The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-06-15

9SA, ~1osO uuspanu was garu5ner at the
Manor House.
But of all this the village women were
Ignorant; and they drew conclusions in
their own way.
call 1t brazsn-faced,n said Mrs. Peck,
.lt she is to marry Mr. Eastwood-to come
inqulring for him i this way.n
somebody told me Mr.. Eastwood had a
wife already" said the other, land treated
her bad.n
II wouldn't believe that Of Mr.. George
SAID the first speaker. Hes too soft-spoken
10 treat any woman bad
"Eh, Mary Ann. you don't know men If
you say so! It's the softspoken ones as
treat 'em worst, cried the other, in rather
uplifted tone.
II say, just look at that woman said
Mrs. Peck, adroitly changing the subject.
Snes falntlug or something-ain't shef
Oh, my, look at her!'
She rushed to the gate, unattached it, and
ran out into the road. The woman by the
wayside had fallen on her side, as if unable
to save herself,
When Mrs. Peck pushed back the broad
Drlmmed hat, she saw that the strangers
face was CHASTITY, and that the blue-veined
eyelids had closed over the eyes.
Peck, sharply.
us she drunk" said Betsy, peering
Drunk? No; no more than am. She
looks starved, poor thing; run and get the
water. and let's see il we can bring her
too"
Betsy brought some water, and Mrs Peck,
with unusual gentleness, moistened the
wayfarer's forehead and lips.
There nowl that's better" she said,
presently, when Jess opened her eyes and
feebly tried to move. "Now don't you
STIR, or you'll feel bad again. I'll warrant
you've tramped a good way!n and she
glanced at Jess wornout shoes.
"Pve come from London said Jess. "rve
been week on the road.n
And not much to eat either, guess, 4" re.
marked Mrs. Peck, sagely. Gan you
move nowi If you'll coms inside the gar
den I'll give you a cup o. tea"
II shall be very thankful for it." sail
Jess, almost inaudibly.
And in few moments she was estab-
lished in a wooden chair inside the neat
kitchen in which Mrs. Peck took whole
some pride. Toe cat was purring on her
lap, and a cup of tea was steaming on the
table before her, while Mrs. Peck cut bread
and butter with a liberal hand, and her
friend Betsy Dart sat and looked on.
But Betsy Dart grew tired of this recrea-
ton by and by, and took her leave.
And good radiance tool" calculated
Mrs. Peck, half below her breath; "for sue
a stuckup, prying creature she is as never
knew in all my born days.
And although Jess had never seen Betsy
Dart before, she felt a sensation of relief at
her departure; for she was certainly less
than Mrs. Peck, whose round,
rosy face, and quick dark eyes, spoke of
good-nature underlying the sharpness of
her tongue.
During the making and the drinking of
that cup of tea, Mrs. Peck had cast many
quick glances toward jess, and had noticed
the general neatness of her appearance, in
spite of the dust and stains of travel, and
was we'll disposed toward her in conse-
quence.
Are you going fars" she asked, curl
ously.
"Only to Hexham. I've a friend there"
said Jess
"Oh, know all the Hexham folk. Who
might it be--your friendW
"Alice Drew" said jess.
She did not see why she should not speak
the truth.
"Oh, Miss Drew at my lady's erphange.
There's some child you want to seq, may
be2"
"Yes," said jess, with difficulty.
Add then her lips turned white again,
and she would have fallen from her chair
but for Mrs. Peck's strong. supporting
arm.
Mrs. Peck had but one conclusion to
draw; yet, in spite of the most rigid mo-
rality, she could not forbesr TO pity tee for
lorn woman who seemed { have suffered 50
much; and when the gardener came in to
tea it was to hear with some establishment
that stranger was lodged in the little attic
which consulted the one spare room of the
house, and that Mrs. Peck INTENDED to keep
that stranger for day or two until sh9
was rested, whether she could pay her way
or not. Mr.. PECK was not surprised He
was never surprised at anything d1ne by
his wife, aud also never veatuced to dlsap-
prove of it.
So Jess stayed on for day or two, and
then for a week. and then fof full tea d avs.
Mrs. Peck had intended to send word to
Miss Drew of the visitor. but she had no
messenger, aid she could not write very
well: and ia very short time she grew
fond of her strange guest, and would not
allow her to leave the house
In fact. for some days, Jess was lncapa-
BILE of moving. She was utterly exhausted,
and could barely rouse herself, even to take
That weary tramp from
London had consumed all her Strength.
And vet she hungered and thirsted for
sight of Meenie's face. once sne CnouSnt OIL
writing to Alice to come to her and oring
the child; then she cast the idea away.
II might be better for her not to
show herself at all. But she must at least
sac Meenie before she went away.
When she was stronger, she tried to draw
Mrs. Peck into little gossip about her hus-
bands master.
"Is Mr.. Eastwood marriedF" she said.
sNo," said Mrs. Peck, drily. but folks
say he's like to be-"
aOhl 1 suppose he'll marry grand
ladyp -
ii don't know that Miss Sybil is particu-
lar grand.n said Mrs. Peck. ut seems
likely TO be her; though some folks men,
tion NV Iady-Lady Hexham, you know.
He ought to get married; don't hold with
bachelors. It's bad for a man to have no
wife"
jess said nothing. but the words sank
deep into her heart.
She had begun to think that she was
merely an obstacle to Georges happiness.
She had broughtsshame close to his door.
AS long as she lived he could not marry the
woman whom perhaps he loved. what was
there for her TO dos
She formed no plan; but she was haunted
bv strange visions of the long cleaning
reaches Of the Thames, with blackly de-
fined wharves and sharply outlined bridges,
from which the lamps were renecteo al tne