Amador ledger., 1904-11-25

y
known that soft voice and ripping
laugh.
He followed her into the garden,
where the moonlight cleaned over
snowy masses of chrysanthemums
that stood in tall ranks. A magic
dwelt in the winding alleys of that old
garden, walled in by the lush fra
GRANGE of roses. Desperately, helpless
ly, he went down before that small
maiden who talked on of flowers and
still Of flowers and grew very impa-
tient of his irrelevant replies. At last
she ventured, "You expected to consult
with Mr.. Marvin as to the business
for the coming season"
Repplier pulled himself together and
came out of the clouds. He had forgot
ten his errand.
Eyes; I had a proposition to make
from our firm. You have been our
chief source Of supply for several
months, and we have decided to offer
you an interest if you will agree to
work under our supervision"
Jessica drew long breath
Repplier went to his room that night
in state of mind that battles descrip-
ton and lay for hours gazing out into
the white night
Morning-the plantation bell sent its
summons far out into the misty gray
ness. Alas, the fields of Bois dare
had passed to alien hands, but the old
bell still swung and lifted its voice, as
it had done when in answer to it's call
the dusky file went forth from the
gates to toll for the master of Bois
dare. Somewhere away off a chorus
of hounds responded, and fields began
to fill with the cotton pickers.
Jessica was seated behind the urn as
he sat down to Aunt Ailsa's hot waf-
f1es and fried chicken. As he watched
the small sunbrowned hands among
the coffee cups the visions of the night
came back in full force.
Repplier had no excuse for prolong-
ing his stay, but before Jessica drove
him down to Aldana he managed to
extract an invitation for the holidays
from Miss Rebecca. Repplier had
touched her strangely with his half
wistful remark, christmas is an emp
ty word to me, 1 have never had a
home"
Christmas eve, as Jessica came
across the yard from the office, Rep
plier met her with such honest glad
ness in face and voice that she forgot
her scruples and welcomed him as
gladly. A long, happy week, for Jes-
sica, her guard once down, threw her
self into the spirit of the hour. Rep
plier found his crumpled rose leaf,
however, in the person of Charlie Car
ringtOn, who was Jessicas shadow
Too confoundedly cousinly," thought
Repplier as the swift days few. He
had never cared for dancing, but it
was dull work to stand in the shadow
while Jessica circled the room in Char
lies arms. But at last the round of
dances and merrymaklngs drew to a
close. Repplier grew desperate. There
was only one day left to him. If Miss
Rebecca had earned his gratitude be-
fore she now had his undying affection
in the hour when she pressed Charlie
into service to drive her to the next
plantation.
1t was one Of those dreary, midwin-
ter afternoons, and the open fire flick
cred cheerily. Jessica commenced a
furious onslaught with the poker
"Poking a fire is positive stimulant
on day like this"
''Is it? Let me try it, He took the
poker, and they knelt together on the
broad hearth. A merry war Of words
and then silence that neither of til,
dared to break. Jessica gazed deep in
to the heart of the fire, but Reppliers
eyes were on the dark curls. He could
not see her face. As he dropped the
poker she stretched out her hand to
find it caught and held-"Jessicar' 1t
was just whisper, but the rich color
went over her face, and the hand f1ut-
tered within the strong grasp that held
it prisoner as he went on. II know it is
too soon, but cannot go and leave my
story untold. You know that have
loved you from the moment that first
saw you. 1 believe that 1 have loved
you always. Above and beyond all law
Of caste, all difference of north and
south, somewhere somehow, you have
belonged to me, and 1 want my own"
Outside the raindrops battered
against the long windows, then the
neigh Of horse as Charlie and Miss
Rebecca drove through the big gate.
The brown head dropped lower, and
the hand in his no longer struggled to
escape. Quick to grasp his vantage
ground, he drew the slight figure to
him. For just the briefest time his lips
sought hers; then, flushed and shy, Jes-
sica retreated to the other end of the
rug as Miss Rebecca, standing in the
open door, read the end of the chapter.
One Way to Win a Wife.
James Barries Admirable Crichton"