The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-11

take it as lesson to myself. For poor
stephens sudden end has made me feel how
careful we ought to be in word or deed.
lest we should be cut off, as it were, in the
very midst Of our sius.p
Don't talk of Stephen" said Jess,
vehemently. Il tell you can't bear it.
want to get up-I want to go away"
Anywhere. That mans coming back,
and don't want to see him again.
do you mean the man that you were
nursingw said Alice. in low tone.
mo. He's never coming back. Never
any more--never any more. There's g
verse OF poetry he-some one-used to read
TO me long while ago, and can't get it out
OF my head to-day:
''Never any more
While live
Need hope to see his face again
AS before.
Once his love grown cold"
All! his love grown coldr Do you know
the verse, Ahce?
mo; it doesn't sound like poetry to me.
You'd better not think of it, if it's bound
up with those old sinful days. said Alice,
shaking her head.
"They were not sinful; they were sweet"
cried Jess, raising herself little.
"Ah, what am | sayings What am say
ing? Don't talk to me; i can't bear to think
of anything. My hearts broken, and am
left desolate."
mot desolate, dear; you have your little
child to care for and to love your
"Yes, have the child moaned Jess.
Sand II have nobody.n
"Ah, poor Alice. I am richer than
you"
"Yes, much richer" Alice knelt down
by the bed and hid her face. "The man /
loved never cast glance at me-" she said
II know. l used to wish--n
"You knew?"
81 could see," said jess, softly. SO, l am
very selfish to have forgotten. o, Alice,
forgive mel But if you only knew"
I'VE had better not speak of these old
times" said Alice, rubbing away a tear or
two, and trying hard to recover her habit
ual self-possession. 1T does no good to any
of us; and he-Stehpen-is safe now-safe
with God. Tell me about yourself and
your little girl, dear. Who is the man you
don't want to seesm
HE comes from-from-the Mr.. Wood
whose was here till to-day said Jess. faIt-
ering and trembling. "He wants to pay me
some money, and-I-I don't SO much want
to be paid: I'd rather go away and work
for myself"
will you come with me, Jessgn
mot to Buck street. Icouldn't bear it,
said Jess, family.
Alice deliberated for few minutes.
''There's friend of mine in the country
that's often written to me to go down there.n
she said. "She thinks could get plenty of
work, and living's cheap in the country. 1t
would do Meenie good
"We could take Meenief Yes, yes.
should like that better than anything.n
I'VE should have to call you a widow
said Alice, slowly. 81 don't like saving
what isn't true. but don't see what else we
could do. We should call you Mrs. ~
"Mrs. Wood" said Jess, in a low tone.
"And it's not altogether a lie, Alice. was
was-and some day Meenie's
father might come and want to take her
away. He says he has right to take her
away. And then what shall dor
Married, JESSE Properlys"
Eyes, yes, indeedl Only he said l was
not to tell"
ITO Mr.. Eastwoodr
Then Jess hesitated
"Don't ask me that,n she falterd. "I'd
rather not tell the name. Call me Mrs.
Wood.n
Alice looked at her strangely.
"Wood was the name of the man that
was SO i'll, DR.. Price told me.n
"Yes,n jess answered, land | was his
sick nurse. earned my living that way.
Why shouldn't IL Don't look fit to be a
sick nurse? He was very i'll and l nursed
him batk to lIfe-I saved his life-I saved
his life vice over, God help me-and then
he wen 1away, and shall never see his face
againnS
She t. oke into a fit of hysterical weep
ing, VIII h Alice did not try to soothe. The
''Slum Sister" stood looking at the young
with puzzled, alien face. She
could not understand Jess wild words and
wilder weeping; and when she could not I'M
ierstand, she was inclined to suspect. She
had seen great deal. of wickednesS in the
world, and 1t seemed to her more than
that Jess had behaved wickedly.
She stood, therefore, and looked at her, and
her in her heart.
But condemnation with Alice did not
mean uhkindness.
"Poot soull'' she said to herself, as she
Jess despairing sobs, "if she has
lone wrong, she has suffered for it. Gods
ways of furnishing wrong-doers are wonder
full But he never meant me to add to the
Pm sure, and I'll do all can
for the poor creature, as long as she'll let
me do itr'
Filled with these thoughts, she said ten
Derby:
you'll feel better in the country, Jess,
when you see the green fields and the blue
sky and hear the birds a-singing Wen
take Meenie out amongst the buttercups
and daisies, and see her grow fat and rosy,
what with nice new milk and homemade
bread, and the sweet fresh air. You'll for
get ali about your troubles by and by, and
You'll find comfort in honest work and
prayer and love for your child. Shall we
90 to the country tomorrow, Jessp
But some new chord had been set vibrat-
ing in Jess bosom, and she sat silent for
several minutes, with a look of indecision
on her face.
II don't think I'd ought to 60 with you,
Alice.n she said at last, in a choked voice.
"Why not, Jesss
at goes against my feelings. II can't
forget that you-you cared for Stephen, and
IL
"And you treated him bada 0, but, my
dear he's got over all that by this time, you
NAV be sure He'd forgive you anything,
Jess, he loved you sol And who am |, to
hold out against you when he forgivesa
You'd never have hurt him II you could
have helped it, Pm certain of thai"
.sNo. / never would, Pm sure" sobbed
less. Quitting her arms round Alice's neck
and ciinging 10 her convulsively. II never
meant to hurt him and never would"