Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-02-09
THE DEMOCkATIC NORTHWEST THURSDAY FEBRUARY 9 1855

ten1ng. Snc had closed tho door into the
sick chamber in moment more and stool in
the middle Of the sitting room when Cmran
came in.
.'Why, you don't look very sick, Jennie !
have to walk to Lockout by 8 O'Clock, but
thought would look in just minute"
81 am going TO leave the mill How pre-
occupied he seemed tonight. II am going 10
leave the mill, Mr.. Curran,n y the girl repeated
with beating heart he might not like her
new plan, and at the very thought off, his dis
approval she felt all her bright hopes taking
to themselves wings; and the old dreary pic
ture Of factory gates and soiled calico dresses
came back.
"Going away, little girlF' He seemed to
speak with slight effort, as il his mind was
not ON what he said. swell, I suppose you
can't be any worse off, but we shall miss
you"
And was that all he had to say when he
thought she was going forever out of his life
had he no reproaches for her!
~ am not going far, y she began hurriedly.
"There would be no use going far" He
had seated himself on the other side of the
table from her, and rested his face on his
hand. sit Is just the same everywhere.
w uCItNcf blcit dlC q buOucoiiO oOuto OCh VIII
grind tho rest l don't suppose the rich
mean to be so unjust, not all of them; tIey
don't stop TO notice that they ore getting all
the good things in the world. 1t never oc-
ours to them to wonder why the great e'lrth
seems to produce only for them"
Jane Graves sat back in her chair, her
hands crossed in her lap. Why didL t he
talk about her just littles She looked up
at his absorbed face wistfully.
| "Why, Jennie, sometimes l get so tired
trying to stand up against it all, SO sick of
my own heartache, that can make nobody
share with me-" He had risen to his feet and
was walking moodily across the room. That
very night he must pour out all the precious
energy of his soul into dull, stolid ears, that
seemed SO slow to understand. A hall full
of strange faces would look up coldly at him,
and his hot words would be quenched as they
fell from his lips in the unmoved depths OF
their hearts 1t seemed SO vain, all he could
do OF say, and he felt so tired tonight, long
ing, instead, to rest his head on some gentle
breast, and be soothed with some foolish
words of comfort and tenderness.
The girl had risen, too, and stood resting
the back of her hand on the table. But hel
eyes dared not lift to his. She tried tc
speak, and her lips trembled so that hel
voice came strange and unfamiliar.
II am sorry for you. Is there no one, NJ
womana she half whispered.
''Women do not care for such as l, HI
said, smiling a little bitterly. "They love
light and pleasant things. am too serious
should only frighten them; they could no
understand"
Then he came toward her with softel
light in his eyes.
"You are good little girl, Jennie" HI
had taken her trembling hands, which only
trembled the more. ~ shall miss you yer!
much. What is the trouble with your eyes
jennie, you can't look at me? am goinl
now."
Then she raised her eyes, like lightning, t.
his face
''Oh, let me comfort you," she cried. g
would die for you. I will ask nothing bacl
but smile now and then. Nobody can eve
love you like me-"
His face was troubled but cold and I'M
passive as rock He still held her hands, a
she sank in heart breaking flood of tears a
his feet.
After moment he bent down in pity, an
gathered her. trembling form in his arm'
How the sobs seemed to shake her. H
Smoothed back her wavy hair from the lo'
forehead, and even kissed her wet cheek'
But all he said was:
! "Poor little girl, poor little Jennie"
For an instant she lay still as a nestlin
, child. Then she sprang back from him, an
fed into her mothers room, and wept an
, moaned for shame and heartache, until ii
/ calm of WEAKNESS came over her, as nature
blessed gift to her hopeless children.
ITO BE CONTINUED