The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-20

Why should 1 not knowl 1 have heard
something already"
what have you heard, Georgeg" she
said fearfully. "Who has told you any
thingg'
'sMy friend-or your friend-the hawker.n
said George, with faint smile. "He came
to interview ma while you were out, and
told me good many things How he took
me into his own bed, for instance-not alto
gether an agreeable thought-and then,
another item or two, also not very agree
able Jess, is it possible that our old enemy,
stephen Eyre, is deadF
"Yes," George she said with q sob. And
then she slipped down from her seat, and
knelt beside him, burying her face in her
hands.
What is the matterW he asked rather
fretfully. He was in that stage of conva-
lescence when everything was a trouble to
him. Don't cry, child. Why should we
grieye for tina. fellows death! He was only
a curse to US both, and !, for one, am glad
to get rid of him."
she shuddered as il she could not bear
the words. "Don'5 say SO, George" she
said.
"Why should not say so9 Jess, you are
absurd. The man mas inflicted the greatest
possible injury upon US both, but specially
upon you; aud would have done anything
to get rid of him, anything, that is, short of
murder, and"--with a short laugh-'I don't
know that / should stop short even at that
jess lifted her head and looked at him,
with a visible dread in her fair, worn face.
what is itg' he said, rather uneasily.
"Jess, you look strange. There is something
do not understand"
Don't you remember anything, George9"
she asked. "Have you no remembrance
of--anything terrible--or-or-"
Terrible! don't know what you mean. "
He passed his hand YEARLY across his brow,
and seemed to reflect. ~ had awful
dreams, If you mean those. always dream
awful things when | have one of these
fsverish attacks. You know it's nothing
very new to me to be i'll like this, Jess,
though l believe I've had a worse turn this
time than usual don't know whether
dreamed or whether l remember some
thing
"What sort of something's said Jess
anxously. do tell me, George"
"How can ] tell whether it was true or
falsem he said, almost augrily. II remem-
Der bare cold room, dinly lighted, and
in the house next door Of which you spokeF'
She bowed her head.
"Ah, then perhaps / was not dreaming
But how could it be JESSE l thought that
some one came into the room and attacked
me. We fought together-I don't know for
how long--it seems to me now almost as
though that fight had lasted for all eternity
and then we came toward a window
don't know how it happened-"
"Yes, George, yesI"-as he came to a
pause. "And what nextp Her hands
were clasped, her eyes fixed eagerly upon
his face.
wasn't it dreamg' he said. "Well. l
don't know. Then it seems to me the
window gave way-it was horrible night
mare feeling, jess; surely that was not
truegn
Eyes. 1t gave way.n
"And the man fell ut,-fell out, Jessg'
She bowed her head.
"And all this is true" He raised himself
in the bed and looked at her.
Eyes, George" she said, raising her head
again and looking at him fearfully. ut is
all true-so far!n
"Then tell me-" he said, beginning to
breathe more quickly, and clutching her
hand fast in his ardent and increasing ex-
element, s'tell me--what happened nextgi
Did he fall, or did we-you-I--"
He suddenly lay back against his pillow,
his face gray, his lips livid. For the mo-
ment he looked as though he were on the
point of death.
30, George, George" cried the girl,
don't look like that-don'tl don'ti--Tt was
not you who did it, it was me--to save your
life, my darling, to save your lifer'
He opened his eyes slowly and started
"You!" he said. "Your'
"Yes," she said firmly, ''it was me-"
"You, Jess! You-hacked at his hands
with knife and pushed him down to his
death?"
EYES," she repeated, sit was me. l did
1t to save your lifew
He drew away his hand from her, and
lay looking at her, q strangely cold and
Mortified expression in his eyes.
"Then-my dream--I am confused about
my dream at that point" he said slowely.
81 do not know. cannot remember-but
shall never forget the look Of his face as he
hung there. with his hands clutching and
covered with blood-his eyes starting
wildly
"Ol hush, hush!" Jess cried, bursting
into sudden tears. 81 cannot bear itl'
you cannot bear it, and yet you pushed
him DOWN. said Eastwood. He took her
wrist between mis- finger and thumb, and
examined it curiously. ''This little hand
the hand that thought so tender, 50 deli
cate, so pure; blood-staiped, is it nota Pah
All the perfume Of Araby will not sweeten'
it nowln
He flung 1t from him and turned his face
| away. He was still white as death. Jess
rose from her kneeling position, and stood
Oesiue Tue DEC, lOOKluB uOWu OH MIN WIN
him slightly parted lips and strained,
wistful eyes.
George" she said at length, in an almost
inaudible voice, II thought you would for
give me if told you did it--for your
did it for mel Isit a question of for
giveness" said the man bitterly. ~ have
been mistaken in your nature, | suppose.
had an idea that you could not do a cruel
thing. Of jess. Jess"
And then-to Jess unspeakable dis
maybe burst into passion of tears, and
turned his face to the wall. She hung over
him as mother hangs over an ailing child
she called him by soft, endearing names,
and stroEed his hair; but he did not res
pond to her words, and he shrank away
from her caresses. And when the sobs sub
sided, he lay for a time perfectly still. And
Jess, repulsed and rejected, sat down, and
waited with her sad eyes fixed upon the
folded hands in her lap.
Half an hour passed in that way. Then
at last George moved and looked at her.
The white, heart-broken look upon her face
appealed to his better feelings, although it
did not inspire him with love.
JESS" he said gently, ''Jess, l spoke
harshly. Ny poor grill | did not mean
to distress you. As you say, it was all for
| my seke.n
She lifted her eyes. "Yes," she answered,
SIT is all for your sake, George And he
often remembered, but he did not under
stand for many years, the look that be saw
| just then upon her face.