The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-03-18

sensible. She had chosen the sub
ssance instead OF the shadow.
And now. az we said, IL was night
snd a wetter one than the other-later
TOO. for Mr.. Falrjohn had closed the
| store and was compOunding himself
what he called might cap" and was
suppIng IL by the stove. when there
came upon his door feeble knock, and
| when, being repeated, be heard H.
there staggered ia out Of the rain a
| dripping figure-ttst Of Jessie Lester,
| the bride who was 10 be on the NOR.
row.
She was trembling with cold, and as
he led her to the fire she burst into a
food OF tears.
"Pm frightened" she said. "Some
one followed me all the way. ] heard
him"
you've no business 10 be out alone
at night" said old Fairjohn, bluntly.
and what's the matterW
She looked up at him piteously.
IL thought there would be a letter" 4"
she said. II dreamt there was one. !
thought Charlie came 10 me and said,
Go 10 the office once more. j have
written, have written And
thought saw n letter with n red seal"
80 did l." muttercd old FairjOhn 10
himself
And he went 10 the box where the
letters were kept and brought them 10
her in his hand.
Look for yourself" he said. And
now, Mrs! Lester, Pm an old man.
Take my advice Remember what
your duty Will be after tomorrow. Re
member not 10 20 crazy. Ten years
have gone since your husband left this
place. If he's alive he's Il rascal, and
you are free OF him by law, but we all
know that every man on board the
Sphynx was drowned So be good
wife to job Roper ana forget this folly.
I'll take you home again this time.
Don't come again"
She made no answer, but only tossed
the letters over in her lap ana said:
81 seem 10 know it had u red SEAL
And as she spoke old FairjOhn, planc-
ing at the door saw q dark shadow
there. saw il grow darker; saw IL en-
ter, ana starting up on big defense. If
need be, recognized job Roper.
lie was very pale, and took no notice
of Fairjohn, but crossing the store,
stood beside Jessie Lester.
"You love that man best, even now
he said. you'd rather have found a
letter from him than not, though to-
morrow Is our wedding day
She looked up into his face with n
pitcous glance
II never lied to you" she said. "Hou
know that
lie grew whittier still
II told you "A man would lose his soul
for such love as mine said he. "Dld
you think those were idle words|
Then he plunged his hand into his bO-
som, and the next instant icttcr, with
a red seal. lay in Jcssic's lap. i've
made you happy, and now III co. he
said. "Fairjohn, l stole that letter
month ago. off the counter yOndcr.
knew who wrote il at Glance and
then the door closed behind him and he
was gone.
But Jessie had torn open the letter
and looked after him. And these were
the words she read. old Fairjohn read
ing over her shoulder:
Aboard the Silver Star.
"Jcssic. Darling don't know what
makes me believe that | shall find You
mine still, after al these years, but
something does.
give OF us were cast on n desert ISL
and when the SEhyuS went down. The
two yet alive were taken off il ycstcr-
day in skins. with our boards to our
knees. We must 90 10 England first
then home. Jessie, Jessie. If | do not
find YOU rs left you | shall go mad.
Your husband, Charles Lester
And so Jcssic's letter had come at
last And as John Fariohn looked
into her face ne saw how angels looked
in paradise.
And Job Job was found drowned
the next morning Jessie never knew
IT, perhaps. for she ana her boy were
ON their way to New Iork 20 meet the
silver star when il made port.-Wav-
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