Jessie Graham

rnished, was the property of Mrs. Bellenger, who, not long after her return from Deerwood, took possession of it, and made it also the home of Walter Marshall. The latter was now courted and ad

was welcome to Jessie Graham if he wanted her. And it would seem that he did, for almost every evening found hi

ntirely to one whom he at last believed was really his rival. This opinion he expressed one day to his grandmother, who had come to the same conclusion, and who as gently as possible

love only to cast it from him at his will, f

fore him, he groaned aloud, for he neve

ot quite think Jessie would prefer him to you, and she has known you always, too

ned upon my name, and as there is no hope that this will ever be, I must live on and see her given to another. Were my rival anybody but William, I c

into the street, meeting by the way William and Jessie. They were walking very slowly, and apparently so absorbed

r coming to s

ation against his cousin, asked Jessie if she had not observed how consequential Walter had grown since his grandmother took him up and pus

notice him now just because Mrs. Bellenger likes him. There's Mrs. Reeves, for instance,-it's perfectly sickening to hear her talk a

ill, for in case he failed to secure

, and unless that burden was lifted disgrace was sure to follow. Twice rec

ou; go to your grandm

aid that "a young man in perfect health ought to have some occupation

f affairs it was quite natural that he should be looking about for something to ease his mind and fill his pocket at the same time. A rich wife could do this, and as Jessie and Charlotte both were rich, one

ng, and hastily breaking the seal, he read, that he must come quickly if he would see his cousin alive. The l

," the deacon wrote, "and perhaps your grandmother would no

am, for Ellen would not allo

would save him from unnecessary pain." So she hushed h

ham was absent for a day or two he was thinking of taking the

e, "what's up now? Your fa

urned Walter, "and th

efore had spoken so jeeringly, staggered i

e note intended for Jessie, he bade him take it to her that night, and tell her to meet him at the depot in the morning. "And W

r she was to him; then, as another frightful thought intruded itself upon him, he murmured, "I can't, I can't," and with that resolution he sealed his future destiny. "No, I cannot go," he said, and thrusting the note into his

n explanation should afterward be necessary, he would say that he ha

then, when they found she was not coming, took their seats in the cars with heavy hearts, for both kne

-

the sick girl asked, when, one after the other, Mrs. Bellenge

r, and the color faded from

? Where is

ent the message by William, and at the mention of his

ay away when I want so much to see her before I die?" And turning her

y be possible there is some mistake, and Jessie does not

o changed, and wishing somebody would come, she received the telegram, and with feverish impatience waited for the morning, when she set o

with Walter?" she ask

en I knew nothin

pon Jessie's replying that she had neither seen nor heard from William, a su

in her joy at having Jessie with her at last, she forgot her earlier disappointment. Earnestly and lovi

am glad you are so

peated words did not dream of the pur

life of William Bellenger happier than if she were o

lotted letter, which she had written at intervals, as her failing strength would perm

her and farther across the floor, and she knew it was growing late

and then laying her hand

talk much, Jessie, and when you used to say so often that I was very dear to you, I only kissed you back, and did n

s Jessie's answer,

another shared the love we coveted for ourselves. Forgive me, Jessie, I never meant to interfer

said Jessie, "I love nobody

n. "It may be wrong for me to speak of it, but at the very last, I

ver loved William Bellenger,-never

ace, and she trembled in every

ell me a lie wh

sick girl, Jessie raised her up, and continued,

the story of her love, and how William

tell me. I could not endure losing faith in him. Don't, don

tween our parents. I never thought of loving him. I hate him now, the mo

hite as ashes, and Jessie never forgot its grieved, heart-broken expression, or the spasmodic qu

le box, and bring

ted with her love, the sick girl held it in the blaze, watchi

aid, and a cold smile curled her lips. "The

a tiny sheet of note pap

Pray for pardon at my grave.

to Jessie

and now draw the covering closer over

ross the threshold into the room where the May moonshine lay; where the candle burned dimly on the table, and where the light of a young l

the swinging pendulum beat the hour of midnight, it went out forever, and