The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-06-21
Selerf Shry.
SAVED BY LOVE.

l : -
J. The work room of the jewelry manu-
factory Of Jacobs d Co., at Attleboro,
was just being closed. The tired girls
were just finishing their days work,
while their thoughts had already prece
ded time, and were anticipating the de-
lights OF the evenings pleasure or rest.
Pretty, well dressed girls they were, too,
when their large work aprons were re.
moved, graceful and lady-like; not one
whit less 80 that they had to earn their
own living.
Jessie Clifford was somewhat behind
|, hand with her work and the girls we're
NEARLY all gone when she had completed
1T. She arose hurriedly, threw aside her
apron and went into the little dressing
rooms from which the last girl was
emerging, who said:
"Why, Jessie, how late you are! l
am afraid some one will have to wait to-
night"
"Oh, I shall be ready in a moment r.
Jessie said ignoring the last part Of the
remark.
She washed her hands hurriedly, then
threw on her short, light sacque, and
looked for her hat in its accustomed
place, but 1t was 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.
"Its that mischievous Maud Raynor,'
thought she 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 work room closed
with q loud, decided bang Her heart
gave o great leap, and she rushed across
the room, shock the door and called
loudly. But the boy who had closed it,
thinking that all had gone, was already
at the foot of the stairs, having de-
scended two steps at time, his thoughts
full OF some fun he he had on hand.
Jessie realized with a heart.sickening
sensation, that she was locked up for the
might. She went to the windows with
vague hopes OF escape, but there we're
none facing the street. They looked
down upon vacant lot and close. mar.
row court between tall brick buildings.
There was no chance Of making any
one hear and she knew that she would
have to keep lonely night vigil.
But Jessie was not coward by any
means, and. besides, had cultivated q
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. I
aMilton Kent Rill ihink went ont
the side entrance to avoid hiIn, 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 handsome face of Gil
bert Knight came before her mental Wis
ion and the remembrance of his dark,
passionate eyes, his tender kiss and his
words of love thrilled her pulse with |
boundings Of true affection.
The twilight shadows deepened, the
tall buildings shut out the last rays of
the departing sun, and the objects be-
came more and more indistinct. She be-
begnn to feel loneliness creeping over
her, but fought against it, and paced the
floor slowly, determined to be brave.
She looked out of the windows wonder !
ing il it would kill any one TO jump
down II the place was on fire. and finally
settled down again upon the lounge and
recounted George Knights tender
speeches, and recalled how he looked into
her eyes with those thrilling olbs 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 wish
ing that the author OF them was beside
her, she passed into dreamland.
How long she had slept she did not
know, but she awoke from troubled
dream with start of terror.
Hark! what was that sound? She
started up with perspiration standing on
her forehead. She heard the window
next to the dressing-room lifted, and in
moment more steps on the floor. Lis
tening 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
the door Of the dressing-room and Jes-
sic qnaked with fear OF discovery. But
under cover of the darkness she remain
ed unmolested, land it was evident also
that the .workroom was not the goal OF
their ambition. 80
| "We've done the thing neatly, so far, :"
said one voice. "If we can only finish
as we'll as we have begun We shall be
lucky"
2"Hush! r. said the other in q low tone.
I"What il we should be discovered before
the Job Is done?''
mo danger OF that" the first return
ed. "There Is no one within hearing
distance, Knight. I came in here in the
! role of book agent the other day and
took the position of the rooms"
The sound OF the second voice had
struck with painful suspicion of famil-
liarity upon Jessie's ear-and that name
What did it mean2 Could it be possi-
be that he was her lover2 Was she not
. mistaken in the voice2
He spoke again
"After all, there are worse robberies
committed every day under the guise OF
business transactions than we are medi-
tating. Old Jacobs has been miser all
bis life and cheated people out of thou
sands. It's no more than fair to take
some Of his ill-gotten gains"
"No, she was not mistaken. There
was no doubt of that voice. 1t had q
characteristic ring that could not be mis-
taken. Something darker than night