The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-13


hour, with her baby on her lap 1t was
about half-past 9 when she saw the figure of
man whom she recognized coming down
the street Her heart gave a sudden leap.
and then began to throb painfully aud
last For It was George indeed, George
who had come to meet her, as she had
begged him to do. She placed Meerie
gently on the shawl that she had spread
for her on the floor, and slipped out into
the street.
George" she said, 81 am here.n
Eastwood turned and looked at her. She
had thrown off her bonnet, and her shawl
was wrapped round Meenie, SO that her fair
face and golden locks had no disguise. The
snow that fell against her cold cheeks only
touched them to a liveler red. The lamp
light shone in her uplifted eyes. George
Eastwood wondered with dull sense of be-
wilderment whether she had ever looked SO
beautiful before.
YES" he said, trying to speak coldly, 81
have come, and | have something to say to
you"
She had held out her hands to him, they
now fell to her side. The light died out of
her eyes.
81 cannot say it here" he went on,
harshly. "Have you nc place of your own
that you can take me to. There is some
thing must say"
I'VE can come inside this house." said
jess, timidly. ut is empty, I-have
something to say too-something to show
you"
Come IN, then" said Eastwood. "Out
of this cold wind"
She opened the door, and he felt, rather
than saw, that she was cropping for some
thing in the dark.
"What is it," he asked, following her.
"Nothing-at least I'll show you.n said
jess, catching her breath little. "Shut
the door,
He hesitated for moment. The thought
occurred TO him that be was perhaps in
trap-that Jess-poor Jess!-was perhaps
in league with garg of thieves, who meant
to strip him of all the worldly wealth upon
him at the time. It showed how little he
knew of Jess real nature that such no
tion should ever cross his mind.
There's nobody III the house. You
needn't mind coming in" said Jess.
She led the way Into the back room; a
room in which she had found that some
sort of blind had been left in tatters
across the window. The shade it
gave was scanty, but better than
nothing at all. She had candle
with her-it was one of the things
tnat she had provided, in careful thought of
such a moment as this. And as George
CROPPED lis way after her, she struck a
light, and turned to him with the child in
her arms.
81 called her Georgina--afrer you," she
said, simply.
George started back a little; he looked at
her and then at the sleepy child.
"It's our little girl" Jess went on in her
soft voice. 81 thought you didn't know.
She's been very delicate baby, but she's a
dear little thing. l think you would love
her. George if YOU saw her sometimes
II never knew never thought"
George began, but he looked too dis
mayed to go on.
So Jess proceeded without waiting for the
end of his sentence.
"She's more than year old nova year
and half. She was born the summer be-
fore last, in June. / think / should have
died before now if it hadn't been for baby
what with losing you, and not being
able to get away. But Pm glad l didn't,
nov.
Losing me? What do you mean" said
George, in low voice.
"You never came to look for me-" Jess
answered, her lovely eyes hlling with tears
as she looked iunocentiy into Georges
darkening face. 81 thought you would be
sure to find me and get me out"
"Do you mean to say that you could not
get out? That you could not get back to
me if you had chosens"
"Of course do. Don't you know" said
Jess, vehemently, "how | love you,
Georgesn
He was silent. He looked aghast.
Don't you know that l would die for
youi That love you better than all the
world"
jess, Jessi if 1 could but believe it, my
DOOR child"
But why shouldn't you believe it,
GeorgeYn
"Why did you ever leave meg"
81 never left you on purpose. George. l
came to see Granny, and Stephen Eyre
took me in trap, as it were, and kept me
close in Granny's room with Alice Drew, a
girl that works in the slums. They said l
had been wicked, and must be brought to a
sense of my evil ways. And not till said
that would give you up would they let me
90 out even into the streets. And when you
never came-and my Meenie was born-i
gave in. | said would not try to see you
any more. SAID that l would do as they
did. and pray and lead a good life. And
then-little by little-they left off watching
me. and so have been able to get out by
myself lately. And that's how | came to
see you last night"
s'And what do you do for living"
81 sew Sacks said jess. sand Alice
sews too, but it's very hard to get living.
i began TO Jullh bL.ttO you WOi . NOoO.
Jess, jess, is all this trueH
Eyes, indeed it is, George. You can ask
Alice if it isn'l She's very good and very
respectable, and everybody believes her.
Indeed, George, would not have come
away from you; only-only," said Jess,
piteously. they made me think that | was
doing wrong
"And we're they not doing wrong, then,
to keep a wife from her husband" ex-
claimed George, fercely.
He could not look at jess and think that
she was telling lies.
Am l indeed your wife, Georgew said
the girl, trembling.
! "Of course you are. You know you are.
| Did you not tell them thatp
20. George" said she, bursting into
tears, "you know you told me not to say
! He uttered an imprecatlon on his own
folly. and then turned ard took her into his
NV darling" he said. ''My own poor
ill-used darliagl My wife-God may part
MS again, Jess, but men never shallp
she nestled in his arms, happy yet
afraid.
SIS it trueF she murmured. They took
away my ring from me, and they sent you
q message that l never gave, George"
UAnd / believed it, fool that was"
"Aud they cut off all my hair. and
locked me into room with Granny, SO
that could never get out Ana Granny