The San Francisco call., 1904-02-21

O. = L.
AsLG FS)lsE ened parlor. Now the
lISNyfZHSJlW = burden lay with her
a---=@sSsrEss3 alone, and she fol-
lowed YEARLY the trail of the years
that had brought only trouble and loss.
Jessica stood still in the doorway at
sight Of the bowed head. She could
find no words TO say; but she drew Miss
Rebecca's head dow and held her close
IN the strong. young arms. Miss Rebec-
"a lifted a hopeless face. Child. l do
not mourn for him; ii is you. Jessica.
this old house and a pitiful ten acres is
all that is left: and even that cannot be
sold during my lifetime. There is moth
ing. nothing. Don't talk TO me now.
cannot bear it-I must try TO think"
And Miss Rebecca crept away 10 her
loom.
Left to herself. the girl stood looking
out toward the clump OF liveOaks that
lowered above the generals grave. She
remembered that there had always
been little economies Dracticed by Miss
Rebecca, and the days when the gen.
eral would shut himself in with mass
Of pers-always after the visits Of
those men from town. Now the end
had come: but the old home was still
theirs, even though shOrn OF its broad
acres, and an idea came TO her. That
night she wrote the letter that went in
the Northern mail, signed with the bay
ish scrawl Of j. i. Marvin"
Business was unusually dull in the
Office Of Repplier Bros. florists, and the
morning mail received instant atten-
tion. James Repplicr tossed a letter
across to his brother John. Read that,
John"
"Repplier BrOs.-Gentiemen: Is there
any market fo- cut flowers direct from
the SOutk-caDe jasmine. English vio-
lets, roses and all varieties Of the lily?
Can make arrangements for packing
and shipping 10 arrive in good condi-
ton. ] should be glad to receive or
ders. Respectfully, J. L. MARVIN.
"Aldana, Miss"
John Repplier laid the letter down
and looked up inquiringly. Might be
q good idea. What GO you think?'
We'll, We viii be pretty apt TO
need a large supply in the next forty
eight hours, as that Caring funeral
Viii call for more than we can furnish
from our own plant"
Ten minutes later the message went
OF that electrified The household at
Bois d'Arc.
Send al available blooms. Letter
10 follow. Terms guaranteed.
"REPPLIER BROS"
Miss Rebecca was bewiIdered at the
very idea Of money to be gained from
the profusion that rioted in hedge
and arbor and over the waste Of un-
kept gardens; but Jessica rallied the
idle negroes and worked all night un-
Ill the dawn, when Uncle Reuben
drove down to Aldana with a wagon
load OF baskets filed 20 the brim with
fragrant merchandise.
Evening brought the letter that
made possibility certainty, and busy
days followed for Jessica. More land
was leased and 8 little Office con-
slructed in the old weighing-room Of
the gin, that row served as a packing
room. Miss Rebecca willingly let go
The reins Of Bois dare into Jessica's
hands. Once more Aunt Ailsa re-
iciced in a well filled pantry, and, bit
by DIT. the old order was restored, ex-
copting always the tall, soldierly fig
IRE that had moved out from among
them forever.
November had come and a soft haze
lay over the sunny fields and a tang
or frost lurked in the breeze. Jessica
lay ia the hammock under the pines,
her loOsened hair blown back in a
ruddy halo and the bars Of sunlight
decking the smooth olive Of her
rounded cheecl- with golden light as
rhe swayed back and forth-a picture
that held the intruder silent until the
crunching Of the pine needles beneath
his feet brought Jessica to herself.
That he was very good to look at was
patent at the first glance. The ath-
letic figure, keen, dark eyes and smil-
Ing mouth, made James Repplier an
Interesting study TO the mind feminine.