The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-03-11
A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE.
By 1sEz IRVING.

1t was the hour for closing in the
wofk-room of the jeWelrv establishment
of Whitney & Co. The tired girls
were finishing their days work with
quick, nervous fingers, their thoughts
going forward to the pleasure that the
evenings leisure was to bring to them
in lecture room, at concert, or the
theater, with a devoted escort beside
them, or perhaps delightful tete,a-tete
with favored lover. Pretty, well
dressed girls they were, too, when their
large work aprons were removed, grace
full and lady Like; not one whit less 30
that they had to earn their own living.
Jessie Clifford was somewhat behind
hand with her work, and the girls were
nearly all gone when she had completed
it. She arose hurriedly, threw aside her
apron, and wen. into the little dressing
room from which the last girl was emerg-
ing, who said:
Why, Jessie, how late you arel 1
am afraid some one will have to wait
tonight"
ooh, 1 shall be ready in a iiffylp
Jessie said, ignoring the last part of the
remark.
She washed her hands hurriedly, then
drew on her short, light sack, and
looked for her hat in its accustomed
Place; but it wis not there. A little
wave of impatience arose within her, as
she searched for it hastily, and found it
laid carefully away under the lounge.
It's that mischievous Maude Ray
nor" thought she, as she put it on be-
fore the glass. "Sbe thinks it pla, ues
me TO keep Milton Kent waiting. She
don't know"
The door of the work-room c'osed
with loud, decided bang. Her heart
gave great leap, and she rushed across
the room, shook the door, and called
loudly. But the boy who had closedlit,
thinking tnat all had gone, was already
at the foot of the stairs, having descended
two sters at time, his thoughts full of
some fun he had on hand. Jessie re-
allied, with heart-sickening sensation,
that she was locked in for the night.
She went to the windows with ysgue
hopes of escape, but there were none
facing the open street. They looked
down upon a vacant lot and close, mar
row court between tall, br ck buildings.
There was no chance of making any one
hear, and she knew that she would have
to keep a lonely night vigil.
But Jessie was rot a coward by any
means, and beside, had cultivated q
philosophical spirit of making the best
Of everything. So, thinking. "No real
harm can come 10 me here,n she went
back slowly to the little dressipg-room
It's an Ill wind that blows nobody
good" " she thought, as she removed her
hat and sat down. upon the lounge
Milton Kent will tn nix went out the
side entrance to avoid him, and | am
glad of it.. for want to discourage his
attentions. know he is as good as can
be, but he isn't my fancy; perhaps |
might have cared for him If
And then the hands me face of Gilbert
knight came before her mental vision.
and the rem mbrance of his DARK, % 8,
81 n te eyes, his words of love, thronged
her pu ses with the full ess of the
spring.
81 wish he were beside me now" she
thought. The hours would not be
half long enough if had the delight Of
his COMP any,
She rose from the lounge and SURVEYED
her face in the rather dim-looking glass
1t was bright, piauaut, pretty face
and the eyes, now full of tender love
light, shadoSed forth the yet unsounded
depths of true, womanly heart.
II don't know what he sees about mt
to ADMIRE" she mused. 81 suppose
am what is called pretty enough, but
am not beautiful, nor stately, nor stylish
and should link such handsome
aristrocratic man would want a show,
wife. But he says he loves me, and
am sure he acts as if he were devoted t,
me. And yet sometimes think that i
is not real veef feel for him, but onl,
strong fascination Ee has seemed t.
draw me toward him whether woulS
or not, ever since i have known him
] should think. too, he would want SOM
one whose social p ,sition was better thai
mine-though of course my father was
gentleman, and but what's the us
of doubling and quest oniDg3 I'll rolisl
this glass little. | think it needs j
bad enough" suitiug the action to th
word
The twilight shadows deepened, tn
buildings shut out the last rays of th
departing sun, and the objects in tn
room became more and more indistinct
She began to feel Loneliness creepin
over her, but fought again-t i, an
paced the floor slowly, determined to
brave. She looked out of the window