The Globe-republican., 1904-03-31

ten years. watching and waiting, and
there was triumph n Jobs eyes as hc
turned away and left her with his first
kiss upon her brow. But at the end of
the green lane he paused and looked
back. fs
II told her the truth he said, when
! said that when man loved a woman
as loved her, he must have her, IL the
price were his soul ITSELF"
And then he drew from his breast a
letter with great red seal upon 1t,
looked at it for moment and hid 1t
away again. T4T''AsIaN
/, Married? Yes, they were to be mar
rled. Every one at McKibben's Cor
ners knew that now. Jessie Lester
went no more to the postotfice for her
long expected letter. Job was furnish
ing his house-had furnished it, for on
the morning of the morrow the we'd
ding was to take place. And 1t was
night again. A month from that night
when she had come for the last time,
as every one thought, through rain
and mud, to make her sadly foolish
query, she was sensible at last-very
sensible. She had chosen the sub
stance instead Of the shadow.
And now, as we said, 1t was night,
and a wetter one than the other-later,
too, for Mr.. Fairjohn had closed the
store and was compromising himself
what he called might cap" and was
supping it by the stove, when there
came upon his door a feeble knock, and
when, being repeated, be heard ii,
there staggered in out Of the rain
dripping fgure-that of Jessie Lester,
the bride who was to be on the NOR
row.
She was trembling with cold, and as
he led her to the fire she burst into
flood Of tears.
"I'm frightened" she said. "Some
one followed me all the way. l heard
him."
you've no business to be out alone
at night" said old Fairiohn, bluntly'
"And what's the matter?'
She looked up at him plteously.
II thought there would be letter.
she said. II dreamt there was one.
thought Charlie came to me and said,
GO to the office once more. | have
written, I have written And
thought saw letter with red SEAL
$50 did l." muttered old Fairjohn to
himself.
And he went to the box where the
letters were kept and brought them to
her in his hand.
'Look for YOURSELF" he said. "And |
now, Mrs, Lester, I'm an old man.
Take my advice, Remember what /
your duty will be after tomorrow. Re-
member not to 60 crazy. Ten years |
have, gone since your husband left this |
place. II 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 and 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 ard said,
Il seem TO know it had a red SEAL
And as she spoke old Fairjohn, slanc'
inc at the door saw a dark shadow
there, saw it grow darker; saw it en-
ter, and starting up on his defense if
need be, recognized Job Roper.
He was very pale, and took no notice
of Fairiohn, 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 OH wedding day
She looked up into his face with a
piteous glance.
II never lied to YOU" she said. "You
know that"
lie grew whittier still.
II told you a man would lose his soul
for such love as NINE said he. Did
YOU think those were idle words"
Then he plunged his hand into his DO
SOM and the next instant a letter, with
red seal, lay in Jessie's lap. 1--WE
made you happy, and row III 60" he
said. "Fairjohn, stole that letter a
month ago, off the counter yonder. l
knew who wrote 1t at a 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.
"1essie, Darling-I don't, know what
makes me believe that shall find you
mine still, after all these years, but
something does.
give Of us were cast on a desert ISL
and when the Sphynx went down. The
two yet alive were taken off it yester-
day in skins, with our boards to our
knees. We must 60 to England first
then home. Jessie, Jessie, If do not
find you as left you shall 60 mad
"YOur husband Charles Lester"