The Jennings daily record., 1902-11-13
H|laIrly's Majority
~ pAo1gEY MAJOR.


OF summer days-the sun-was
shining brilliantly through the open
window into q charmingly appointed
dinine-room one bright June morning.
Breakfast was laid for three. At the
head of the table sat Miss Prts-
ella Payne, . sweet, gray hasred
woman, with what 10 termed
"pood" face, though lined wA
care and trouble. Yes; the b'es
Of happiness was low when her sa'A-s
was ladled out. There was g~1Ne
look of resignation in her face, winch
was the reflection of a brave heart.
She frightened up as she heard
quick, light footstep. and her niece.
Jessie Burton, sweetly pretty girl
of about 1S summers, entered the
room. ~
"Goodlmorning, auntie! IL Harry
DOWN." she asked, kissing her guard
ian.
"No, dear; but he soon will be, I'm
sure. He can only have one twenty
Arst birthday"
Many letters for him?"
"A few; one is from Australia"
"Auntie," said the girl. suddenly.
with tipge of lovely color flaming
her cheeks, I-I-have something to
tell you."
II do believe I can gusss what It i''
Jessie"
20. auntis, I sm sure ,'ou haven*s .
| notaou."
my dear, your face convinces me
| that my conclusion IL correct. Come
here and let your old aunt whisper It:
Harry has proposed and you have ac-
cepted him."
"How did you know7" calculated
Jessie. "Yes, he proposed last night:
Aren't you going to congratulate me7
Eyes, yes, darling. May you be
very, very happy" and she kissed her
niece lovingly. "Are you quite sure,
Jessie, that you love him, and that
there 10 nothing that would prevent
you from marrying?"
Jessie replied by . look that indd-
Gated such question was entirely un-
necessary.
"You know, dear, I was in love once,
and some one was fond Of me, but
but-thines went wrong. Some day
YOU shall hear the story, dear, then
YOU will understand how 1t is am
80 anxious about you. All, here Is
Harry!"
At that moment handsome young
fellow entered the room. Jessie ran
and kissed him, and led him to her
aunt, who was smiling through tears
of happiness and sorrow-sorrow be'
, cause she forssaw bitter parting with
Jessie.
After oft-repeated congratulations
, and many happy returns, Harry wat
permitted to open his letters. The
: pist of the one from Australia ran al
follows:
my Dear Son: I trust you will receive
this on the day you attain your majority
Now that you have arrived at an age OF OILS
cretion, wish you to know as much OF my
history AZ is necessary fray my
dear son. do not think hardly Of me.
All have done have done for the best
q have instructed that good man
!. Rev. william Nayand. your guardian ans
counselor all these years. to ten TO you a a
: much as he thinks Mt: He WI. VIII ,.'t, se
3 be able to draw $500 year: Tni
I viii continue until my death, when all
|. have goes to you. Wishing you al Al
happiness. my dear boy. Your most at a
fectionate cAA1In'
Harry read this through twice, annie
u a strange feeling of uneasinesD ant
J. emotion. It was the first letter he hat
e ever received from his father. II
!. sat down, looking rather pale, crush
h ing the letter in his hand. Was hi
: three months of perfect happiness
this house to be married. by some hor
rible revelation? He trusted not.
Somehow or other he thought Q
James Barton, his rival.
Miss Payne had taken great fame
to Harry when they first met, tw
r. years ago, and he had latterly bee
;, staying with her and Jessie, with tn
"a inevitable result that he fell head owe
E@ ears in love with her pretty face.
Ae my guardian, Rev. William Ma.
t. land, will be calling to see me to-da.
L. Miss Payne" he said at length, ''abo,
some business matters. And, Jessie
he broke of, II should like to &c
you in the garden after breakfast"
The meal having concluded, wit
+,, painful evidence that things had gol
y atwist, Harry strolle6 into the ga
= den with her.
ID "Darling, what IL It? What is Il
"a NATTER" she asked, gently nestlil
C. up to him. "Something has go1
wrong. and who should share yo1
trouble with you but II"
The doubts and perplexitiss whi'
entangled his mind for nome
Ia seemed to overwhelm him, then, wit
out word, he took the girl in l.
w w strong arms and held her closely
60 him.
VI. "Jessie," he began falteringly
OF last, "if-if-there should be anythi
tie that might come between our mt
10. riage, don't think too hardly of II
If If there be secret in my family, an
have kept it from you, believe !