The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-10-06
next Two hours to Jessie bale They
left shadow in her blue eyes forever

But when her brothers iempter came
she gave her answer calmly and clearly,
and when be had gone she placed the
forged check in the flames and turned
faint and cold when her eyes caught the
glitter of gem upon her finger. He
had trusted ber enough to give the pa.
per to ber 10 return for her promise TO
be his wife, knowing well that she would
die before she would break it.
Three weeks went by, and then the
poor giit bad another thing 10 think Of
besidestbe great numb pain at her heart,
the new horror Of her life
There had been five days and nights
OF heavy rain. and the village below
them was hourly threatened BY the stead
lily rising water. Many had LETT their
homes ard down to higher lands for
safety. One cottage had been swep,
away ip the night, aud babe and moth.
er bad been drowned In 1t Watching
the sufferers .about her, Jessie almost
forgot that she was m serable, and she
was like an angel OF mercy to the poor
frightened creatures who n d from dan
ger. She went among them with gentle
words and soft touches, comforting and
encouraging, not needing the falling rain.
Then at the close of darkened day,
the waters had had their own mad way,
and what had been q cluster OF pretty
cottages was but seeihing. tossing mass
of merciless water, filled with fragments
Of cherished homes, and wsiIlng cry
went from the many drencbed people
who watched 1t from the heights.
When night came down, dark and ter.
rible, Bob vennor, who scarcely left hei
since their betrothal, and who strove
for more than toleration from her
watched her long in silence.
"You are thinking OF the river and al
it DESTROYED" be said "But 1t has spar
ed all but two lives. Oae might b.
thankful for that"
"Oh," she cried, in a sudden wilt
chafing sgainst the chain that bound be-
lips, "how merciful it would be had 1
taken mine!'
He paled little.
"You hate me eo?" he asked, below
bis breath.
81 am so miserable" she fsltered.-
And be turned silently away. When sh,
looked for him again he had gone, width
er she knew not but out in the terrible
darkness Of the stormy night.
In the morning came perfect calm
The sun came down on the sullen wa
ters and the world, with all Its scar
looked fresh and fair.
"But my lie has lost its sunlight for.
ever" Jessie thought, watching the rain
washed earth. IS
She did not heed the crowd Of si,en
people, who, with something borne II
their midst, halted at her fathers door
but when her eyes at last fell on then
some impulse forced her from her room
and down to their very midst.
They made way for her, and presently
she saw what their burden was In al
her sickening horror and womanly pity
and great regret that she had said nj
kind word 10 him at the last, she realize,
that they had brought her-freedom
"We found him in the river" some
body said. ut was bad night to b
out 10. and the gentleman must hav
been without light; false step
B t she heard no more; Of all the falls
steps Of his reckless life had this beel
last and worstS
But God had sent her freedom and he
brother safety, and-the month hal no
yet gone by.
She was Lees wife almost year whe
her brother came to her one day With
white face and trembling hands and lai
paper on her knee. 1t was from on
of Bob Vennor's old companions, VIII
bad died and left this blief note 70
Charley:
at was all hoax about that forge
check" it ran; "Bob and I did it Will
you slept. He was in love with you
sister, and knew he'd never win her, s
he did that 10 scare you both But 20
had no hand in the forgery, anil thes
things trouble a dying man. Bob ws
not bad fellow, but be, would hay
risked bis soul for your sister, and st
wouldn't look at him"
"Oh. Charley, Charley!" was all sh
said. But there was grea. gladness i
her cry, for did not Charley stand blame
loss before her brothers, and bad she NJ
been given her happiness after q trial
III by 6reP