Year: 1874

had supposed we would have to wall
for our wedding-day until he had
more practice, and you know | have
little sum Of nv own toward oul
first expenses. We could live here
and-theFe, | will not think oft any
more till the answer comes to my
letter.


while you wait, DEAR said hel
mother, shall | tell you what | think
is an explanation ofyour aunt's singu.
lar will =? You, who knew her only
as the gentle, sad woman Of her latter
years, can scarcely realize, presume,
that she was once as bright, hopeful
and sunny-tempered as yourself. |
think it is to save you from her own
sorrow that she has taken you from
the power of giving for mere for,
tune hunter. She would have you
wooed and won for yourself alone,
and as she had never positively said
you were to be her heiress, she has
probably never supposed Charlie
biassed by that hope. Still dear, it is
possible


sYes, it is possible said Jessie
slowly 'but tell me about aunt Jes-
sie.'


your grandfather Markham, Jes-
sic, was one of the leading merchants
of New York, when your aunt, his
only daughter, was introduced into
society. Your uncle Hoyts was IN
good practice as a physician, your
father doing then fair business, and
alrs dy married and in his own home.
1t was therefore with the name of an
heiress that Jessie danced through
her first season, a careless light
hearted girl, very pretty, and suffi-
cienlly accomplished to mage a
pleasant impression wherever she
went. She was but little over TWEEN
ty when she became engaged to
Stanley Horton, the most fascinatin G
young man in all her circle of friends.
Not only handsome and talented, but
possessing in a remarkable degree a
courtly polish and winning OF man
ners that go SO far toward gaining a
woman's neart. The absorbing love
Jessie felt for him seemed mutual,
and congratulations were the order
of the day, when your grandfather
failed. From a man of wealth he
became actually poor, and losing
energy and strength he came with
Jessie to share our home. Stanley
Horton, the man we all supposed to
be a devoted lover, was fully aware
of the change in Jessie's prospects,
yet, he continued his visits, making
no abrupt, un3 3entlemanly desertion
of his betrothed. Yet we, who
watched him with the jealousy of af-
fection, soon discovered change In
her. She became pale and sad, often
fearful, till finally she confided to me
that Stanley was evidently weary of
her, and had ceased to love her
Even then she attributed the change
to some defect in herself not seeing
the mercenary no olive till later, when
time had taken the glamour of love
from her eyes and heart. She gave
him back his ring and promises thus
accepting the position his unmanly
conduct forced upon her, OF herself
breaking the engagement between
them. The first love Of her lite was
TIE last. She was your grandtather's
comfort until he died, and then went
to keep house for Hoyt, who lost his
wife and baby year after his we'd
ding.day. When he died he left her
the house and ali his money, and she
lived there until sne died. She want
ed to adopt you when your father
died, but could not give you up.
Still l know she loved you, and am
sure her will is not designed SO much
to keep you single, as it is to give
you an opportunity to win the disin-
terested love of your future hus-
band


There was long silence after
Mrs. Markham had concluded her
story, and Jessies allowed her head
to rest in her mothers lap, under her
mothers caressing hand, trying to
picture future of easy competency
shared Ey this companion of her life.
1t had its bright side; there was
still love and happiness for her yet.
And then a bright face crowned with
curly brown hair would come up be-
fore her, she knew that neither a
handsome nor comfortable income
could ever fill her heart if Charlie
LETT void there.


Suddenly, like gust of wind,
there swept into the little sitting
room a tall, broad shouldered young
man, in a grey tweed suit and slouch
hat, which latter article found rest
ing place on the floor, as the young
giant braced himself before Jessie in
an attitude of grim defiance, that
sent thrills Of glad music into her
heart.


'Will you have the kindness, Miss
Markham, said the intruder, tower.
ing in his six feet of manhood over
Jessie's low seat, 'to tell me what
you mean by the absurd letter Polly
handed me !? Was it not fully un.
derstood that you and l were to share
this cottage with your mamma until
| attained sufficient legal eminence to
warrant the purchase of brown
stone front in New York ? Was |
not deluded into the belief that your
presence in the culinary department
of our establishment was to reduce
our expenses until the limits of our
present income was sufficient TO
meet the requirements of two in this
domicile ? In short, Miss Markham
in what way was | ever led to sup
pose that the fortune of your spinster
aunt was to influence in the slightest
degree your matrimonial intentions
with regard to myself? | pause for
a reply


Jessie stood up, her hands meek
ly folded together, and her happy
eyes downcast.


please forgive me this time, and
I'll never say it again, she said and
then the laugh dimpled her cheek,
danced in her eyes, and rippled out
clear and sweet upon the air.


'Oh, Charlie ! Charlie (! | knew
you never thought of aunt Jessie's
money


'And you, said Charlie, holding
her at arm 's.length, you can have it
all, if you give me up.


'As if | loved money better than
you = said Jessie, nesting in the
strong arms now wrapped closely
arnund her