WJIE IiflST 



.. .. 0F JFflE ^ZTKCg. 



Dr. Edward J. Tucker. 



CHAPTER IX. 



RECONCILIATION. 



Gently releasing herself, Jessie 

 said : "Come, Allen, you must take 

 dinner with us to-day ; we expect 

 your father and brother, and at our 

 board there must be a reconciliation." 



I stopped short, and felt a dark 

 frown gathering over my face. Jessie 

 gazed at me a moment and said, 

 " Allen, you surprised me into be- 

 traying my sentiments. I do love 

 you, dear, so be guided by one who 

 will be jealous of your most sensitive 

 feelings, and whose interests are now 

 my own. I have made my choice 

 among men and you will never have 

 cause to be jealous." 



" Very well, darling," I answered; 

 " I will be guided by you." 



On entering the little room in Mr. 

 Sheldon's house, designated the par- 

 lor, I found my father, Steve and Mr. 

 Sheldon. They gazed on me in as- 

 tonishment, as I stood on the thres- 

 hold, undecided whether to advance 

 or retreat. A gentle pressure of a 

 small hand reassured me. I clung 

 to the hand and advanced into the 



room, approaching Mr. Sheldon, and 

 said: 



" Some months ago, Mr. Sheldon, 

 you bade me consider myself as an 

 adopted son. I have misund< 

 myself and have misjudged \ 

 daughter Jessie, to whom I h 

 just declared my love. She has 

 knowleged a tender regard for me, 

 and you know how ardently I loved 

 her even before I knew her name. 

 You are aware of the agony I sufl 

 ed after having injured her, through 

 my boyish folly . Since you i 

 me as an adopted son, will you not 

 accept i iu- as a son- in law, and give me 

 this precious girl ':" 



Surprise, consternation, and inde- 

 cison chased each other 

 the pastor's venerable features as he 

 essayed to speak, and as the t< 

 welled from his eyes and ran down 

 his cheeks, Jessie fell on her kl 

 and kissing his hands, whisper* 



" I love Allen. . and he Will 



take care of thy Jessie when I 

 follows my dear mother. Allen and 

 I understand each other, and we Will 

 be as happy as werethee and moth< 



239 



