Show iI 1 J W. W T f i f JOHN ON ELM By FREDERICK BURT UT II UPHAM ADAMS Author el of Th TIM Kidnapped COI Doctrine Etc i COPYRIGHT 1902 1002 BT Dr All rights bu COPYRIGHT 1905 1903 BT Dr tJ I UPHAM ADAMS ADAus rained lINned A. A J. J L Kati CHAPTER SEVEN SEVEN Continued Yes he has and she's a beauty the lie replied with the air of one giving an expert opinion 1 Well you keep away from her said sald the old man gruffly Let her alone Shell She'll never have a dollar Cardens Carden's Cardens Cardens Carden's Car Car- dens den's ruined right now but he doesn't know It I do What about this daughter he demanded pausing in front of Arthur Is she stopping around here She is spending the summer at Bishops Bishop's a farmhouse about five live miles from here replied the son Say governor you must write to harden Garden and say youve you've learned that thatIs i pis ds Is daughter is here and that you and your our family will be delighted to meet Ii j her tier socially and will wll try to make her herMay stay May in the country agreeable Ill I'll do nothing of the kind roared Randolph Morris He stormed and fumed for a while and then wrote the letter as his son knew he would from the beginning There it Is he said as he handed 4 the envelope to Arthur For Gods God's s sake cake e dont don't marry the girl Arthur Morris leaned back in the i chair and laughed I h have ve never spoken to her governor gov gov- emor he said putting the letter In inis Ils is pocket and I certainly dont don't contemplate con template matrimony I Jessie was greatly excited when a aletter fetter letter came from her father notifying her of the invitation which had been 5 received and accepted The general considered the incident a gratifying f E r recognition of his increasing importance import i ante ance as a financier Jessie knew little of ot th the business prestige such recognition recognition Uon tion tion entailed but was delighted with the the opportunity to meet the famous and in despair over the gown she should wear The day after she received the note from her father John Burt called and they took their first horseback ride of the he summer They galloped for miles t a II I I II l I Ir r L along the hard sand of the seashore i and dismounted to rest and talk bei bel beneath be be- rr 7 e t neath the shade of pleasant trees i ff Jessie told him of the letter from l n her father and with some pride talked of ot the invitation from Randolph Mor Mor- 33 Y t X ris John looked at the slip of paper c in Jessies Jessie's s 's hand and it appeared like lile fJ t t a wedge about to separate them And 1 k I why should it not What right had he heto i w to aspire to the love of Jessie Carden Garden the daughter of a rich man beautiful l 4 woman he had ever seen r beyond any I o A r f The fear which became a ar r ft t cert certainty that Jessie would pass be beyond be be- beyond his reach was the haunting terIi terror terror ter ter- yond I of ot his dreams by day or night She had everything youth health beauty wealth and position He had youth and health health so so had the average aver age farm laborer 1 L climb Hill HIlI Lets Let's ts t's Strawberry and watch the sunset suggested Jessie John helped Jessie up the steep winding path and they stood on the crest of the hill hIlI The broad Atlantic lay to the east and the island dotted bay glowed In the colors of ot a glorious sunset At the horizon was a mass of clouds above burned a bar of red red red- the red of blood To the zenith were spread the gorgeous tints with which the setting sun tinseled the closing curtains of night Delicate greens toned through the shades of ot orange into rich amethyst and against this background of lace lacework work of clouds flaunted the thousand graduations of the spectrum But the bar of ot red above the dun cloud dominated It was reflected in the water of the bay shimmering in the glow They stood silent for minutes s sunder under the spell of ot natures nature's grandest spectacle The sun dipped lower until it its arc touched the line of the cloud Sharp as a knife the black bank slowly slowly slowly slow slow- ly obscured the face of the sun until untila a red hemisphere weird and unreal glowered and quivered and quivered In the western sky Jessie Cardens Carden's reception in the Morris mansion opened to her a new and an attractive world Accustomed from childhood to the comforts and luxuries of comparative wealth she was awed by the magnificent sensuousness sensuousness of the millionaires millionaire's palace and by the pomp and splendor of Its decorations and fittings Nevertheless Nevertheless less without attempting g to analyze or justify her feelings Jessie was not favorably impressed with Arthur Mor Mor- ris There is a psychological barrier between vice and arid virtue an instinct which places innocence on guard The rhe young young mans JUans personality was of slight Importance at the mom moment nt but Jessie Jessl did not like lIle him why him why she neither knew nor cared She tactfully eluded his further attentions and spent the remainder of the with his Three days later Arthur Morris called at the Bishop house and found Jessie at home They chatted for an hour bour or m more re and he secured her consent to be one of a coaching party on th the next Saturday Had it not been for tor his presence she would have enjoyed enjoyed en en- j joyed the he expedition thoroughly More than a week had passed From Sam who Rounds Rounds vho knew w of about about- everything every thing thing that that happened for fore miles about about- John heard of the party and drank dran k deep of ot the lovers lover's first cup of suspicion suspicion suspicion sus sus- bitter with the wormwood o of f jealousy He decided to call on on Jessie Jessi e and learn his fate His heart leaped when Jessie came forward to mee meet t him There was tenderness In he her r eyes and welcome in the clasp of the th e warm little hand which nestled for tor a an n I I instant in his Saddle my horse John lets let's ride she said Delighted John obeyed and set himself stolidly to enjoy her presence as they galloped along the beach Have you an engagement for tor Saturday Saturday Sat Sat- asked Jessie I have none Can I do anything asked John e eagerly gerly I have cousins who live near the I beach twelve miles south of at here said Jessie