Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1921-04-01

.Ia>min" rode every morning. down
til" Sllnlit way. The park surrounding
her biz shabby Eumc WAS gloomy in
its wealth Of trees. The huu>v WAS
gloomy. too; So in her hrur I, rccrc-
alton, jasmine chose IL" Suult Way.
jasmine, seated Oh her white horse.
Bonnie, loved To dream. III the waters
edge, Of that other world 50 far away.
und yet near, where other young peo-
pie laughed and talked. and sang to-
gcthcr.
Since her mothers death, when she
had been too young to remember. the
girl had known little companionShip
save that of Ursula. the housckecper.
and James Rhodes, her father. James
Rhodes, aged prema,urcly by disap-
pointInent and sorrow. was severe
man.
The one friend who continued to
bear with his humors WAS John West
wood of WeStwood place. next door.
And rs James Rhodes, in his broken
hearted isolation--for he had never
ceased to mourn his wifc's loss-grew
poorer, John WeStwood, energetic
and successful In business, grew ever
JichCr
Now, the ono stubborn desire Of the
old thwartcd man was to make that
wealth his daughters. through her
marriage to his friend.
John Westwood admired jasmine
very much; he loved her, he said, and
would make her happy. SO Jasmine
grievously disturbed. rode every morn
ing down the sunlit way, trying to
think out an escape from the impend
Ing fate. The girl In absorbing ten
derncSS for her father. could not bear
to deny his hearts one desire, and
yet
A stranger sat at the end of the
sunlit road one day, Il young and idle
stranger. with arms claSped behind
his head against the tree on which he
leaned, and brown hair blown by the
breeze from Ibis high. white forehead.
AS the young mans frank blue eyes
came back from their survey of the
river they rested upon jasmine
seated there on her horse. in kind
OF joyous wonder.
"1ou!' asked the young man.
dreamily, "who are you?"
And also smlinsly wondering. the
girl replied: Il am jasmine"
The stranger nodded.
"Of course" he said Il might know
that you would he Jasmine---whcn you
came. 4 white llOwcr'
Strangely acIuicScent. she allowed
him to take the bride from her hand
and lead her TO Il seat on the grass
at his side.
You come from The old house, JAS
mine: the young man asked.
You see, know that there nre
but two houses and John Westwood
lives in the other
Yes she answered Slowly, ''from
the old house"
"And you are?" lie hesitated over
his question.
Then Jasmine smiled.
II am," she told her questioner, "oc-
cupied there decomposition"
She wns away before the stranger
could detain her. flying On Bonnie's
back, up the sunlit road. In the SOM
Der silence Of the park trees. the girl
Gained, and her eyes grew Wistful.
Had 1t not all been dream? Yet she
went again, and still again, and ev-
cry coming found him waiting. Then
firmly jasmine told herself that the
meetings must end. It was the white
horse who carried her there.
Il did not mean to come" she told
the young man, decidedly. Bonnie
brought me-
"And your heart led Bonnie" he an
swered laughing softly, III confident
assurance.
But now that have come" the
girl went on, Il shall stay only to
confess my deceit, and then--good-by.
I, mn Jasmine Rhodes, and am to
injury John Wcstwood."
"You!" gasped the young man, "to
marry my Grabbed old uncle? You,
my little white tluwerr'
Your uncle She FILTERED COLI
fusedly.
The lover inpatie1,.ly nodded.
Il came down To visit my uncle"
nc said. "He is putting me through
college. Through all his crustness.
my uncle has an affection for me. But
If you think that [ shall let YOU marry
him"
Young John Westwotpi broke of
abruptly.
"There Is only one way to straighten
1t all nc said. land we must hurry.
My roadster will carry us quicker
than Bonnie. It's GIL the river road.
First, we will have to get license.
Then you shall come back here as
my wife. Wealth can mean nothing
to you as compared with love. Come,
dear heart"
But JasInine fingered.