The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-02
CHAPTER XIV.
HER PROMISE.

Jess stood silent, astounded, motionlesy.
| she looked about her in amaZa A cand!e
was burning on small deal table; plain
| ir n bedstead, deal washstand, with it's
belongings, and one del caair con-
stituted the furniture of the room. Two
or three books lay also on the table, and the
window was closely shuJterei. The air Of
the 70 nm was cold, yet close; the place was
not unlike prison or q workhouse dormi-
| tory. The walls and floor were perfectly
bare. On the riglJ side of the room )or
was to be seen-whether it belonged to
cupboard or to anot1er apartment jess
| CO I'D not be sure. Stephen watched her
stealthily as she gazed around her, but he
let her speak first.
what do you meanT' she said "Why
have You brought me heres Where's
| GRANNY"
"Granny's in the next ROOM" said
Stephen calmly. You can 60 to her in a
minute or two. Through that door,"
"I'l 60 now" said jess, her old spirit
manitesting itself when she was brought
into contac5 with Stephen Eyre. "5tand
| out of my way"
"Well-go now," he said, slowly. SITS
all the same to me. Gonow."
She was again struck with establishment
at his tone, but she did not wait She adj
vanced boldly to the door, opened it, and
entered, as Stephen said, the room where
Granny lay.
It was a bare-looking room, too, but a
bright fire burned in the CRATE and gave il
| an appearance of comfort. The bel was
| tsnanted by old Mrs. Flint, but very DIFF
ferent looking Mrs. Flint from the one
whom jess used to know. This oil woman
was at least clean and tidy looking, her
gray air was neatly confined beneath an
enormous white cap, her shriveled limbs
seemed to be encased in flannel But the
Sowing brows, the fierce eyes, the protrud-
| ing und srlip, were all as they used to be:
and the snariing, scolding voice was SO un-
| chnnged that its first sound made jess
| tremble as of old.
There was another occupant Of the room
"a young woman in queer poke bonnet
whom jess did not notice very much al
| Fl st: she was standing over the fire, appar-
emily cooking something, ami she did not
| turn round when Jess came in.
"Here you are, then, you braZen hussvi"
| These were the words that Jess heard from
the bed. ''Come back and expecting US to
keep you, ehl If l could get up I'd break
every bone in yer body for ye, that's what
| I'd doln
"You did your best once" said Jess. with
a curious feeling of having lost her fear of
| MS Flint. poor Granny, Pm verys try
| that yo1've suffered SO mucn, but I've come
to help you now"
For answer, such a volley Of abuse was
launched at her head that she turned pale
though more from shame tnan fear-aud
| looked appealingly toward Stephen. But
stephen, with bent and frowning brow.
kept mis- eyes fixed on the floor
"Come, come, mother" said a pleasant
voice from the fireplace, you've no call to
talk that way, you know. Amt you afraid
| Here's your granddaughter come back to
US, praise the Lord, aud we've got to give
thanks for her and not to use bad words to
her, poor lamb"
woman, with very clear and earnest eyes,
who came up to her aud took her by the
hand.
Were glad to see you," She said. "Don't
you mind your Granny. Wei take care Of
you and bring you in, both of you-doa't
you be afraid Of that"
"Are you relation Of Stephen'sr' jess
asked.
The girl smiled. showing very white, even
| teeth as she did so.
'.Not in your way of talking" she said.
"We're all brothers and sisters in the
Army, you know. Pm Alice Drew, as
used to BE-, one Of the slum sisters, aud
come to help Stephen in his good work now
and then"
so, Pm glad Of that" said Jess. eagerly
you mean taking care Of Granny, don't
youl can help you with that. l have
l u
sorts Of things. Here is my bag. Shall
set them QUIZ
SIZE began unpacking her bag as she
spoke. Tne old woman in the bed had
ceased her abuse, and only lay muttering to
herself; but when she SAW what jess had
brought, she changed her tone.
"Brand y she said. "Ah, that's the sort
for Inc. They don't give me no brandy
now. Jess, my gal, l always knew you
could make your fortune IL you tried, and
III never say word IL you bring me stuff
like that"
SseDhsn's deep voice overDastered hers.
"Who paid for all thatP he asked. point
ing 10 the bottle ami the articles OF food,
now RAGGED ifpJn the ia le.
Alice Drew, toastinZ fork In hand,
kpushsi her poke bonnet backward a little
add waited itentIy for the answer. IL fell
clearly enough from jess lips.
Il pad fyr tbeDI," s1e said.
"Wbsyo dd yo1 get the money!
Jess vas silent Sse rsssegsDsrsd that
! Gorge EastsOol bad cautioned Der
a2ain.t Insgtig1lnz bis nans. B1e kuit
bef bfgNS and W0adere1 what she ought 10
49,.