The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-11
THE GREAT MILL STREET MYSTERY
By A-DELINE SERGEANT
Author @ 'Aoors WIFE, RoYs REPENTANCE DIAMOND o1rnp
FALSE PRETENcEs." ~
[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
CHAPTER XxXIII.
"oNcE HIS LOVE GROWN COLD"


tend the poor, forsaken girl. but before he
went he drew his friend aside and gave her
afew words of counsel.
Don't let her give way too much, u be
said. TRY to make her talk. She'll be
better if she talks. Get her to tell you her
whole story. l want to know who the
man Wood is-the man that she's beer
nursing.n
Eastwood, said Alice. in low tone.
"There's mystery somewhere" returned
the doctor, significantly. snake her talk
mako her talk-it will save her from q
brain fever maybe, and explain what puz-
zes us at the same time. If she keeps 81
lence, you had better send for men
Alice nodded, and returned to the side Of
the bed where Jess was now lying. DIR.
Price looked at her before he went out, and
saw her draw the golden head close to her
bosom and press her lips to the stricken
face.
''That's good woman" he said to him.
self, as he closed the door softly behind
him, and he sighed as he said it.
Jess remained very still. When Alice
kissed her she moaned a little, but did not
try TO draw herself away. Alice tried to
induce her to speak, but the attempt
proved at first utterly useless. She did not
seem to hear what was said to her, and
only sobbed or walled softly to herself from
time to time, as if she were unconscious of
the presence of a listener. Alice tried all
the gentle arts she kne ", but they failed to
rouse her. And then the womanly heart of
this born nurse and comforter prompted
I, &c aT,d
full method. She stole out of the room and
made her way-by instinct, as it were-to the
place where Jess child was nursed by one
of Black Sails friends, and when she had
got the child, she brought it back in her
arms and laid it on the bed bedside the
mother.
Little Meenie had not forgotten her
mother, although the two had been 30 long
separated; she chung to her with her baby
hands, and cooed softly in Jess ear, then
broke into ripping baby-laugh that
sounded like music in Alice's listening ear
And jess was not unaffected by it, Pres
emily her hand stole round Meenie's warm
little body, and then, when she felt the STIR
ring limbs, the quick breath, the caressing
touch of the little arms and legs, she was
conscious of a rush of new life and
emotion which brought the tears into her
eyes.
And when Meenie whispered "Muvverm
"a word which Jess had seldom heard her
use before. the act Of speech not having
progressed very far with the little girl-a
burst of weeping came to relieve the
mothers overburdened spirit, and Alice
knew that Jess life and reason at least
were safe.
"Oh, my darling, my sweet lambln Jess
murmured as SAe kissed the fair head that
rested on her shoulder; show could mother
have forgotten you? Pll live for you. my
darling-r1 live for you and try to make
you happyw
From that moment she was quieter, and
Alice found no difficulty in persuading her
to swallow food, and rest quietly in bed.
Before long she slept, with Meenie in her
arms; and Alice sat beside her, wondering
what was next to be done.
DR.. Price did not come back, and it was
, dusk before jess awoke.
"Well, DEAR Alice said, gently, when
Jess at at last sat up and pushed the golden
hair out OF her weary eyes, show do you
feel nowq
~ don't know" Jess answered YEARLY.
''Shall take Meenie away"
30, no, mol Leave her with me. She is
all have"
what made you go away from us,
Jessm
Jess turned her face aside with dreary
little moan.
81 can't tell your she replied.
''Was it." said Alice, almost in whisper,
"was it-that mantle man that you loved
George Eastwood.'
There was pause.
Then Jess answered, with curious cold
ness:
"No.n
"Not Mr.. Eastwood. JESSE You went
away with some one elsea"
ut doesn't follow that went away with
any .one," said Jess, almost sullenly. II
went away by myself-because l was tired
of being watched and talked to-and-
what does it matter why l went or where?
need not account to you for what did"
She sank lack on her pillow with look
of such profound exhaustion that Alice for
gave her the ungraciousness of her words.
"No dear, you needn't account to any
body but God for what you do. It's only
that I was anxious about you. Me and
Stephen watched over you only for your
good.n
A shudder ran through Jess frame.
How can you speak of himg' she cried,
passionately. "How can you bear to say
his nameg'
Alice looked at her.
because of his sad end?" she asked.
But, my dear, he was prepared to go. II
ever there was man as led a good life and
trusted in his Saviour, il was Stephen Eyre;
and he's now among the blest, | have no
ioubt-n
20, no, mol" Jess cried out, wildly. "You
hd not know him-you don't know what he
vas or what he did, Ii he is among the
Hest. then pray that l may never go to
haven, for might meet him therel"
fAnd what If you did?' said Alice,
gr,vely. SIN heaven, all wrongs are for
glIen. jess. And though you did leave him
@tilttreat him and try your best to break
Msheart, yet | am sure that he forgives
younow. One day you will meet him
agap, and he will tell you sou
mop said Jess, covering down and
coysing her eyes. ~ hope noti I pray
moth could never look at him again"
lire was short silence, and then Alice
spokin an incisive tone which sounded
straI1e from her usually gentle lips.
Iu TALK she said, ''as if you'd done
MIN sD1e grevious wrong; something that
maytI don't know of or never rightly
undere God. It's poor look out for You if
you'vgot anything on your mind that you
can't Ok him TO forgive you now. Things
can't put right when a mans dead and
gone, aat's certain. But as far as you
yoursel are concerned. you might get for
glvenesand feel happier in your heart, if
you wod say straight out what you have
done an what he had to forgive you. Open
confeSsies good for the soul, Pm sure Of