I want to spend a day with them Do you think you could endure the company of three foolish girls all day John I could enjoy the company of one wise little girl forever said John with a fervor which astounded him when the words were uttered A blush suffused Jessies Jessie's cheek but her drooping eyes expressed no rebuke I II shall I I shall be to be your escort escort escort es es- cort stammered John far more lore confused than the subject of his ardent compliment When will you yoube yoube yoube be ready Jessie You may call at 8 o o'clock lock if it you will said Jessie without raising her eyes It was ten o'clock in the morning when the Morris trap stopped in front of the Bishop farmhouse Morris was looking his best His eye was clear and his smooth plump face was ruddy Present my compliments to Miss Carden Garden he said offering his card Miss Carden Garden is not at home replied replied replied re re- plied the maid Will you come in sir No thank you Very sorry I am sure His face grew dark but his voice was quiet as he said Tell Miss Carden Garden of my disappointment and say Ill I'll call some day soon Gen Marshall Carden Garden paid a visit to the farm tarm a week later After dinner dinner din din- ner he invited Jessie to a walk and his manner told her that something was impending They paused to rest under an arbor For some moments both were silent I have something to say to you Jessie which I wish could be left unsaid began Gen Carden Garden clearing his his' throat uneasily Jessie looked into his face tace with questioning g eyes es You are nearly seventeen Jessl and andare andare are now now a a woman he continued after a pause You belong to a good family family fam tame ily and God willing you will inherit a modest fortune You are very beautiful beau beau- my pet and it is natural you should have admirers I will explain to you frankly what has happened I received a call yesterday yes yes- from Mr Randolph Morris In Ina a casual way Mr Air Morris spoke of ot you and sent his compliments He expressed expressed expressed ex ex- pressed regret that his family had failed In an attempt to make your visit to the country more enjoyable Of course cours this greatly surprised me and when I pressed him for particulars particulars particulars lars he said he knew nothing except that Arthur had called and that you had refused to see him Gen Carden Carden Car Car- den paused I dont don't wish to see him papa said Jessie with much spirit He annoys me He said he would call Saturday and take me out riding and never so much as asked me ff If I cared to go or not So I went to visit Cou Cou- uin Edith and when he called the maid told him I Iwas was out Gen Carden Garden looked greatly ed I am glad that Arthur has given you no more serious cause for displeasure displeasure dis dis- pleasure he said You know little of of- business affairs but you must know that Randolph Morris is is- powerful a a. a good business friend and a foe to be feared At the present moment moment I I dread to incur his displeasure Your slight of his son might be of vast consequence consequence con con- sequence in determining Randolph Morris' Morris decision in a matter maiter most vital to our Jessie my darling dar dar- ling It might even even even- Gen Carden Garden checked himself His face was drawn with a distress which Jessie was quick to perceive though not to com com- I do understand papa dear said Jessie I will I will write and ask Mr Morris to call and will treat him just justas juste as if It nothing had happened But I know I can never like him and I dont don't 7 v Ji t 0 have to try do oo 1 papa 1 Certainly not my pet said Gen Carden Garden He kissed his daughter affectionately affect and seemed greatly pleased leased On Sunday Jessie wrote a note to Arthur Ar 5 thur Morris Two days later he called i and Jessie received him in the old old- parlor Both I ignored nored the of the preceding week and gaily for tor an hour or mor J 7 essie essle accepted his invitation to a re- re rc-j rc eption in the Morris mansion for tor Saturday Saturday Sat Sat- evening and went under her fathers father's escort Two passed during which the rich New Yorker was a frequent visitor visit or at the Bishop farmhouse One even Y ing John called when Arthur Morris Morri Merril introduce was present and Jessie Intro introduced them Arthur treated him with that r airy alry tolerance which success grants to Its vanquished By the way Mr Burt said Arthur Arthur Arthur Ar Ar- thur Morris as he carelessly rolled a a cigarette Miss Carden Garden has accepted my invitation to attend to morrows clambake near Cohasset I must accompany accompany ac ac- company a party of New York friends v who will spend the night on my yacht and attend the bake We must start early so I cant can't offer to escort Miss I Carden Garden It If I may presume on your acquaintance with her I shall ask you to drive her to the grove where I will meet you with my friends I shall be more than pleased if It Miss Carden Garden will accept my escort j said aid John Certainly I will laughed Jessie Arthur Morris remained a few minutes minutes minutes min min- utes longer then he gaily bade Jes Jessie ie adieu shook hands with John Bur Burty Burti and rode away CHAPTER EIGHT 1 0 The Tragedy Churchill's Grove was famous for tor its clambakes and when John and Jessie drove into it the scene was one to delight the heart of a loyal New Eng Eng- lander The cool salt breeze from the ocean r the aroma aroma from fir and pine and the theodor theodor theodor odor from simmering clam and seaweed seaweed seaweed sea sea- weed formed a trinity ambrosial enough to make an 1 of ot an an- an r ys 1 For an hour bou hour e or or more they walked W along the hard smooth sand crunching crunching crunching crunch crunch- ing the shells sheIls under their feet the he song of the sea in their ears and its cool breath on their cheeks Then the great gong sounded the signal for tor dinner and they turned to the grove Mr Morris must have been delayed delay delay- ed observed Jessie as she glanced once more toward the harbor Come on we wont won't wait for him They had a merry time over dinner As they came out from the grove the they saw the at anchor her upper works glistening in the sunshine Her launch crowded with passengers was just leaving To be continued |