Sharp County record., 1877-07-20

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pantry, and knew it would kill her out
right in her weak state if she was fright
ened at all, so | ran mp softly and stood
right before him. He was so startled
that he let the chisel in his hands fall to
the ground, aud said to me in queer
sort of a voice Well, who are you?
I'm Jane, | said, and beg youWon I
get into the house, for there's sick LADY
there, and if she was to be scared
by YOU it would kill her Miss
Leila, he turned away his head and when
| saw his face again it was white as tins
wall. I'm starved, he said, and ielt
the tears come to my eyes, Tor he spoke
i'm such hopeless, detected tone l
took hold of his hand and led him around
TO the kitchen door, and then | got out
pie and cake and meat, and he ate as II
hewas famiShed. When he was through
he took from his finger finely worn
cold ring; see, it is here" and Jane
showed an old gold ring, "He sad 1t
was once his dead mothers, and he told
me had been so good to him, the first
kindness he had received since he had
left prison, and. he begged me to keep
the ring until we met e@ain and then
"What did he look like, Jane?" asked
ella. deeply absorbed in the story,
..0 he was quite handsome; his hair
crrIcd in little golden rings all over his
LoaJ and his eyes looked dark blue to
no ,,U,' and he had very sweet voice, ana
mt any iI,o a gentleman would to
any woman: ,,..,oino in nrison!,
o,i4 Leila. compassionately. "foor I
mann nam, lane, he is the lover ma Spoh:e
nLont % You see he must have 1alleh II III
IoTe i'Ug" with YOU, and that is the engage,
looo ,'oe+ Vino %i,m I thinkyou are good enough
for any man, Jane but 100 s00" ~
felon." -, no+ Lola - anC
Jane looked panied b., to11 Mrs
The two girls agreed not to tel DirS WIS
Cr,ne Of the nights adventure, Tor Iea
G of her her harsh criticisms, but when aIoh
tbrv frequently spoke OF the stFahS
man whom Leila always calleu ''lio
lover ,h,, ord ba,
Jane Haynie was an orphaIl' "ll' I',lls, li,',
90 os''L Lannd ont TO a stern old Womal
r,ho uJT had nearly worked the young gu
to death. At the expiration OF the con con
tract Jane had taken situation at ME-
Cranes, where she had a comior5a3l }
home, and though she worked hatH CsL sl
WAS never badly treated. Mrs. Cran
woS ~ harsh in manner and severe
;mdoment. but she tried to be alWaS
iusf To Leila, Jane was very niue
attached. for the child of fifteen looKe
mon the girl of twenty-five, as " u0'
tlF'bA, md treated her as such ho
g. Stonths passed by and Jane u. p
- "a 49, ss lnrar. -, d
he SIGHT of the gold ring she wore
,rouoht him to her mind. 1t was now o
nearly Christmas time, and the farm h
house kitchen presented busy scene, v
for GREAT preparations were being made fl
for the expected arrival of several I
cousins and aunts who always spent the b
holidays at the Cranes. Jane went il
down to the barn to hunt up some more t
COOS, for they needed dozen for the @
squash pies Mrs. Crane made 50 de t
licious and golden. The hay was piled /
hioh in the loft, and Jane went through t
the whole lower part Of the barn before 9
ascending the ladder which led to the 5
loft. She hoped to find eggs enough 9
down below, but was disappointed in I
doing so, and accordingly began her l
search through the sweet-smelIing hay, S
singing gaily, for her heart was light. |
All at once she gave a shrill scream, for t
in one corner of the loft, half covered {
by hay, she saw the figure of a man. ,
Jane was brave Girl, but she could not 5
stand such sudden fright, and would {
have screamed for help had not the
man raised himself on his elbow and S
spoken to her.
"Do you not remember me, Jane,"
he said. "Where is the ring?"
Jane felt her heart throb violently.
81 have it, she replied, "but | did
not think to see you again. Why are
you here?n -,
81 believe [ am dying" he said,
quietly, resting on the hay his hand
some head and reaching out to her one
white, shapely, though very thin hand
81 don't ask you to do any thing for
me. Let me die alone. | am not so bad
as you may think me. I've committed
no crime. | went to prison for half .
numbering man in fit of drunken
passion. I've never touched liquor |
since. But no one cares for me, my |
mother and sisters are dead, and the |
brother who should have helped me
stole my property and left me beggar,
and the girl / was to marry Tilted me for
a rich, old jew. No, Jane, there is
nothing for me to live for l came up
in this loft, hoping to die alone and un-
noticed. came here, for here 1t was |
heard the first kind words which had
greeted my ears for months"
He sank back heavily at the conclu-