The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-03-16

and no mere man yet born OF woman
is able to stand against you"-- =
Thank you again." Jessamine said,
tossing her head. "Oh, I want that
clump Of cardinal flower" leaning as
she spoke toward the shelving shore.
Wills shook his head. Snakes" he
said laconically, speaking very loud;
then, in q low aside: Here's where we
quarrel, Jess. Insist upon getting out
The bishop to be Is coming down the
path
"Oh, Mr.. Beveridge," Jessamine call
ed eagerly, do come and pick some
flowers for me. I want to pick them
myself, but I find I am prisoner"
with whitening glance at Wills.
Beveridge ran down to the waters
edge. Wont you Let me rescue your
be cried, holding out his hand Jump!
promise you shall getsnothing worse
than a pair Of wet feet by it."
''She needn't have even them," Wills
said boorishly. If you'll agree to see
her to the house I'll be glad enough to
put her ashore. Not in the humor for
walking myself and still less for botanr
izing."
half an hour later Mrs. Brookmere
was surprised and, If truth must be
spoken, not wholly pleased to see Jes-
samine sauntering home, her hands full
Of scarlet bloom, with the Rev. Bewly
Beve,idge at her elbow. Now the min
lister had been madam's own compan-
lon all through the earlier afternoon,
and, though he had not said much
quite too little to make madam aware
Of her own state Of mind-he had look
ed unutterably things. She had found
the looking pleasant-she was OF the
women made to be married, childless.
although she had buried three hus-
bands, and still possessed Of an alert
and lively vanity. She liked to see her
name at the head Of lists Of patron
esses, especially missionary and rescue
bands. Further, flattery was meat her
soul loved to feed on. The Rev: BeWly
had found that out at about the second
minute and acted upon the knowledge.
Indeed, his mind was pretty well made
up to marry her before the interview
ended. But then he had not seen Jes-
samine In this mood. Jessamine upset
his calculations; she fairly swept him
off his feet.
Madam was sadly puzzled through
out the next week. Wills haunted the
house as much as ever, though Jessa-
mine openly fouted him, at the same
time smiling shy propitiation at the
bishop to be. He also was In maze.
Jessamine's encouragement was too
elusive to warrant giving over his pur-
suit Of madam, yet sufficiently unset
ting to make him at times distra1t.
Wills glared at him and ostentatiously
ignored him. It was that which gave
him the strongest hope. Wills must
be jealous+madly Jealous. If only
Beveridge had never begun to court
that old woman! She was In the be-
ginning eager to play fairy godmother.
It was sickening to feel that he had
disturbed this pious purpose, making
the lady feel that she was not too old
to inspire grand passion number four.
Presently he began to see light. he
would have it out with Jessamine-ask
her plumply to be Mrs. Beveridge, and,
II she said "yes," go to madam for her
blessing, along with an apocryphal tale
of a distant wooer ready to sue for her
hand. He could make it appear ne
had been finding out her mind toward
a fourth marriage. It would go hard
with him, but that somewhere ne
would find q man to make good. In
deed, providentially he already knew
the mana college president, poor and
pious, entitled to write half the alpha
bet after his name in honorary dsst1nc-
lions. with children all safely married.
and much in want Of a good home. So
he went straight to 5essamine, begging
her to sing to him. The music room
was at the very end Of the house, thus
we'll apart. There was small chance
Of interruption All the rest were busy
with games or flirting or walking In
the flower garden under a white moon.
Jessamine went with him, walking
high headed and joyous. At the door
Of the parlors she waved him forward
running back herself upon some er-
rand he did not understand What
ever it was, she did it very quickly.
he had hardly found the songs he
wanted when she was beside him, smii-
ing at him in the most bewildering
fashion. As she reached for the music
her hand, apparently BY chance, fell
lightly upon his. BE tried to hold 1t,
but she snatched it away, turned from
him and began to sing very softly. he
watched her with burning eyes, his
breath coming hard and fast. As she
made to rise he put bis arms about
her and gathered her to his breast, say
ing hoarsely: "Jessamine, darling, won't
you make music for me always? On
less you do my life will be wasted"
'You-you are not In earnest" Jessa-
mine said, slipping from bis arms and
ayert1ng her face. "You, who are so
great 80 wise, 80 good, need another
sort Of wife-somebody who can help
You. IL should be only a burden"