Jessie Carlton Part 7

"Of course, we won't," said Emily, as she took her cousin by the hand and led her away. "We will only stay long enough to see Carrie laugh at the queer little man."

They went to Carrie Sherwood's, and there they stayed until Walter's return from school warned Jessie that it was nearly dinner-time. As she re-entered the parlor she saw Uncle Morris point to her work lying as she left it on the floor, and heard him say--

"The little wizard has been here again, I see, this morning. How fond he is of Glen Morris Cottage."

Jessie blushed, ran to her Uncle's side, hid her face in his bosom, and whispered--

"O Uncle, I never shall conquer that little wizard. He is too strong for me."

"Never despair! my little puss. Try and try again. Make a new resolve, and I'll warrant you that the wizard will find Glen Morris Cottage too hot to hold him one of these days, and then he'll be off to the North Pole to keep cool, and perhaps to marry Miss Perseverance!"

Jessie laughed at this conceit of her uncle's, and said--

"Uncle, I will try again, and I'll try real hard next time."

"n.o.bly spoken, my little lady," rejoined Mr. Morris. "Perseverance conquers all things. It has won victories for warriors; freedom for oppressed nations; and self-conquest for millions of men, women, and children. Hold on to your purpose then, my Jessie, and you will yet be crowned as the conqueror of your troublesome little enemy!"

Jessie sighed, and looked as if she wished the last battle had been fought, and the crown already placed on her brow.

Poor Jessie! she is not the first miss who has found it hard work to overcome Little Impulse, the wizard.

CHAPTER V.

The Broken Mirror.

When Jessie saw Hugh getting ready to go to school, after dinner, she thought of her notes which were still lying very snugly in her work-basket. There were four of them: one for Mr. Sherwood, one for Richard Duncan, one for Adolphus Harding, and one for Norman Butler.

Taking them from beneath her working materials, she held them up, and turning to Hugh, who was on his way to the door, said--

"Hugh, I want you to do me a little favor!"

"I dare say. You girls are always asking favors. But what now?"

"Not much, Hugh, I only want you to take these notes for me."

"Notes, eh?" said Hugh, taking the neatly folded letters in his hand, and reading the addresses. After reading them all aloud, he placed them in a pack and added. "Pretty business, I think, for a young lady like you to be writing to the boys? Oh, for shame, Jessie Carlton! I thought you were too modest to do that!"

"There's nothing improper in my notes, master Hugh! Uncle Morris read one of them, and he says they are very sweet and proper. Will you please take them for me?"

"Yes, if you will pay me the postage on them. You know that Uncle Sam gets his pay beforehand, and I must have mine. So hand me over twelve cents, and I'll carry your notes. Come, be quick! Hand over your money! It is time I was gone."

"O Hugh, don't tease so," said Jessie.

"Do you call it _teasing_ to ask for your pay when you are going to work for anybody!" asked Hugh, with a very tantalizing air.

Just then Guy pa.s.sed through the parlor, and seeing that Jessie was getting tired with her vexatious brother, he asked what was the matter.

She told him. He took the notes from Hugh, who was only too glad to give them up, and said--

"I'll take them for you, Jessie."

"You are a dear, good brother, and I love you ever so much," said Jessie, holding up her lips for a kiss.

Guy kissed his sister and hurried away to school, happy in the thought that he was contributing to her pleasure, while Hugh went out with a cold, uneasy heart, and murmuring to himself--

"I don't see why I should wait all the time on Miss Jessie; she's big enough to carry her own letters."

Could Hugh have exchanged feelings with Guy, he would have learned that little acts of love and kindness bring rich returns into the hearts of those who perform them; and then, perhaps, he would have seen at least one reason why he should "wait all the time on Miss Jessie."

It happened that afternoon to blow up cold and rainy, so that Jessie and her young guests could not play out of doors. The bright fire in the grate tempted them into the parlor, where they amused themselves in various ways. At last, wearied with quiet games, master Charlie said--

"Let us play blind-man's-buff?"

"Oh yes, do, Jessie! It's such good fun," said Emily.

"I like it first rate," said Jessie. "Who will be blind-man first?"

"I will," said Emily, in a very positive tone of voice.

"No, you won't, either, I shall be blind-man first," said Charlie.

"Well, I say you _shan't_. There now!" cried Emily, stamping the floor with her little foot.

"But I tell you I _will_!" retorted Charlie with anger.

"Hush! Charlie dear," said Jessie, in soothing tones. "Let Emily be blind-man first, for, you know, polite boys always give way to young ladies."

"Well, I won't, I don't want to be polite, I want to be blind-man first, and I WILL," rejoined Charlie, as the fire flashed from his eyes.

"Then I won't play at all," said Emily, going to an ottoman and seating herself in a very sulky mood.

Thus did these unamiable cousins spoil their own pleasure, and give pain to Jessie by their selfish quarrel. In vain did she try to soothe and coax them into good-nature for some time. At last, tired of the attempt, she rose up, and said--

"Well, if you won't play, I'll go into the library and have a good talk with my Uncle Morris."

This movement made Emily feel slightly ashamed of herself. She was unwilling, too, to be left alone with her brother. So she jumped up, and with a forced smile, said--

"Don't go, Jessie, I'll let Charlie be blind-man."

"I've a great mind not to play with you at all now," growled Charlie.

"Oh yes, do, there's a dear, good Charlie," said Jessie, as she approached him, "See! here is the handkerchief, let me tie it over your eyes so that you won't be able to see the least bit of a mite! I don't think you will be able to catch me before tea-time."

This challenge did more to drive the sulks out of Charlie than the coaxing. Charles held his head forward to be bound, while he replied--

"Can't I catch you! I'll bet a dollar I catch you in less than five minutes!"