The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-09


earthly love. don't lay claim TO you no
more; and take your saying what you
have said as | sign. For when | told the
cap'en what my dream had been, he SAYS co
me: That's warning, my mau. You
must see the young wo ran as soon as she's
better, aud break off with her. But l
thought-no, pll stay and see if she wants
to be Off with me or not. And when you
said you'd take back your promise, why,
that was a sign and token unto me. NV
dreams out in the first part. and we've got
TO take care that 1t amt never out in the
| second"
Jess was crying by this time.
Il doA't like to be dreamed about and
talked over, )" she said.
why, that don't hurt you, my dea~,"
said Stephe a., with stolid reinsurance He
paused and looked away from her before he
| spoke again. There's anOtnsr reason why
| you'd best be without me, Jess Pm a
changed man, bless the Lord and hope l
shan't never do what I've done before in
my time; but Pm afraid-Tm afraid
There's time when the blood PUSHES along iu
my body like burning fire, and don't seem
! to know what Tn about. 1t was in one o
them mad fits that threw the stone at the
parson Yes, it was me that flung it. |
blinded him, did. l thought you'd ha'
guessed that it was nobody but me-"
80, Steve, how could your gasped Jess
more overcome by this revelation than by
anything that he had previously said
| ~ gu! why, the men in the court 'ud kill
you, il they knew"
II know they would, " he said, holding up
his head as if he detied the world MAYBE
III tell EN- some day, and see what they
| viii say. But no, | can't do that. 'Twould
do 40 good, nelthor. ! told the parson him
self; him an me an Dick, we're known
| He's a real good sort is MIR. Helmont But
I'm aflaid, Jess, that if | fell into one o
them old mad fits again 1 might hurt you
you, although L love you better than
auEht else in the world-but | might hurt
| you, and then should be lost worse than
was bcfore-lost body and soul, in this
world and the next. Sooner than that
jess, I'd rather you killed me yourself, my
dear. And if not, we'd better partn
His voice had sunk into a low key, and
his eyes were fxe1 on vacancy. Jess lay
quietly crying on her pillows, and the
nurse, seeing tbs situation, again came to
tue rescue.
"Now, my good young man." she said,
what do you mean by exciting the patient
III this wayg Don't you see that she's too
weak to be troubled9 You'd better go
away this afternoon and come back when
she's a Ii tie stronger"
II didn't mean no HARM" muttered
80, please, nurse, don't send him away
said Jess. .'I haven't said what l wanted.
IL won't take minute-just something |
want him to do for me-"
Just Il minute, then" said the nurse.
good-humoredly. "But don't let me see
any more tears if you want him to come
again."
Jess laid her thin hand on the young
mans arm.
Steve, " she said in whisper, will you
do something for me-"
| Anything | can, Jess"
You say you'll give me up. You won't
mind then If tell you that there's some one
| else-some one"
"The gentleman that Dick saw YOU
withp
Eyes. He don't mean me no harm. in
deed he don't, Steve. He's quite honorable,
and all that But-he'll be expecting me
at his NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. he's been draw
ing my picture, you know-and of course
he won't know why | haven't come. Has
he been to Mill street, do you think,
SteveW
Stephen nodded reluctantly.
81 saw him come out of your Granny's a
day or two ago. He looked put out,
thought Maybe your Granny told MIN
some tale or other about you"
81 daresay she never told him was here,
and he wouldn't know. O, yes, nurse dear,
one minute, please. Steve, will you 60 TO
him, and tell him Pm illg Then he'll I'M
derstand."
Stephen was silent for moment.
jess" he said, at last, ''you never asked
me to do harder thing than that But
I'll do it. have got new strength in me,
aud I'll do it, a sort of plucking out o.
the right eye; a sort of cutting of o. the
right hand, it is to me. But I'Il do it for
you, my dear, so that you may see love
you better than anybody in the world.n
She smiled up at him family She was
beginning to feel very tired, and the nurse
was looking daggers at the unfortunate
visitor.
AS he hurried away, she caught him by
the hand
Kiss me, Steve, she said, "before you
CO."
He did an odd thing for man Of his
character and training lie fell on his
knees beside the bed, and kissed her rever-
entity as if she had been a saint. And jess,
thinking little Of the matter, kissed him
back.
TTn