Year: 1864

beautifully your last rose has blossomed
in the night when least we looked for it
and Bess came smiling in with one whit,
rose, SO fragrant and SO frail.


Jamie did not turn to greet her, for al
frost had melted from the boys life now
another flower had blossomed in the early
dawn, and though the patient face upor
the pillow was bathed in sunshine, little
Jamie was not there to see it cleaning
on the cross. God had remembered him
Spring showers had made the small
mound green, and scattered flowers il
the churchyard. Sister Bess sat in the
silent room alone, working still, but paus
ing often 10 wipe away the tears that fel
upon q letter OF. her Lnaa


Steps came springing up the narrow
stairs and Walter entered with beam
ing face, to show the first rich earnings
of his pen, and ask her to rest from her
long labor in the shelter of his love.


Dear Bess, what troubles you? Let
me share your sorrow and try to tighten
it, he cried with anxious tenderness, sit
ting beside her on the little couch where
Jamie fell asleep.


In the frank face smiling on her, the
girls innocent eyes read nothing, but the
friendly interest of brother, and re-
membering his care and kindness, she
forgot her womanly timidity in her great
longing for sympathy, and freely told him
all.


Told him of the lover she left years
ago to cling to Jamie, and how this lover
went across the sea, hoping to increase
his little fortune that the helpless brother
might be sheltered for love of her. How
misfortune followed him, and when she
looked to welcome back prosperous
man, there came letter saying that all
was lost and he must begin the world
anew and win home to offer her before
he claimed the heart so faithful to him all
these years.


He writes 80 tenderly and bears his
disappointment bravely for my sake but
it is very bard to see our happiness defer
red again when such little sum would
give US to each other.


AS she ceased, Bess looked for com
fort into the countenance of her compan-
ion, never seeing through her tears how
pale it was with sudden grief, how stern
with repressed emotion. She only saw
the friend whom Jamie loved and that
tie drew her toward him as to an elder
brother to whom she turned for help, un-
conscious then how great his own need
was.


i never knew of this before, Bess !;
you kept your secret WELL he said, try
ing 10 seem unchanged.


The color deepened in her cheek /; but
she answered simply. Il never spoke Of
it, for words could do no good, and jamie
grieved silently about it, for he thought it
great sacrifice, though l look on it as
a sacred duty, and he often wearied him
self 10 show in many loving ways how
freshly he remembered it. My grateful
little jamie


And her eyes wandered to the green
trees-tops tossing in the wind, whose shad-
ows hickered pleasantly above the child.


Let me think little, Bess, before /
counsel you. Keep good heart and
rest assured that l will help you if | can,
said Walter, trying to speak hopefully.


But you came to tell me something
at least, fancied l saw some good It'd
ings in your lace just now. Forgive my
selfish grief and see how gladly / will
sympathize with any joy Of yours


1T is nothing, Bess, another time will
do as WE'LL he answered eager to be gone
lest he should betray what must be kept
most closely now.


1T will never be told, ess,-neyer in
this world he sighed bitterly as he went
back to his own room, which in his dark>
est hours had seemed so dreary, for now
the bright hope OF life was gone.


Il have it in my power to make them
happy he nused as he sat alone, but l
cannot do If, for in this separation lies my
only hope. He may die or grow weary,
and then to whom will Bess turn for CON-
fort but to me? / will work on, earn
riches and name, and if that hour should
come, then in her desolation / will offer
all to Bess and surely she will listen and
accept. Yet it were generous thing to
make her happiness at once, forgetful of
my own. How shall / bear to see her
waiting patiently, while youth and hope
are fading slowly, and know that might
end her weary trial and join two faithful
hearts Oh, jamie, l wish to Heaven l
were asleep with you, freed from the
that hesat me- IL ia so easy