Year: 1874

De her nelreSs, she has probably
never supposed Charley biased by
that hope. Still, dear, it is posi-
ble."


"Yes, it is possible" said Jessie
slowly, shut tell me about Aun,
Jessie"


"Your grandfather Markham,
Jessie, was one of the leading NOR
chants Of New York, when your
aunt his only daughter, was intro
duced into society. Your uncle
Hoyt, was in good practice as q
physician, your father doing then
a fair business, and already married
and in his own house.


at was therefore with the name
Of an heiress that Jessie danced
through her first season, o careless,
lively girl, very pretty, and accom-
plished enough to make pleasing
impression wherever she went.
She was but little over twenty,
when she was engaged to Stanley
Horton, the most fasinating man
in all our circle of friends. Not
only handsome and talented,-and
he was both-but possessing in n
remarkable degree the courtly
polish winning grace of manners.
that go so far inward gaining wom-
ans heart, the absorbing love that
Jessie felt for him seemed mutual,
and congratulations were the order
of the day, when our grandfather
failed. From man of wealth, he
became actually poor, and loosing
energy and hope he came with
Jessie to share our home. Stanley
Horton, the man we all supposed
devoted lover, was fully aware o.
the change in Jessie's prospects,
yet he continued his visits, making
no abrupt, ungentlemanly deseltion
Of his betrothed. Yet we, who
watched her with the jealousy Of
affection, soon discovered o change
in her. She became pale and sad,
often fearful, till finally she con-
fided me that Stanley was evident
ly weary of her, and had ceased to
love her. Even then she attribut-
ed the change to some defect in
herself, not seeing the mercenary
motive ill later, when time had
taken the glamour from her eyes
and heart. She gave him back
his ring and promises, thus accept
ing the condition his unmanly con-
duct forced upon her, of herself
breaking the engagement between
them. The first love Of her life
was the last. She was your grand
fathers comfort until he died, and
then she went to keep house for
Hoyt, who lost his wife and baby
one year after his wedding day.
When he died he left her the house
and money, and she lived there till
she died. Still I know she loved
you, and am quite sure her will
is not designed so much to keep
you single as it is to win the disin-
terosted love of your future hus-
band"


There was a long silence after
Mrs. Markham concluded her
story, and Jessie allowed her head
to rest in her mothers lap, under
her caressing hands, trying to
picture an easy competency shared
by the companions of her life. II
had its bright side; there was still
love and happiness for her yet.
And then bright face crowned
with curly brown hair would come
before her, and she knew that the
handsome house nor the comforta-
ble income could ever fill her heart
if Charley left an aching void
there. Suddenly, like a gust of
wind, there swept into the sitting
room tall broad-shouldered young
man, in grey tweed suit and
slouched hat, which latter article
found n resting place upon the
floor, the young giant braced him
self before Jessie in an attitude Of
grim defiance that sent thrills Of
glad music into her heart.


"NYill you have the kindness
Miss Markham" said the intruder.
towering in his six feet of manhood
over Jesie's low scat, to tell me
what you mean by that absurd let
ter Polly handed me Was it not
understood that you and / were to
share this cottage with your mann
ma until attained sufficient legal
eminence to warrant the purchase
of o 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 to the limits of our pres
ent incomel Was it not represents
ed to me that my present hoard
was enough to meet the requires
ments of this dumocile ! In short,
Miss Markham. in what way was
| ever led to suppose that the for
tune Of your spiDster aunt was to
influence in the slightest degree
YOUR matrimonial relations in re-
gard to myself Ipause for reply"


Jessie stood up, her hands meek
ly folded together, and her happy
eyes downcast till the long lashes
kissed her cheek.


"Please forgive me this time and
I'll ne, or do ii again." she said;
and then the laugh dimpled her
cheek, danced in her eve and rip
Piled out clear and sweet upon tho
mir