The Russellville Democrat., 1880-07-01
A MARROW ESCAPE.

The workroom of the jewelry manu- factory of Jacobs & Co.,, Attleboro, was just being closed. The tired girls were finishing their days work, while their thoughts had already preceded time, and were anticipating the delights of the evenings pleasures or rest Pretty, well-dressed grls they were, too, when their large work aprons were removed, graceful and ladylike; not one whit less so. that they had to earn their own liv- ing.
 Jessie Clifford was somewhat behind hand in her work and the girls were nearly all gone when she had completed it. She arose hurriedly, threw aside her apron, and went into the little dressing room from which the last girl was emerging, who said 'Why, Jessle, how late you arel I am afraid some one will have to wait to- night"
 "Oh, shall be ready in momentl' Jessie said, ignoring the last part of the remark.
 She washed her hands huriedly, then threw on her short, light sack, and looked for her hat Tn it's accustomed place, but it was not there. A little
  she searched for it hastily, and found It laid carefully away under the lounge.
 Its that mischievous Maud Raynor," :" thought sine, as she put it on before the glass. "She thinks it annoys me to keep Milton Kent waiting. She don't know"
 The door of the workroom closed with a loud, decided D ang Her heart gave a great leap, and she rushed across the room, shook the door, a called loudly But the boy who had closed It, thinking that all had gone, and all eady at the foot Of the stairs, having descended two steps at a time, his thoughts full of some fun ne had on hand. Jessie realized, with a heart-sickening sensation, that she was locked in for the night. She went to the windows with vague hopes of escape, but there was none facing the open street. They looked down upon a vacant lot and close, narrow court, be- tween tall, brick buildings. There was no chance of making anyone hear, and she knew that she would have to keep a lonely night vigil.
 But Jessie was not coward by any means and, besides, had cultivated a philosophical spirit of making the best of everything. So, thinking, "No real harm can come to me here." she went back slowly to the little dressing room Its an ill wind that blows nobody good" she thought, as she removed her hat and sat down upon the lounge. Milton Kent will think I went out the side entrance to avoid him, and Pm glad of it, for want to discourage hls atten- tions. know he is as good as can be, but he isn't my fancy; perhaps l might have cared for him if-"
 And then the handsome face of Gil bert Knight came before her mental vision, and the remembrance of his dark, passionate eyes, his tender kisses and lis words of love, thrilled her pulse with the boundings of true affection.
 The twilight shadows deepened, the tall building shut out the last rays of the departing sun, and the objects in the room became more and more distinct. She began tossfeel loneliness creeping over her, but fought against it; and paced the floor slowly, determined to be brave. She looked out of the window, wondered if it would kill any one to jump down if the place was on fire, and finally settled down again upon the lounge and recounted Gilbert Knights tender speeches, and recalled how he ANbhNA liAO l4ti tJto Wibii tiiVSt orbs of his, and how tenderly he kissed her good night when he parted from her only the evening before.
 The shadows grew still darker, and the stars came out. She could see them twinkling in the soft, clear, evening sky above the towering buildings. And with pleasant thoughts for company, and wishing that the author ofthem was be- side her, she passed into dreamland.
 How long she had slept she did not know, but she awoke from a troubled dream with start of terror,
 Hark! What was that. sound2 She started up with the precipitation stand ing on her forehead. She heard the window next to the dressing room lifted, and in moment more steps on the floor. Listening with painful intentness, her heart throbbing so loudly that she feared it would betray her proximity she heard that there were two. They walked past tse door of the dressing room, and Jessie quaked with the fear of discovery. But, under cover of the darkness, she remained unmolested and it was evident also that the work. room was not the goal of thelr ambition
 We've done the thing neatly so far, said one voice. "If we can only finish as well as we have begun we shall be lucky"
 ~Hush" said the other in low tone What if we should be discovered be, fore the job is donc?"
 No danger of that" the first returned There IS no one within hearing distance Knight, l came in here in the role ol book agent the her day, and took the position of the rooms"
 The sound of the second voice hao struck with painful suspicion of fsInil larity on Jessie's ear, and now tha namel What did it mean? Could it bt possible that he was her loverP Wa she not mistaken in the voice?
 He spoke again:
 After all, there are some worse rob berries committed every day under tn, guise of business transactions than WI