
whitewashed walls. the color of the tiles
deepened into madden and brown. and the
gas lamp shed pale light upon the girls
head, making her look white and i'll. One
shrinks from trying to picture the suffer
ing she endured. as great perhaps as that
of Abraham on his way to offer IN Isaac
as sacrifice to the Lord For half an
hour she must have remained in the same
passionless attitude and then reused her
self as firm steps rang from the main
road.
Two firm hands grasped her shoulders
and turned her quickly round: two steady
brown eyes looked squarely into hers: two
lips were pressed upon her unresistng
mouth. With little sob of JOY and great
relief, she put up her hands and hid her
face upon his breast, while, for a mo-
ment, the big man was too glad too
moved, to speak
You've waited for me, Jess?'
No word of reproach for his silence fell
from her. Explanations might come by
and by. 1t was enough that Jamie was
here.
You're only just in time" she whis-
pered brokenly, and in answer to the look
of inquiry upon his face she said: "They
want me to marry Christie Hall, the dai.
ryman, and it would have been the only
way to save them from the parish Gran
MES never asked me. but she looks at
me till | darcn't go near her, and tonight
granddad's been begging me again to
take him for her sake. He'd have allow
anced them, and tomorrow I'd have said
Yes F."
The man stroked her hair.
You don't love him, dear?"
Her answer was a passionate caress.
And YOU love me just as much as you
did in all my war paint?'
jess smiled through her tears.
81 love you better without it. 1t only
meant you were the queens man then.
In these clothes you are mine" She
laughed at a recollection. "Granddad
said just now that the scarlet and gold
was as useless to you rs it is to these
dahlias."
She snapped two from the bushes and
put them in his coat.
"Granddad said that, did he?" said
James. We'll, I'm off scarlet now; but,
thank the Lord there's more gold than
there was, Take me in, Jess, and let me
ease his mind"
And presently they went indoors to-
gether.-Mail and Express.