The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1901-07-12
In HAINAULT
4 FOREST.
zee
A Pathetic Story of Girl Who
Loved a Sailor

wv ell, jess, WHAT 5 IL 10 NC, VIII YOU
come or not!"
Jessie looked up from the umbrella she
was diligently mending and thought for
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
the door and went out into the noisy
street She lived alone in a small room
in Mile End road, London, with the peo-
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 a 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 checks.
Now, this is Barkingsde, where we
live Do you see that pretty inclosed
place? 1t is a home for girls. 1t is very
pretty inside. You see, mother was
my own mothers only sister, and when
she found out after a long time that I'd
been brought up in 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
a 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 it compelled
a second glance.
When the service was over, the girls
stood at the gate waiting for friends OF
| Clara's Suddenly she touched Jessies
arm.
jess, Jess, do 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 a friend of mine"
They walked on together toward
Clara's home, laughing and talking, and
before they parted at the gate had ar
ranged to walk to Hainault forest to-
gether that afternoon. Jessie was al
most brilliantly happy. She chatted and
smiled and sang and looked very pretty
in her gladness.
1t was very warm weather for April,
and the young people were glad to reach
the shelter and GOODNESS of the trees and
wander slowly down the grassy forest
path till they 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 dawning
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 and some homemade
cakes, she was the happiest girl in east
London She had learned from Clara
that Fred Harding was waiting for a
ship bound for Australia and that his
father was well to do farmer
| Before long Clara asked her to go to
Barkingsde again, and she stinted her
self in food to pay her train fare. She
and Fred Harding met sometimes in
London too She looked different girl
/ III Of oil
stronger and better and her eyes and
cheeks became bright with health.
But by and by the serpent crept into
Paradise in the shape of an uneasy CON
science Fred Harding, like the other
members of his family, was very proud
of his responsibility He was honorable
and straightforward, but uncompromis-
ingly hard on anything or any one he
| thought underhand or mean. When Jes-
sic considered this, she thought of her
own life and how little he knew Of it,
and she trembled for the love which now
held her so closely. She consulted Clara.
"Oh, what nonsense, Jess Don't tell
him anything till you're married. IL you
take my advice, you won't. He'd forgive
| your silence then He won't now. /
know him.
This was no comfort to Jessie, and she
pondered and pondered during the long
hours while she sat alone. AT last the
dreaded day arrived and Fred was called
to join his ship. He wrote to Jessie, ask
ing her to meet him that evening for a
last walk in Hainault forest, as he was
to sail the next morning for Australia.
Come, darling" he wrote, without
fail am going so far away, and we
may never meet again" He inclosed
shilling for her railway fare.
Then she decided with an aching heart
that she would tell her sweetheart every
thing. She could not let him so 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.
| 1t was Il long walk from Ilford TO
Hainault forest, bur far TOO short for low
ers who would meet no more for months.
The clouds had parted little at sight of
Frcd'S bright face snl Jessie was able to