The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-16
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE MESSAGE AND THE RING.

Inc Jay dragged YEARLY on. jess was
left to bear old Mrs. FIints' company.
Alice Drew, with touch of sympathy in
her face and voice, had asked her to per-
form few easy duties in the two rooms to
which poor jess was to be locked while the
"Slum Sister" went about her work of
Saving souls" Jess had asssuted passivelv: :
but when she was left with her grand
mother she seemed to forget all that she had
been told to do. She did not even sit down,
but remained leaning against the blank
wall, her arms hanging by her sides and her
hair showering down below her waist-a
beautiful white image of despair.
For the courageous spirit was diving out
of her little She was too ignorant to
know the limitation of Stephens powers.
1t did not occur to her that he was doing
anything Illegal, cruel and arbitrary as il
might be. The machinery of detective
police and circumstantial evidence was
all unknown to her. and it appeared t. her
mind quite impossible that George East
wood should ever learn what had really
happened. He might come to Mill street
and make inquiries-she was pretty sure
that he would do that!-but what use would
they beg Nobody had seen her-nobody no.
noticed her entrance into the house where
Stephen lived-and Stephen certainly
would not take any one into his con idence!
The boy Dick had always hated her. He
would not help her now. Alice Drew had
kind face; but she was evidently quite under
Stephens control. Indeed, it was quite
plain to JESS as a woman's mind sometimes
is quite plain to another woman by a
species of feminine intuition, that Alice
Drew was strongly attracted by Stephen
was ''in love" with him, in fact; and that
she would probably do exactly what
Stephen told her to do, and nothing else.
Jess courage therefore failed her. She
did not see how she could be rescued, nor
how she could Persuade her cap
tor to let her go. She did think dimiy that
she might, in time, find a way of escape by
cunning, not by force; but even if she ulti-
mauely got away, what would George have
thought meanwhile of her absence, and
how should she make him believe that she
had not meant to leave him for a time?
These were the thoughts that almost made
her despair
"Come here" said her grandmother at
last.
jess started; she had forgotten the old
woman completely; but, with the Old in
stinct of obedience, she moved from the
wall to the bed
''Let me feel your dress" said Mrs. Flint,
putting out one withered, shaking hand
Eyes, that's what 1 Thought; good cash
mere, amt it2 A dull C DIOR, but good
stuff. Ny you were fool, Jess, to come
down ERE. when Stephens 50 mad over you,
when you'd got good 'oms and fine gem
tleman al to yourself. Wen, you've made
your own bel, miss, and you'll have to lie
on it. That's pretty ring on your finger;
s'pose you give it to ma"
jess was wearing several rings-among
them one with diamond glitterIng in the
center. It was on thu diamond that Mrs.
Flint's eyes we're fixed. After moments
hesitation she took it off and laid it Oh the
counterpana.
t.T,u - 49,, oil -, -r,r- oo5 49, At
and chain, and lots of money beside, Gran
ny, if you'll only get Stephen to let me go.
Or get the key for me and let me unlock the
door. George will think I'm dead Pm
sure he will! He would make you rich,
Granny, quite rich, if you'd find some way
of letting me CO."
Granny nodded her head and grinned
complacently.
"Would he, my dear? Well, we'll see
about it; we'll see. Stephen amt easy to
manage. You give me the rings and the
watch, and I'll see what can do for your
Without word, Jess took off her rings
and laid them and her watch within reach
of Granny's skinny fingers IL cost her a
pang to part with them, for had not George
himself given all to her7 But she loved
them less than she loved hinI, and if they
would buy her way back to him she
should never give them one regretful
thought.
"What else have you gotp' said Mrs.
Flint, greedily. "W hats that ribbon round
your neck? It goes inside o. your dress,
don't itP She made clutch at it, but Jess
drew back in alarm. SIS it locket9 You
let me see."
sits not locket. It's nothing-nothing
particular" said jess.
''I'll tell Stephen of yerl I'll set him TO
preach at yeri I'll make you sorry for it if
you don't tell me"
an show it to you, Granny" said Jess,
hurriedly, interrupting the flow of language
with which Mrs. Flint usually tried to make
her way In the world. "But you mustn't
take it away from me, because / intend to
keep it till the last day Of my lifer
And then, to Granny's as5onished eyes,
she exhibited plain gold ring, att lched to
the ribbon that she wore round her neck.
"a wedding ringl Well. to be surel''
said Granny. "He gave you that, did hea
But Law, it don't mean nothing. "It's easy
enough 60 give gold ring and promise or
two, but didn't think you'd be- such fool
as TO be took in by that, Jesslp
"rve not been took Ia y said jess, hotly.
Granny laughed. "a odd, chuckling little
laugh.
asEeve knows the law o. things, she said.
''Stsye says you aia'5 married, and yo1
nia'E Make tie best OF II. my dear
Steve, u marry you himself. II you play
your game careful