The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-18
CHAPTER XXXVI,
CONFESSION.

CONFESSION.
"Alice," said jess, "do you think that one
ought always to tell the truth!'
Always" said Alice, emphatically, Sin
love-"
Even if it hurts the worldly prospects of
the people you lover
eve have to do right and leave the re-
suits to God" said Alice.
jess was silent. Several days had elapsed
since the doctors visit, and Alice had no
ticed great change in her during that
time. she was quiet and apparently de-
pressed; she no longer took interest in the
sweet country sights and sounds. Twice
every day she trudged off to the nearest
railway station in order to buy morning
and evening newspaper at the bookstall
and over these papers she would pore some
times for an hour at a time, to the great
detriment of her work. Alice wondered
but said nothing, and did her work for her,
determined to be patient even when Jess
sat with idle hands and dreamy eyes, gazing
into the distance as if she had nothing in
the world to do but mediate. Alice bided
her time. 1t was not like jess TO be selfish.
By and by she would remember that she
was neglecting her duty, and she would be
as docile and as Industrious as of old. In
the meantime Alice did the work of BOTH
81 don't know what is right" said Jess,
looking at the clean white walls of the bed
room which she shared with Alice and
Meenie.
"Then pray for more light, DEAR" said
Alice. tenderly.
A sob rose in Jess throat.
"Pray for me-" she murmured.
1t was the first time that she had made
such a request, and Alice's heart swelled
with sudden thankfulness. She took Jess
hand and knelt down with her by the side
of the little bed where Meenie was sleeping,
and she poured out her heart in prayer
with all the eloquence which only a strong
belief can bring. When she paused, Jess
was weeping, with her face hidden in her
hands.
won't you pray now, Jess dear?'
mo-" said jess. II can't.n
Alice pressed her tenderly.
sit only needs one effort, dear. You'd
be stronger ever after if you would but
make 1T. Let your heart speak out. Why
should we hide that we're feeling after tae
Lord?n
~ only know one prayer" said Jess.
eyes, my dears And what is that?
Lord be merciful to me a sinner may be;
say it with all your heart, dear, and he will
hearn
mo, not that" said Jess, almost wildly.
SITS only Lord God, make me strong. keep
me strong; keep me from betraying any one
love. o, Lord God, :" she cried, lifting up
her clasped hands, "hear me and make me
strongp
Alice paused in perplexity. This devel-
opment of Jess inner life was very different
from her own.
HE will answer any prayer that is
prayed with your whole heart, am sure,h
she said, though why you want so par
ticular to be strong-except for Meenie's
sake"
"Never mind why" said Jess, anxiously.
spray il with me; pray it for me, and it
will be answered am sure"
So Alice closed her eyes again and put
one hand over them, and then said
solemly:
lord, make her strongl-strong to bear
and endure and strive; strong to love and
trust, strong to work for Thee, Lord, keep
her strong through all the troubles and
temptations of this wicked world. Lord,
make her and keep her strong, so that she
may not betray Thee, nor any of her loved
onesl commit her to Thy keeping, o my
God"
There was little silence, and then Jess
said in very low voice:
81 can speak now. l can tell you now.
Take away your hand while l tell you. You
will never love me again, but / will tell you
all the same"
"You can never tell me anything which
will make me cease to love you" said Alice,
storngly. mo, won't take my hand away :,
jess; you can go on"
She clasped Jess slender finger more
closely than ever. They were still kneeling
beside the bed.
81 want to tell your said jess, huskily,
''that was in the house-Number Twenty
when Stephen wask lied. / was there with
with man. l can't tell you all. can't
betray any one else; but l can take my
share upon myself. Stephen and he fought /:
and Stephen got pushed through the win
dow by accident; but I-we-it was my
fault that he fell"
There was dead silence for a minute or
two.
"Was it you,' said Alice, very slowly,
shat pushed him downg
Jess caught her breath and said "Yes,m In
almost inaudible tones.
"Was it you that cut at his fingers with
knife when he tried to climb up againp'
As if in pain the girl moaned little be-
fore she answered:
"Yes.n
"And you-you prayed" said Alice, her
voice quivering, Ito be strong enough-to-
CONFESS"
"Yes-yes."
sob, my dear,n said the woman who had
loved Stephen Eyre. as she folded the girl
who called herself his murderess in her
strong, loving arms, do you think that l
dare be anything but thankful that God
has let me help you to repent and to save
your poor sin-stained, miserable soulg"
Jess hardly heard the words. She felt the
sweetness of the tones, the warmth of the
loving clasp. She drew herself away and
let her head sink lower and lower until it
rested on Alice's knees.
you oughtn't speak to me or look at me
again." she moaned. "Why don't you
strike me and curse me, as Granny used to
do2 l deserve it now. / didn't deserve it
then. l could not bear you to be kind to
me any longer. know you'll hate me
now"
81 shall never hate any one who is sorry
for sin," said Alice, earnestly. "Oh, my
poor jess, my poor sister, / can't say how
my heart yearns over you. l am sure that
our Lord loves you, and how could 1 hate
what he loves? 1t wouldn't be natural. Let
us ask him to forgive you
s'Not yet," said Jess, lifting up bag
gard, tear-stained face. 81 want to tell you
frst-Ill 60 to a magistrate il you like and