The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-06-22
CHAPTER XLVI.
DIANA's DISCOVERY.
"Where am ~ said Jess.


She lay IN an upper room OF the quaint
little house that Lady Hexham called her
| orphanage. The orphans had all been ban.
ished to the seaside, and little Meenie was
sharing the small Lord Hsxbam's nursery
so that quiet reigned supreme in the pleas.
| ant, ivy-mantled building. Alice was down
stairs, engaged iR household duties, and
Lady Hexham sat beside Jess bed.
"I GU are with friends, dear" said Diana
"Friendsl" The girl raised her head
| from the pillow and looked into her face,
then sank back with a heavy sigh ii
don't know you," she said. Il have no
friends
II am Georges cousin" said Lady Hex.
ham, gently. His cousin Diana. You
have seen me before, think"
'Yes-in the picture gallery. Years
ago. remember you"
"And you will love meg' said Diana.
She did not know until this moment
how her heart was thirsting for this
woman's love.
Jess mournfnl eyes filled with tears.
"Love youp she stammered. Nobody
cares for my love now"
Eyes, George cares"
"Georgel" The tone was unutterably
sad, but light crept into the moist eyes
and slight color into the white cheeks, as
Jess spoke "He is not heren
"No, but he is close by. Would you like
to see himP'
mot YETI She turned on her pillow
and hid her face. mot yet. can't bear
it yet"
twas all that she would say. She was
very weak, and had not been thoroughly
conscious before But when Alice presented
herself, the cry Of delight with which Jess
greeted her showed that emotion was not
xuith har ac m hox had II
seem. She flung her wasted arms round
Alice's neck and cried upon her shoulder
for very joy. Diana stole away in the
midst of this manifestation of feeling She
was woman enough to feel unreasOnably
hurt that Jess did not greet her with more
warmth Yet how was jess to know that
she, Diana, Lady Hexham, was the one
person in the world who appraised her at
her true worth, and believed in her with all
her heart and soul9 Such a view would
have seemed impossible TO Jess
For several days she entered into no sus-
tanned conversation with any of her friends.
Lady Hexham sat beside her now less con-
stantly, thinking it better to leave her
sometimes to the care Of Alice Drew, with
whom Jess seemed more at home than with
herself but she visited her regularly twice
a day, and brought her choicest flowers
and ripest fruit to please the invalid. Jess
was still SO weak that IL was not thought
advisable to admit George to her room
but Meenie was brought for five minutes
every day, and the child's visits always
seemed to do the mother good.
But one day, when Lady Hexbam came
in. and noted the wistful look in Jess eyes
as the child was led away, she said:
Would you not like to have her With
you always9"
"Oh, yes-yesp Jess breathed, the color
suddenly flushing her pale cheeks.
"The doctor says that you may be
moved now. You might come TO the house
where Meenie lives"
look of fear came into Jess eyes.
"Wherer she asked.
"For the present she is living in my
house" said Lady Hexham. "It Is close
by, and you could now easily be carried
there.
The look of shrinking was so marked on
poor Jess face that Lady Hexham felt that
She must continue, in order to moderate, If
possible, her distaste for the proposition.
'Tt would be great pleasure to me IL
Won would come You could then have
Meenie with you as long as you pleased.
You could have room opening out of
hers. so that she would be always near you.
And we could take care Of you there and
nurse you, until you we're well and strong
again"