Jessie Graham

oor, had yielded its bountiful store, and loosened from its summer fastening trailed upon the ground. The cows no longer fed among the

r eyes as day after day, all through the autumn time, she watched for the com

e hollow of the wood" or tossed by the autumn wind, and the pain in

and night after night

e saw him in the distance, and with a cry of joy she buried

aint an

hands, and when they said to her, "Mr. Bellenger is here," she simpl

yed too much indoors, that a ride would do her good, they offered no remonstrance, but wrapping her up in warm shawls sent her out with him upon the mountain, where he told he

gone, Walter, Jessie, and everybody. Forgive me, William, but when I remembered

going upon her marble cheek, and a tear dimming the luster of her eyes. On his way thither he had resolved to rouse her from the dream, to tell her she must forget

but believe me, Nellie, I can l

s entire fortune by will to his wife, who had refused to sanction the reckless extravagance of her son's family. A rich bride, then, must cancel William's debts, and as Ellen was not rich, he dared not talk to her of marriage, but whispered only of the love he felt for her. And Ellen grew faint and chill listening to this idle mockery,

the matter, lest it should reach the ears of my proud family. I would write to you, but that w

r wretchedness. She had taken a severe cold upon the mountain, and for many weeks she stayed indoors, thinki

rew stronger, she resolved to write

ould have no dread lest your proud relatives should know how you paused a moment to look at the frail blossom fading by the wayside. If it is so, William, don't tell it to me now; let me die believing that you really do love me. Come and tell me so once more, let me hear your voice again; then when I am dead, and they go to lay me down in the very spot where you found me sleeping that summer afternoon, you needn't join t

y, for many days, her face grew brighter with a joyous, expectant look, which Aunt Debby said "came straight from Heaven." The letter reached William just as he was dressing for Ch

me to do that," and crushing into his pocket the letter, stained with Nellie's tears and his, he went, as we have seen, to the house of festivity, mingling in the gay scene, and letting no opportunity pass for showing to those around that Jessie Graham was the chosen one