The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-06-21

Ientrance into the store below. She rose
to, her feet and listening intently she
could hear the first one below yield to
their hands. .t
| She felt as II she must follow them.
She did not care whether or not she was
discovered. When they had opened the
last door and were within the front
store, she followed them noiselesslv-
she had removed her shoes and stood in
the shadow watching their movements,
as by the light Of dark lantern they
proceeded to open safe which, they
Judged, contained the most valuable jew.
els.
As Jessie stood there, motionless and
lpale, there was no feeling OF scorn for
him. The wound was too deep for that.
But there was pathetic despair in the
depths of the eyes which only few
hours before had been full OF tender
love-light for him, and dreadful pain
at her heart, an infinite sadness to find
that her idol, whom she had set up for
worship so much higher than his fellows,
was made of baser clay than ordinary
men.
By the light which he held she could
discover bis face dimly. Hardly con-
scious of what she was doing she went
forward to him as be bent over the safe
he had opened. Both had their backs
toward her. Without a word she laid
her hand upon his arm. At the touch,
80 quick and unexpected, he started as
If be had been shot and flashed the light
quickly in her face. With low cry OF
surprise he met the pathetic sadness OF
Jessie's eyes. His companion rose has
tily from his kneeling position, exclaim
ing, "What does this mean 2" as he saw
the strange, dazed look upon Knights
face, and saw, too, that the girl was no
stranger to him.
80, Gilbert, Gilbert! Can this be
possible ?" Jessie said with pitiful wall
| 10 her voice that would have moved q
heart of adsmant.
He stood dumb before her. Had she
reproacbed him be could have retorted
angrily; but he had no words to meet
the look in the fair, sad face upturned to
his, which he had kissed so often, just to
see it flush and brighten under the pow.
erful magnetism which had been the ruin
Of more than one woman before he had
seen Jessie.
1t was scene for q painter. The
bolted and barred windows showing in
the dim light; the confused, shamed ex-
preston on Knights face the panied,
grieved look on Jessie's, and the angry
disappointment of the other. Atlength,
without q word, knight took the jewels
he bad secreted about his person and
flung thew down.
"You Can do as you like, Kris" he
said. II wash my hands OF the affair.
1t is the last time l shall undertake such
a thing. Jessie, you will despise me, OF
course, and I deserve it. But shall
dearest girl ever knew. Good-by.
Come, Chris. let US get out Of this scrape
az sooE as we can.'
They left empty-hsnded, as they had
come, and made their escape as they had
effected their entrance, by an ingenious
communication with tall building that
rose only few feet from the work.
room.
Jessie CROPPED her way back upstairs
to the little dressing-room, and sitting
down again upon the lounge burst into
tears. 1t had been a sad awakening
from her sweet love-dreams, for Jessie's
ideal had been good, and manly, and
honorable, ani the real had fallen so far,
far beloWit!
She began to realize that she must
conceal the fact that she had been there
all night, for of course she would be
questioned, and she shrank from answer
ing them. So in the morning she con-
trived to make it appear that she had
come in with the other girls, and then
later she went out and ate warm break
fast, or rather tried to force it down, to
cure the fainting sensation that came
over her.
Great was the surprise Of all the next
morning to find the doors open, and
greater still was the surprise to find the
safe open and no jewels missing.
Meanwhile, in bis room, Gilbert
Knight was writing this note:
"MIss CLIFFORD: dare not call you
dear Jessie,as my heart dictates, because
l know myself unworthy. have cared
for you-let me confess it-as have
cared for many others, but never real
lied till last night that you we're one wo
man of thousand. Something in the
tender womanliness that never uttered
reproach to the wretch who had dared
to contaminate her with his touch vent
to my heart. You see am not alto
gether hardened. II l did not feel the
vast gulf there is between US would 60
to you now and beg your forgiveness.
AS it is, l have the grace to stay away.
Sometime, when / have redeemed my.
self, may l come back 7"
And Jessie received the letter and
cried over it, then laid it away and watt
ed.
| Milton Kent tried in vain to win
place in her heart. She knew be could
never be guilty OF the deed from which
she had saved the man she loved, but
she could not transfer her affections to
him. Her heart yearned over that other,
and she waited.
j At the end Of two years he came back,
and found her patient and somewhat
sad, but with the old-loyelight kindling
10 her eyes at the sight of him.
IL have lived an honest, upright life
before God and man since I left," he
said humhly. "Jessie, will you be my
wiie2 Can you forgive and forget ?"
For all answer she reached out her
arms toward him and was held in close
embrace.
4 The Chicago Tribune advises Vice
President Arthur to go and cut bait for
Vice President Wheeler, or do some
thing else that is decent as compared
With hia nrpapnt Occnnati0n at Alhanv